HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
Christmas services on the Beach
– Once again St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church located at 5601 Williams Drive Fort Myers Beach will be having special music for both the evening and morning Christmas services. The Christmas Eve services at 7 PM and 10 PM will feature solos by opera singer Jessica Marcrum accompanied by Frank Zilinyi on the organ. Both Ms. Marcrum and Mr. Zilinyi are graduates of Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, OH. Ms. Marcrum is currently studying for her Master’s in Classical Voice Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Frank Zilinyi is studying for his Master’s in Organ at the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music. The Christmas morning service at 10 AM on Christmas Day will feature special music by Sierra and Logan Coleman accompanied by Saint Rapheal’s organist Jean Matthew . Sierra and Logan Coleman of Juneau, Alaska are the grandchildren of the Zack & Chris Zack of Fort Myers Beach.
– The 13th Annual Christmas Eve Service On the Beach by the pier (Lynn Hall Park, Fort Myers Beach) is Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.
Songs will be led by “Lady Blue” (Stephanie Kirch).
The service is hosted by The New Church of Southwest Florida and Rev. Nadine Cotton, 10811 Sunset Plaza Circle in Fort Myers.
The service comprises Christmas carols and Christmas readings. Programs will be provided.
Bring a beach chair or blanket, flashlight and a candle. Bring a non-perishable food item with you to help replenish the church’s emergency food pantry.
– St. Peter Lutheran Church will conduct candlelight worship services of Christmas carols and lessons on Christmas Eve at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., with Holy Communion.
Christmas Day Worship Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion. All are welcome! St. Peter Lutheran Church is at 3751 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.
For more information, call Susan Frantz at the church, 463-4251.
Downtown services
– The Story of Christmas will be shared in two special ways this year at the Christmas Eve services, Wednesday evening, Dec, 24, at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Myers.
First, the Children’s Participation Service at 5:30 p.m. in the Life Enrichment Center allows the children to dress in simple costumes furnished at the church. The children are invited to participate in the re-telling of the birth of Jesus through scripture and Christmas carols. A real live baby plays the part of Jesus. Pastor Jim Mitchell said, “This service, in its first year, is ideal for families with preschool and young children. Also, adults without children will enjoy the simplicity and inspiration of the service.”
The Family Candlelight Christmas Eve Service is at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The Choir will sing a special anthem and Pastor Jim Mitchell will share a Christmas message. The service will conclude with the lighting of individual candles and the singing of “Silent Night.”
First United Methodist Church is at 2466 First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. For more information, call the church office at 332-1152.
– First Baptist, 1735 Jackson St., is to host a Christmas Eve Communion Service at 5 p.m.
– First Presbyterian, 2438 2nd St., hosts a Candlelight Serve of Lessons and Carols at 6 p.m. Call 334-2261 for more.
Open Mic
A Holiday Open Mic is set for Friday, Dec. 26, 4 to 6 p.m. at The Bean on Sanibel, 2240 Periwinkle Way.
The end of the eventful year 2008 will be celebrated on as writers, residents and visitors to the islands are invited to celebrate the outgoing exciting year, 2008, and greet 2009, the Year of Hope and Change by reading and listening to original and favorite selections of poetry and prose.
For the last seven years, Open Mic at the Bean on Sanibel have become very popular throughout the entire Southwest Florida region. Poets and writers from Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University, Charlotte and Collier County as well as writers from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe and Latin America have participated in the Open Mic at the Bean.
Open Mic readings are informal. The only requirements are that performers sign the Reader’s List and limit their reading time to five minutes. If you choose not to read, you are welcome to listen.
For further information, call Joseph Pacheco, 472-1280 or the Bean, 395-1919.