Churches get creative to celebrate holiday
Rev. Dr. David Felton, Interim Minister at First Church in Jaffrey. Staff photo by Ben Conant
Rev. Dr. David Felton, Interim Minister at First Church in Jaffrey. Staff photo by Ben Conant
Rev. Dr. David Felton is the interim minister at First Church in Jaffrey. Ben Conant / Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Rev. Dr. David Felton, Interim Minister at First Church in Jaffrey. Staff photo by Ben Conant
Published: 12/21/2020 5:47:37 PM
Christmas is one of the most significant holidays in the Christian religion, and often draws larger than usual crowds to services – not an ideal circumstance when COVID-19 guidelines still call for limiting contact with large groups.
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Modified: 12/18/2020 11:25:21 AM
Christmas is one of the most significant holidays in the Christian religion, and often draws larger than usual crowds to services – not an ideal circumstance when COVID-19 guidelines still call for limiting contact with large groups.
As a result, some churches are being creative with either their services and many of the traditions that surround them this year. Others are holding in person service without social distancing or mask requirements.
Sometimes, the Rev. David Felton, pastor at the First Church in Jaffrey, said forced creativity can produce some silver linings.
The First Church in Jaffrey isn’t meeting in person for its usual Christmas Eve service, but will be providing an online service for its congregation to watch at home. And some members that wouldn’t have had the chance to participate otherwise get to join in, Felton said.
Area churches announce Christmas service schedules
ELLSWORTH With extra precautions in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, local churches have announced their service schedules for Christmas Eve on Thursday, Dec. 24, and Christmas Day on Friday, Dec. 25.
The following is a partial list of services scheduled throughout the area:
Bucksport-Orland
Bucksport United Methodist Church and the
Orland United Methodist Church have announced the schedule and protocols for their 2020 Christmas Eve services.
Current protocols will be in effect for attendance at the service and seating will be assigned to accommodate the most people using social distancing. The services are open to the public to attend.
Green River Star -
David Martin
Nancy Stevens and Bonnie Arnold are co-organizers for the upcoming live Nativity scene which will take place at the Church of the Nazarene Dec. 19, from 6-9 p.m.
One of Green River s newer traditions, a performance of Handel s Messiah and a Christmas Carol sing-a-long won t be taking place this year, but organizers have other plans in place to celebrate the season. It would have been our ninth year, co-organizer Bonnie Arnold, said.
In its place, a live Nativity scene will be presented to the community at the Church of the Nazarene, 630 Riverview Drive, Dec. 19 from 6-9 p.m.