14th annual event highlights Christmas church services
The 14th annual Christmas Eve Service on the beach front by the pier at Lynn Hall Park is scheduled for Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.
Presented by The New Church of Southwest Florida, the Christmas Eve service will include Christmas Carols and Christmas Readings. Programs will be provided at the event.
Bring a beach chair or blanket, flashlight and a candle. If able, bring a non-perishable food item with you to help replenish our emergency food pantry.
For more information on the event, call 481-5535.
The following are Christmas Eve and Christmas worship services for some of the local churches on Fort Myers Beach:
Beach United Methodist Church
n Beach United Methodist Church at 155 Bay Rd. will host two Christmas Eve worship services at 4 and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24. Featured special music will be played by members of the Southwest Florida Symphony and the Sarasota Orchestra. It will include such Christmas favorites as O Come, All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Angels We Have Heard on High, The First Noel, and Joy to the World. Please plan to join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Beach United’s weekly Sunday worship service is at 10:30 a.m. with a Hymn Sing at 10:15. For more information, please call the church office at 239-463-9656.
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
n All are welcome to worship by candlelight this Christmas at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Candlelight worship services of Christmas carols and lessons will be held Christmas Eve at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. with Holy Communion. Christmas Day worship service will be at 10:30 a.m. with Holy Communion. St. Peter Lutheran Church is located at 3751 Estero Blvd. For more information contact Susan at the church at 463-4251.
Chapel by the Sea
n Christmas Eve services for Chapel By the Sea at 100 Chapel St. are at 7 and 9 p.m. There will be a special Children’s Story and Nursery available for the 7 p.m. service. Both 7 and 9 p.m. will be candlelight services.
Mark your calendar for Sunday Dec. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. Chapel by the Sea will be having a fundraiser to benefit youth programs on Fort Myers Beach. This fundraiser will be held at Pump it Up, an inflatable arena, for kids ages 2 and up. Teens and adults are welcome too. The church will have the entire facility during this time and everyone from the beach, and their friends too, are invited to come to this very fun event. it is known by the second day after Christmas we are ready to get out of the house for some fun. The cost is $10 per person and food may be purchased for an additional fee. Pump it Up is located at 4331 Veronica S Shoemaker Blvd. 1. For more information on the event, call 463-3173. Another fundraiser to benefit youth programs will be in the form of a rummage sale on Jan. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Silver Hall. If you are de-cluttering during the holiday season and would like to donate any items for this rummage, you may drop them off on Friday Jan. 15.
Beach Baptist Church
n Pastor K. Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church said there will be a Christmas eve service at 6:30 p.m. The church is located at 130 Connecticut St.
St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church
n The parish administration at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church announced the following days and times for the holiday service: Thursday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 25, at 10 a.m. The church is located at 5601 Williams Dr.