Churches offer services for Christmas

Central Valley United Methodist Church at 12 Smith Clove Road in Central Valley will hold a Candlelight Service at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24. On Sunday, Dec. 25, a worship service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Call 928-6570. First Presbyterian Church at 33 Park Place in Goshen, will offer three services on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, including: A Family Service geared to families with young children at 4 p.m.; a traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m.; and a Mid-Watch Service - a service of meditation and song at 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, a Worship Service will be held at 10 a.m. Call 294-7991. Harriman United Methodist Church at 15 Church St. in Harriman will be holding a “The Birth of Christ” at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, using hymns and narration to tell the story. The service is designed for families to participate. On Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, there will be a Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. Monroe United Methodist Church at 47 Maple Ave. in Monroe will be offering three services on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24: A Children’s Service for infants through fourth grade, with their parents, at 4:30 p.m.; a Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 p.m.; and a Candlelight Communion Service at 11 p.m. On Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25, and on New Years Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, there will be a Worship Service at 10 a.m. Call 783-6371. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church at 6 Still Road in Monroe will offer Masses in the church unless otherwise noted. Christmas Eve Masses on Saturday, Dec. 24, will include: Children’s Mass at 4 p.m.; Mass at 5:30 p.m.; Mass at 5:45 p.m. in the school auditorium; Mass at 8 p.m.; Spanish Mass at 9:30 p.m.; Polish Mass at 10 p.m. in the chapel; Prelude of Christmas Carols and Blessing of the Christmas Creche at 11:15 p.m.; and a Midnight Mass at 12 a.m. Christmas Day Masses on Sunday, Dec. 25, will include: Mass at 7:45 a.m. in the chapel; Children’s Mass at 9 a.m.; Mass at 10:30 a.m.; Mass at noon; and Mass at 12:30 p.m. in the chapel. There will be no evening Mass. Call 782-8510. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 21 Still Road in Monroe will offer a “Live Nativity” at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, with refreshments and music. On Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, the services will include Family Worship at 4 p.m., Candlelight Worship at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion at 8 p.m. Worship with Holy Communion will be offered: at 10 a.m. on Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25; at 5:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31; and at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Sunday, Jan. 1. Call 782-5600. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 101 Main St. in Chester, will offer Advent Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, following a service of Holy Communion at 7 p.m. On Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24, the “Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord” will be held at 8:30 p.m. This festal service with Holy Communion will celebrate the birth of Jesus through a children’s pageant, guest musicians, candlelight, and a festive social hour. On Christmas morning, Sunday, Dec. 25, a Holy Eucharist will feature impromptu a capella music at 9 a.m. Sugar Loaf and Bellvale United Methodist Church will hold a joint Parish Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, at the Sugar Loaf church on King’s Highway. On Sunday, Dec. 25, there will be a worship service at 9:15 a.m. at the Bellvale church on Iron Forge Road, and an 11 a.m. service at the Sugar Loaf church.