Advent and Christmas are among the busiest times of year for churchgoers, and that trend is expected to continue for Episcopal churches around the Diocese of Central Florida.
Advent 2018, which is the first season of the church year, officially starts Sunday, Dec. 2, and ends Monday, Dec. 24, on Christmas Eve. Advent is the season in which Christians ready for the Lord’s nativity.
Christmas Day (Tuesday, Dec. 25) is one of seven principal feasts in the Book of Common Prayer and is part of the Christmas season, which runs 12 days until Jan. 5, 2019. Epiphany is set to be celebrated the weekend of Jan. 5-6, 2019.
Partial list of services
Churches listed in alphabetical order:
All Saints’ Episcopal Church
155 Clark St.
Enterprise, FL 32725
386-668-4108
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
7 p.m., Service
10:30 p.m., Carols
11 p.m., Service
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
The Cathedral Church of St. Luke
130 N. Magnolia Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801
407-849-0680
- Sunday, Dec. 2
5 p.m., Twilight Courtyard Reception6 p.m., Advent Evensong
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
Christmas Lessons & Carols, holiday reception afterward.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
4 p.m., Christmas Pageant
8 p.m., Festival Eucharist
10:30 p.m., O Holy Night, a carol concert and sing-along
11 p.m., Festival Eucharist
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 10:15 a.m.
Epiphany Service – Solemn High Mass with Cathedral Choir
Christ Church
151 W. Church Ave.
Longwood, FL 32750
407-339-6812
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m.
Lighting of Advent I Candle Ceremony and Eucharist Service.
- Sunday, Dec. 9
10 a.m., Lighting of Advent II Candle Ceremony and Eucharist Service.
4 p.m., Christmas Caroling to shut-ins.
- Sunday, Dec. 16
10 a.m., Lighting of Advent III Candle Ceremony and Eucharist Service.
- Sunday, Dec. 23
10 a.m., Lighting of Advent IV Candle Ceremony and Eucharist Service.
- Monday, Dec. 24, 5 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service and Carol Singing.
Christ the King Episcopal Church
6400 N. Socrum Loop Road
Lakeland, FL 33810
863-858-1948
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m.
Blue Christmas Service (quiet music, readings and reflections in recognizance of those who are going through painful passages in their lives).
- Sunday, Dec. 23
10 a.m., Advent IV service, Children’s Christmas Play
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5:30 p.m., Family Service
10 p.m., Midnight Mass
- Sunday, Dec. 30, 10 a.m.
Service of Lessons and Carols
- Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, 7 p.m.
Boar’s Head Festival – Service of the Epiphany (colorful ceremony of Christmastide and Epiphany, celebrated since the Middle Ages in England).
Christ the King Episcopal Church
26 Willow Drive
Orlando, FL 32807
407-277-1151
- Monday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Eucharist Celebration of our Savior’s Birth with special musical performances, followed by wonderful fellowship and reception in the Parish Hall.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Celebrating our dear Savior’s birth!
Church of Our Savior
1000 Jersey Lane NE
Palm Bay, FL 32905
321-723-8032
- Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m.
Nine Lessons & Carols, Advent Service No. 2
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
4 p.m., Holy Eucharist with Families
10:30 p.m., Carol Prelude
11 p.m., Holy Eucharist with Organ & Choir
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Morning Prayer with Communion
Church of Our Saviour
200 Northwest 3rd St.
Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-763-4843
- Wednesday, Dec. 19
Third Wednesday Prayer Service featuring “Longing for Light in the Darkness.”
- Sunday, Dec. 23
Advent Services
8 a.m., Mass
10:30 a.m., Mass, Children’s Christmas Pageant
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
6 p.m., Christmas Eve Family Mass
9:30-10 p.m., Lessons and Carols
10 p.m., Christmas Eve Mass
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9 a.m.
Christmas Day Mass
Church of St. Luke & St. Peter
2745 Canoe Road
St. Cloud, FL 34772
407-892-3227
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m.
‘Joy to All the World’ Christmas Cantata and Music Celebration. Led by the director of music of Church of St. Luke & St. Peter and an accomplished choral and orchestra director, Mr. Timothy Hearn, this program will set our hearts toward the coming of Jesus through choral music, many instruments, and a Gospel presentation of the nativity.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
6 p.m., Family Service with Children’s Christmas Nativity
11 p.m., Traditional Midnight Mass with choir, choral-sung Eucharist and incense.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Morning Service, Rite II Holy Eucharist with an intimate feel to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 8 and 9:30 a.m.
Epiphany Services
Church of the Ascension
4950 South Apopka-Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 328919
407-876-3480
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols (full choir and strings)
- Monday, Dec. 24, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
Church of the Blessed Redeemer
1225 Degroodt Road SW
Palm Bay, FL 32908
321-725-6881
- Monday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Worship Service
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 9 a.m.
Epiphany Service
Church of the Good Shepherd
221 S. Fourth St.
Lake Wales, FL 33853-3856
863-676-8578
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m.
Advent Wreath Workshop
Daughters of the King will host this fifth annual workshop so that individuals and families can make their own Advent wreaths. There will be a nominal fee to cover the cost of materials.
- Sunday, Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Banquet and Pageant. This event is the favorite evening of the year for many of our parishioners. We begin with wassail in the memorial garden, followed by a delicious roast beef dinner. We then move into the church to enjoy a handbell concert and our traditional Christmas pageant. The pageant, a 77-year tradition, is presented by our parish children.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5:30 p.m., Festival Eucharist with a choir. Childcare available.
9 p.m., Festival Eucharist with a choir. Childcare available.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service in the chapel.
Church of the Holy Spirit
601 S. Highland Ave
Apopka, FL 32703
407-886-1740
- Advent Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
Evening prayer in the main church.
- Sunday, Dec. 9, 5 p.m.
Lessons and Carols. Combined choirs of Holy Spirit, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic, and First Presbyterian, hosted by St. Francis of Assisi, 834 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703-6560. St. Francis of Assisi phone: 407-886-4602.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
7 p.m., Family Eucharist
11 p.m., Holy Eucharist in main church - Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9:30 a.m.
Christmas Day Service, Holy Eucharist in the Little Church.
Church of the Messiah
241 N. Main St.
Winter Garden, FL 34787
407-656-3218
- Sunday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve “Eve” Service. Contemporary Communion with the Worship Band in the Parish Hall. This is for those, who on Christmas Eve may be traveling, don’t want to fight the crowd at church, are willing to give up their seat to a visitor, or have other festivities … or who just like their music fun and loud!
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 pm., Children’s Communion, with 50 minutes of Lessons, Carols, and Communion designed especially for wiggly, excited children and their families in the Parish Hall.
7 p.m., Traditional Rite 1 Festival Holy Communion with choir, carols, candles and incense in the church.
10:30 p.m., Traditional Rite 2 Festival Holy Communion with choir, carols, and candles in the church.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m.
Christmas Day Service. Simple Christmas Communion with carols on guitar.
Corpus Christi Episcopal Church
3430 County Road 470
Okahumpka, FL 34762
352-787-8430
- Monday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service, Candle-Lit Eucharist
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Eucharist
- Sunday, Dec. 30, 10 a.m.
Christmas Lessons and Carols
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The Feast of the Epiphany
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
1603 E. Winter Park Road
Orlando, FL 32803
407-894-1641
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 4 p.m.
Advent I Service. Evensong with recital. Bells, Men’s Schola.
Andrew Walker, organist, St. Michael’s, performing.
Reception afterward.
- Sunday, Dec. 23, 10:15 a.m.
Advent IV Service. Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist.
Choir & String Quartet.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
4 p.m., Holy Eucharist with pageant and candle-lighting for families.
8 p.m., Sung Holy Eucharist with candle-lighting. Choir and bells.
10 p.m., Sung Holy Eucharist with candle-lighting. Choir and incense.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Holy Eucharist with hymns.
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 10:15 a.m.
Epiphany Eucharist, followed by annual visitation of the Three Kings in the Parish Hall, and then pinata festivities in the courtyard.
Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s
5750 SE 115th St.
Belleview, FL 34420
352-347-6422
- Sunday, Dec. 23
8 and 10:30 am., Advent IV Services
10:30 a.m., Children’s Christmas Page
- Monday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service - Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Services
Grace Episcopal Church
4110 S. Ridgewood Ave.
Port Orange, FL 32127
386-767-3583
- Monday, Dec. 24
5 p.m., Children’s Christmas Eve Service in Historic Chapel
6 p.m., Children’s “Happy Birthday, Jesus” Party in Parish Life Center
7 p.m., Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service in main church
- Tuesday, Dec. 25
10 a.m., Christmas Day Service in Historic Chapel
Holy Apostles Episcopal Church
505 Grant Avenue
Satellite Beach, FL 32927
321-777-0024
- Wednesday, Nov. 28; Dec. 5 and 12, 11 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study, Church Library Meeting Room
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 9 and 16 (three-week series), 9:15-10:15 a.m.
Advent Series “Pride and Incarnation” (Judgement & Gossip), Parish Hall
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 p.m., Family Service
10:30 p.m., Caroling Prelude
11 p.m., Candlelight Service
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9 a.m.
Christmas Day Service (casual service)
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
500 W. Stuart St.
Bartow, FL
863-533-3581
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23, 9:30 a.m.
Advent Services
- Monday, Dec. 24, 5:30 and 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 9:30 a.m.
Epiphany Service
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
50 W. Strawbridge Ave.
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-723-5272
- Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m., beginning Nov. 28
Advent Bible Study (Parish Hall)
- Sunday, Dec. 2
10:30 a.m., Advent Craft Fair (Parish Hall)
4 p.m., Blue Christmas Service (Church)
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 3 p.m.
Christmas Caroling Around the Parish (Meet in the Parish Hall)
- Saturday, Dec. 22, 5 p.m.
Lessons and Carols Services (Church)
- Sunday, Dec. 23, 7:30, 9 and 11:15 a.m.
Lessons and Carols Services (Church)
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services (includes Holy Eucharist)
11 a.m., Trinity Towers, downtown Melbourne
3 p.m., Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist, Children and Family Service (Church)
5 p.m., Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – Rite II (Church)
8 p.m., Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – Rite II (Church)
11 p.m., Candlelight Christmas Eve Service – Rite I (Church)
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service (Church)
- Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, 5 p.m.
Epiphany Service
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
7:30, 9 and 11:15 a.m., Recognition of Epiphany at Sunday Services
7 p.m., Epiphany Service at St. John’s Episcopal Service, 610 Young St., Melbourne.
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
202 Pontotoc Plaza
Auburndale, FL 33823
863-967-2130
- Monday, Dec. 24, 5 and 10 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
St. Barnabas Church
319 W. Wisconsin Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
386-734-1814
- Saturday, Dec. 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
Christmas Breakfast with St. Nick
- Sunday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.
Lessons and Carols with reception to follow.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 p.m., Pageant and Family Eucharist
10:30 p.m., Choral Music
11 p.m., Festival Choral Eucharist
St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church
600 4th St. South
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
321-783-2554
- Sunday, Dec. 23
Greening of the church after church potluck
- Monday, Dec. 24, 6 and 9 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
- Sunday, Dec. 30
Festival of Lights, time to be announced
- Monday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Service, followed by wine-and-cheese reception
St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church
901 Clearmont St.
Sebastian, FL 32958
772-589-2770
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Advent I Service – Praise, Prayer and Healing Service
- Sunday, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23
Advent services
8 a.m., Rite I
9:15 a.m. Pastor’s Study
10 a.m., Rite II with music
10 a.m., Nursery
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve services
7 p.m., Service
10 p.m., Service with incense.
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service for the mature, those who don’t drive at night, and visiting guests.
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
Epiphany Service – Praise, Prayer and Healing Service
St. Francis Episcopal Church
313 N. Grace St.
Bushnell, FL 33513
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 4 p.m.
Third Annual Lessons and Carols Service, with refreshments to follow. All are welcome.
- Monday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
414 Pine St.
Titusville, FL 32796
321-267-2545
- Saturday, Dec. 1, 6 p.m.
Advent Service – Annual New Year’s Eve Bash (Saturday Night before Advent)
Join us for small plates and live jazz.
- Saturday, Dec. 22, 5:30 p.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols with a professional string quartet.
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5:30 p.m., Family Eucharist with Children’s Pageant
10 p.m., Carol Singing
11 p.m., Choral Eucharist
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 9 a.m.
Christmas Eucharist
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, 5:30 p.m.
Rite II Epiphany Service
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
7:30 a.m., Rite I Epiphany Service
10 a.m., Rite II Epiphany Service
St. George’s Episcopal Church
1250 Paige Place
The Villages, FL 32159-9315
352-750-1010
- Monday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
- Sunday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.
New Organ Dedication Concert
Dr. John T. Lowe, Jr. Organist
- Monday, Dec. 24, 4 and 9 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services
Festive Eucharist Services with Choir
(Prelude music and caroling begin 30 minutes before each service.) - Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
Festive Eucharist Service with Choir
St. Jude’s Episcopal Church
815 E. Graves Ave.
Orange City, FL 32763
386-775-6200
- Saturday, Dec. 22, 8 a.m.-noon
Annual Cookie Walk
- Monday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service with Christmas Pageant, candlelight procession
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 8 and 10:30 a.m.
Epiphany Services. The three kings appear, and the King cake is presented and eaten.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
4 Church St.
Cocoa, FL 32922
321-636-3781
- Sunday, Dec. 16, 4 p.m.
Advent Lessons and Carols Service
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5:30 p.m., Family Service
10 p.m., Late Christmas Eve Service
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Morning Service
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 8 and 10:30 a.m.
Epiphany Services
St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church
6316 Matchett Road
Orlando, FL 32809
407-855-1930
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 p.m., Family Service
10 p.m., Carols
10:30 p.m., The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
8 a.m., Rite I Service (Epiphany)
10 a.m., Rite II Service (Epiphany)
St. Peter the Fisherman Episcopal Church
4220 Saxon Drive
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
386-428-7383
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
5 p.m., Children’s Service
7 p.m., Service
11 p.m., Service
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
700 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-444-5673
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
4:30 p.m., Youth Choir Concert
5 p.m., Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist
7:30 p.m., Christmas Eve Contemporary Service with Holy Eucharist
10:30 p.m., Choir Concert
11 p.m., Christmas Eve Traditional Service with Holy Eucharist
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Christmas Day Traditional Service with Holy Eucharist
- Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, 10 a.m.
New Year’s Day Worship/The Holy Name Traditional Service with Holy Eucharist
- Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019
5 p.m., Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
8:30 a.m., Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
11 a.m., Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
St. Richard’s Episcopal Church
5151 Lake Howell Road
Winter Park, FL 32792-1095
407-671-4211
- Monday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
4 p.m., Holy Eucharist Rite II
7 p.m., Concert
7:30 p.m., Holy Eucharist Rite II
- Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10:30 a.m.
Christmas Day Service
- Sunday, Dec. 30
8 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite I
10:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist Rite II
5 p.m., Lessons and Carols with champagne-and-strawberry reception in pre-celebration of New Year’s Eve.
- Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019, 5 p.m.
Epiphany Sunday Service, followed by Epiphany Potluck and White Elephant Exchange.
– Compiled by Jeff Gardenour
Holiday Advent/Christmas schedules are subject to change.
Please refer to www.cfdiocese.org for the most current schedules.