Advent Quiet Day, Time for a Break, Brandywine Collaborative Ministries, Grace Church, Wilmington, Saturday, December 11, 9:30am-12:30pm

Have you ever felt the time before Christmas is just a little overwhelming? Between the cards and the shopping and the social engagements and the family obligations, do you ever feel that you have lost the spirit of what Christmas is supposed to be about? Do you ever feel you need a Christmas break from Christmas? This Quiet Day will give an opportunity to catch your breath and reflect more deeply on the meaning of Christmas. We will gather for coffee and refreshments in the Grace Parish Hall at 9:30, and then, starting at 10:00, enjoy a series of three reflections by our clergy. After each, participants will have an opportunity to find a quiet spot inside the church complex, or weather permitting, stroll Grace’s expansive grounds, and give yourself the opportunity for some pre-Christmas quiet time and reflection. After the third and last session, we will gather in the Grace Chapel for an informal Eucharist at 11:30 and then finish with a delicious lunch at 12 noon in the Parish Hall. You will come away refreshed in mind and spirit, and ready to embrace Christmas this year with joy and anticipation. More information

4900 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE
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Advent Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 5, 5pm

This service is patterned after the great service in Salisbury, England. We will welcome guests from the community to read the lessons, and the Christ Church Choir will lead our singing. Join us as we allow the light, scripture, prayer, and music to open our hearts to the coming of Christ.

Advent Compline, Tuesdays December 7 & 14, 7pm

Father David Beresford will lead an Office of Compline (Night Prayer) from Common Worship. Each evening will include a short meditation on the theme of Advent. Join us in the Chapel from 7 to 7:40pm.

An Advent Quiet Morning, Saturday, December 11, 8:30am-12noon

The Health & Wellness Ministry of Christ Church invites you to a morning of reflection and introspection amid the din of holiday activities. Come embrace the reason for the season in Parish Hall A. Using the first three steps of the Twelve Steps of a recovering life, we will uncover Came… Came to… Came to Believe. Each session will begin with the spiritual underpinnings of each step and a personal reflection. You will have ample time for silence and retreat throughout the Christ Church campus. Please dress comfortably and warmly if you choose to spend retreat time outdoors. You do not need to be in recovery from addiction to participate. Anne Lamott writes, “Everyone is addicted to something in life.” This event is open to all, free of charge, though we invite a free will offering to support the continuing work of Limen Recovery + Wellness. Please register your attendance here.

505 E. Buck Road
Wilmington, DE
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Saturday, December 18, 10:00 AM, Service of Remembrance, a time of prayer and reflection for those facing any type of loss as we mark Advent and Christmas

501 S. State Street
Dover, DE
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Messiah Sing Along
Tuesday, December 21, 7pm, Bring your score or borrow one and join in the singing of the choruses. Jeffrey Spade, conductor and David Christopher, organist. $10 suggested donation.

719 N. Shipley Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
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• Friday, December 10^th at 7:30 pm, First State Symphonic Band Christmas Concert on
  ($10 suggested but not required donation)

December 16 – 7:00 pm, An Advent Service of Light, this “Blue Christmas” service has been offered in a number of forms around the country and the world in recent years to make room in the Christmas season for the seen and unseen burdens we might carry. While it is appropriate to be festive and joyful this season, this service acknowledges that the miracle of Christ’s birth meets us in our brokenness, too.

 2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE
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Sunday, December 12th at 5 pm – Taizé Service

Tuesday, December 22nd at 7 pm – Longest Night Service

200 Mulberry Street
Lewes, DE
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Sunday, 12/19, Children’s Christmas pageant during the 10:30am service

Sunday, 12/19- St. Thomas Cookie Exchange following the 10:30am service

76 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19711
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Advent Waffle Church, Trinity Parish, Wilmington, Saturday, December 11, 10-11am

Waffle Church is a monthly Bible-oriented program geared to families with children ages 3-10 years old. Join us each month for a Bible story, a craft, and of course – WAFFLES!

Sunday, December 12 at Trinity’s noon service is the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Virgin of Guadalupe refers to when the Virgin Mary— the mother of Jesus—appeared to a man named Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. Her importance is so great that her image has become a national symbol of Mexico itself. It is a beautiful service with a pageant telling the story. All are welcome.

December 12 – Old Swedes Open-Air Christmas Market & Sankta Lucia Celebration, 12-3:30pm the Open-Air Christmas Market returns, featuring local arts and crafts vendors, raffle baskets, music and food, plus items from our Gift Shop. Tours of the site are ‘Pay What You Wish’ during market hours. At 2:00 pm, join us for a traditional celebration of the Feast Day of Sankta Lucia, a holiday that is still marked by light and music in Sweden today. The Delaware Swedish Colonial Society and Old Swedes Historic Site co-sponsor the annual December celebration of Sankta Lucia, bringer of light and herald of the Christmas season.

Posadas are a Latin American tradition of recreating the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem from December 16 to Christmas Eve.  They are held in parishioner’s homes or at Trinity Church at 7 pm each night. If you would like to know more, please contact Trinity’s parish office at office@trinityparishde.org or at 302-298-2670.

1108 N. Adams Street
Wilmington, DE
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