Christmas Services
First Parish Church of Stow & Acton (Unitarian Universalist)
353 Great Rd. Stow
978/897-8149; [email protected]; www.fpc-stow-acton.org
December 22, 9 a.m. How Unitarians Saved Christmas
Unitarians are responsible for the greatest Christmas stories, famous Christmas Carols, the Santa Claus we know today (chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf), and many of the familiar holiday customs and practices. This service will be led by Rev. Tom Rosiello, with Christmas music provided by Sanghee Kim and Mike Pfitzer.
December 22, 11 a.m. Celebrating the Solstice with”St. George and the Dragon”, Family Service. Dispel the darkness of the season with lively music and the presentation of FPC’s Annual Mummer’s Play performed by the children and youth of the church under the direction of Pat Sorn.. This is a great family service, with lots of children participating. Worship will be led by Minister Tom Rosiello
December 24, 4 p.m. Nativity in a Trunk, Family Service
This service will be oriented towards children, with lots of them participating in the acting out of the Christmas Story and creation of a Christmas Tableau. The Junior Choir and Youth Choir will be performing, and there will be familiar carols for all to sing. The service concludes with the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.
December 24, 9 p.m. Traditional Christmas Eve Service
This service will feature traditional Christmas carols and anthems, the reading of the story of the birth of Jesus from the Christian Gospels, and a candle-lighting ceremony. It will be a quieter and more traditional service than the 4 PM service, with music provided by the Adult Choir, organist/pianist Sanghee Kim, and talented guest musicians. An extended prelude of Christmas music will begin at 8:45 PM. Come early!
Union Church of Stow (United Church of Christ)
317 Great Rd., Stow; 978/897-2328; unionchurchofstow.org
The offerings collected at each of the following services will be divided between the Stow Council on Aging’s Fuel Assistance Program; and Typhoon Haiyan relief and reconstruction in the Philippines.
December 24 5 p.m. Family Christmas Service In this Children’s Christmas Pageant, the school-age children who attend the Church’s religious education program will re-enact the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. This short service (of about 1/2 hour) is just right for children’s attention spans. It is always adorable and touching, and will be followed by light refreshments.
December 24 10 p.m. Lessons and Carols This candlelit service, oriented toward adults, will provide a retreat from hectic holiday schedules and to-do lists, focusing on the religious observance of the holiday.
St. Isidore (Roman Catholic)
429 Great Rd., Stow; 978/897-2710; stisidorestow.org
Christmas Eve: 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Christmas Day 10:30 AM
New Year’s Day 10:30 AM
Sudbury United Methodist Church
251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury (Route 27, just east of the historic town center)
978-443-4351; www.sudbury-umc.org
December 18 7:30 p.m. Blue Christmas Worship Are you having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year? Do holiday preparations overwhelm you? Does grieving a lost loved one, lost relationship, or lost job overshadow your anticipation of the coming of the Christ Child? This quiet time of worship will provide a safe space to acknowledge the grief and anxiety that sometimes accompanies the season of holiday preparation and celebration. Visit the website for information on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services
CALENDAR
Randall Library Programs
The Randall Library has a new website – www. RandallLibraryStow.org with the latest news on upcoming events, programs, reading suggestions and a whole lot more.
Teen Writing Club: Wednesday, December 18th at 5pm- Attendees will share writing, write with writing prompts, and discuss each other’s work and writing tips.
Teen Advisory Board Meeting, December 18th at 6pm
Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for BABIES, Thursday, December 19th at 10am, and Itsy Bitsy Yoga® for TYKES -Thursday, December 19th at 10:30am-Join Sonia Gomez for Itsy Bitsy Yoga, with two age levels on the same day. Infants cannot walk yet, tykes include walkers up to preschool age, Sign-up at the circulation desk; limit to 12 participants.
It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time!
Stow Girl Scouts will be hosting a Girl Scout cookie sale on December 21st at the Stow Post Office from 9-noon. Stop by and get Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot and a new cookie this year, Cranberry Citrus Crisps. America’s favorite cookies are still only $4 per box. Cookie sales help support the Girl Scouts in our community and treat your taste buds, your heart and your mind to a sweet trip down memory lane. Help girls meet their goals and fund great adventures and activities for their troops. The Girl Scouts can also accept donated boxes of cookies to be sent to overseas troops or to a local food pantry.
Girl Scouts will also be selling cookies door-to-door beginning December 13th, and there will be additional booth sales at Shaw’s in January, February & March.
Boy Scout Christmas Tree Home Pickup Service
Another Holiday season is at hand and Stow’s Boy Scout Troop 1 is again scheduling home Christmas tree pickups (For Stow Resident’s Only) following the holidays for residents of Stow. The scouts would like to make tree disposal convenient and efficient for you. Christmas tree pickup is $10 per tree and checks made payable to Troop 1 Stow can be mailed to Troop 1 Stow, PO Box 75, Stow, MA 01775 or ordered online at http://www.troop1stow.net/
Please make your tree pickup reservation by January 8th. Trees will be picked up at the end of your driveway January 17th and 18th. We request trees be at the end of your driveway by 6PM on January 17th.
The scouts will appreciate your order and the proceeds will help Stow continue one of its finest youth programs and its ongoing monetary needs to support equipment purchases, camping trips and the many activities the troop engages in.
If you have any questions, please contact us by phone at 978-212-9175 or by email at [email protected].
Personal Item Drive through January 10, 2014
The Nashoba Regional High School Drama Society is hosting a Personal Items Drive to benefit local two social relief organizations, WHEAT and the Stow Food Pantry, who serve residents in the Nashoba Regional School District. For the month of December and extending until January 10, 2014, the NRHS Drama Society will be collecting personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, feminine products, and deodorant; personal care items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, shaving cream, and kleenex; and baby items such as diapers, formula and baby food. Donations can be dropped off at Nashoba Regional High School, 12 Green Road, Bolton, or brought to the 2014 Class Play Competition on January 10, 2014 at 6:30pm. For questions, contact Paula at [email protected]. We thank you for your generosity.
~OUT OF STOW~
Participate in the Annual Community Messiah Sing!
Sunday, December 22, 5:00 p.m., at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church. You can be a listener or a singer at this annual interfaith event for Harvard and surrounding towns. Bring your own score or purchase one at the door. The orchestra of strings, oboes, trumpet, bassoon, organ, harpsichord, and tympani, plus four professional soloists will be directed by Ted Johnson, Music Director. Don’t miss this seasonal favorite! This event is supported by the Harvard UU Church and your generous donations to “Friends of the Community Messiah Sing.” Donation: $10. www.uuharvard.org