Advent

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
website
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
website
- Friday, December 10th 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
website
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
website
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
website
Christmas Eve

- 2pm, Holy Eucharist/Crèche service suitable for young children in the Church
- 4pm, Holy Eucharist in the Church
- 4pm, Candlelight, Communion, and Carols in the Chapel
- 6pm Christmas Lessons & Carols (no communion) in the Church
- 10pm, Choral Eucharist in the Church
505 E. Buck Road
Wilmington, DE
website
- Family Service, 4:00 PM, Youth Choir and “No Rehearsal” Christmas Pageant!
- “Midnight” Service, 10:30 PM
501 S. State Street
Dover, DE
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- 4 pm
200 N. Church Street
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- 4pm, a Christmas Eve experience for all, especially for those with young children and for anyone who would like to be home before dark.
- 11pm, Choral Eucharist with Christmas Carols, This later service begins with Christmas Caroling at 10:30 before the Festival Eucharist service begins at 11:00 p.m. with candle lighting and a full chorus of singers.
- 4:45, Christmas music and carols, followed by sung family Eucharist with choir
- 10:30, Christmas music, followed by choral Eucharist with incense
The Strand and Harmony Streets
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- 6:30 pm, Christmas prelude music
- 7:00 pm, Festival Holy Eucharist with choir
2400 West Seventeenth Street
Wilmington, DE 19806
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- 4:00 PM Holy Eucharist in-person and live
- 10:00 PM Holy Eucharist in-person and live
15 E. Green Street
Middletown, DE 19709
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- 5pm, Christmas Pageant & Holy Communion, with Christmas cheer party and celebration following worship.
- 10pm, music and song by St. David’s choir and guests musicians
- 10:30pm, Festival Holy Eucharist
2320 Grubb Road
Wilmington, DE
website
- 3 pm, daylight Christmas Eucharist, a service for those with young ones who need to get to bed early on Christmas Eve and all those who would prefer not to drive too late into the night!
- 7 pm, Christmas Eve Eucharist
- 10pm, Candlelight service with Holy Eucharist featuring choral music and a cellist.
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE
website
- 7pm, Festival Eucharist, Christmas caroling begins at 6:30pm
2 South Augustine Street
Newport, DE
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- 5 pm
202 N. North Street
Seaford, DE 19973
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- 5pm, music begins at 4:40pm
117 Maplewood Street
Bethany Beach, DE
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- 5pm,
Just as “The Night Before Christmas” tells a story of good things to come on Christmas day, St. Paul’s “Service Before Christmas” shares God’s promise of love for all, not only at Christmas, but for a lifetime.
210 Old North Road
Camden, DE 19934
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- 9pm, candlelight service
122 East Pine Street
Georgetown, DE 19947
website
- Friday, December 24th at 5 pm, Festal Holy Eucharist with Christmas Pageant
- Friday, December 24th at 7:30 pm, Festal Holy Eucharist with music from our Handbell Choir
- Friday, December 24th at 11 pm, Festal Holy Eucharist with music from our Choir
200 Mulberry Street
Lewes, DE
website
- 7:30 pm
600 S. Central Avenue
Laurel, DE 19956
website
- 5pm
- 10pm
76 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19711
website
- 4 pm, Pageant at Trinity Church
- 7 pm, Celebración de la Santa Misa en Español a Iglesia de la Trinidad
- 10:30 pm, Candlelight Service at Old Swedes Church
Trinity Church
1108 N. Adams Street
Wilmington, DE
Old Swedes
606 N. Church Street
Wilmington, DE
website
Christmas Day

- 10am Holy Eucharist in the Church
505 E. Buck Road
Wilmington, DE
website
- 10:00am Worship Service
501 S. State Street
Dover, DE
website
- 10 am, choral Eucharist with incense
The Strand and Harmony Streets
website
- 10:00 am, Festival Holy Eucharist with choir
2400 West Seventeenth Street
Wilmington, DE 19806
website
- 10:00 AM – Old St. Anne’s Church. Holy Eucharist: Rite II with Christmas Carols. In-person and broadcast live
- Dress appropriately for the weather since Old St. Anne’s Church will not be heated. No restrooms available.
105 Saint Anne’s Church Rd
Middletown, DE 19709
(corner of S. Broad Street and Saint Anne’s Church Rd.)
website
- 10 am, Christmas Day Eucharist (No Music) – A simple, quiet celebration of the Incarnation. If the festivities of the night before are a celebration of the birth of Jesus, think of this service as a celebration of his first nap!
2106 St. James Church Road
Wilmington, DE
website
- Saturday, December 25th at 9 am, Festal Holy Eucharist
200 Mulberry Street
Lewes, DE
website
- 10:00 am
600 S. Central Avenue
Laurel, DE 19956
website
- Worship Service, 10am
76 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE 19711
website
- 12 pm, Worship Service
1108 N. Adams Street
Wilmington, DE
website