Christmas Eve service details told for Farragut churches
While some churches are taking a wait-and-see approach to holding Christmas Eve services, others are taking their services outside or holding one service with more online services.
Christ Covenant PCA
“Right now we are planning to have four (candlelight Christmas Eve) services that folks must sign up to attend: 3, 5, 7 and 11 p.m.,” said Teresa Pratt, media coordinator for CCC, 12915 Kingston Pike. “At least one of these will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube, as our Sunday morning 9:30 a.m. service is each week.”
“We have the windows blacked out so they are all candlelight,” Pratt said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
“We are taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Leilani Branner, Tennessee Knoxville Coordinating Council Just Serve specialist, said on behalf of the Farragut Ward at 11837 Grigsby Chapel Road.
“The hope is that our congregations will have a short 45-minute sacrament service. as we are currently doing, including wearing masks, social distancing and taking great care with the sacrament, etc.,” she said. “However, it will be a unit-by-unit approach if we have an outbreak at a school, in a ward or branch, etc.
“It is possible that units or the entire Stake could end up being limited to a zoom or virtual broadcast,” Branner added.
Concord United Methodist
In a recently e-mailed newsletter, Larry Trotter, CUMC senior pastor, told parishoners, “After consulting with our own COVID Advisory team, we have decided to adjust our Christmas Eve schedule to reflect the realty of sharply climbing COVID numbers and the need to keep everyone as safe as possible.
“As a result, I believe we have put together a great plan for our Christmas Eve celebration,” he further stated. “We will have one in-person Christmas Eve celebration, outside on the lawn, at 4 p.m. (Thursday, Dec. 24, at the church 11020 Roane Drive, Farragut).
“The idea is for everyone to bundle up and bring a chair and a mask to the west lawn. We will have live Christmas carols, a brief inspirational message and then beautiful candlelight and communion. Everyone can get home while there is still some daylight and before the temperature begins to drop.
As for “below freezing temps or anything falling from the sky—we will cancel,” Trotter stated.
He added there will be four online Christmas Eve services: Contemporary at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Traditional at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
First Baptist Concord
“This Christmas, we invite you and your family to join us in making a holiday memory at one of our candlelight Christmas Eve services (at the church, 11704 Kingston Pike),” church staff stated on the FBC website. “This service is for the whole family and is going to be a great night to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
“We have new times this year: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 24,” the website further stated. “Childcare will be available for newborn through pre-K.”
First Farragut United Methodist
“First Farragut United Methodist Church will hold an in-person Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m.,” said Randee Schoeniki, administrative assistant for First Farragut UMC at Kingston Pike near Dixie Lee Junction. “We ask that you register ahead of time at www.ffumc.org so that we can ensure adequate seating arrangements for social distancing.”
Schoeniki said all CDC guidelines will be followed for the Christmas Eve service. Additionally, “we are having a drive-thru Carols and Communion from 2 to 4 p.m. “Unfortunately, it’s a day-to-day kind of thing because we could be shut down at any time,” he added.
St. Elizabeth Episcopal
“We will have two services on Christmas Eve,” said Pam Haralson, parish administrator for St. Elizabeth’s at 110 Sugarwood Drive. She explained there will be a family service at 5 p.m., which will be outdoors.
“Then, we’ll have an 11 p.m. service and that will be inside and live streamed, so seating is limited on that, and people can register online,” Haralson said.
Attendees are asked to wear masks at the two services, she added. “We will have special musicians that will be coming; on our website we have a video that gives you information.”
Saint John Neumann
“We will be having Christmas Eve services at 4:30, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m., said Susan Melhorn, administrative assistant at SJN, 633 St. John Court.
On Christmas Day, SJN will hold Mass at 6:45, 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and a Spanish Mass at 12:30 p.m.
Melhorn said there also would be a video Mass service online, which can be found on YouTube and SJN’s website at sjnknox.org
Faith Lutheran
The church at 225 Jamestowne Blvd. will have three services on Christmas Eve “so there will be more room, people can social distance and feel safer,” FLC senior pastor Dr. Robert Stelter said.
The 3 p.m. service will be a Contemporary one while the 5 a.m. 7 p.m. services will be Traditional with an organ, he said. Stelter noted more information is on the church’s Facebook page.
Farragut Presbyterian
The church at 209 Jamestowne Blvd. will have a 5 p.m. outdoor worship service — pray for good weather for that one — and at 7:30 p.m. We’re going to have an indoor worship (service) with social distancing and masks,” FPC office administrator Dawn Zilles said. “Special music will be provided and reservations are required.”
The 7:30 p.m. service will be live streamed “on our website,” www.fpctn.org. she added.
