Christmas at Zionsville UMC
Advent Devotional
Every year the Zionsville UMC Writers Group creates an advent devotional to help prepare ourselves for the Christmas season. You can find a printed copy in the church lobby or download a digital copy here.
Hanging of the Greens, December 1, // 10:00am
“Hanging of the Greens” is a service where we decorate the sanctuary as a way of entering the season of Advent. During the service, we learn about the symbolism of the decorations we use (wreaths, garlands, poinsettias, etc.), and then place those decorations while the congregation sings carols. It is a wonderful way to begin our journey to Christmas!
We are excited to bring back this tradition to Zionsville UMC this year. We will have one special service at 10:00am, during which our sanctuary will be decorated for Christmas. We hope you will plan to join us for this special service, especially if you have never experienced it before.
Children’s Christmas Musical, December 15 // 9:30am and 11:00am
Sshh! Grab your dark shades and go undercover to join the exciting Christmas mission of WE THREE SPIES. Agents E, L and F are recruits with the CIK (Christmas Intelligence Kids), a covert group of spies who secretly bring Christmas cheer to the needy. But this year they’re facing an especially difficult challenge: keeping Ms. Harriet (pronounced “Har-ret”) King, a Scrooge-like landlord, from evicting them from their headquarters, confiscating donations, and cancelling their Christmas Nativity program. It takes a little expert espionage and a lot of God’s unconditional love for Ms. King to change her tune as she finally joins the CIK and the entire town in a musical celebration of the true meaning of Jesus’ birth.
Our children will lead us in worship on this Sunday.
The Longest Night Service, December 18 // 7:00pm
The Longest Night Service is a special service for those who might be struggling during the season of Christmas. This service acknowledges that, for many people, Christmas can be a time of loneliness or grief. Especially during a hard year, when Christmas will not feel "normal" for so many of us, this is a time to remember the hope of "Emmanuel" and feel surrounded by the compassionate love of God.
Childcare will be offered for this service.
The prayer labyrinth will be available in the chapel from 6:00-9:00pm this night and Stephens Ministers will be available for conversation and prayer.
Christmas Eve Services, December 24 // 4:00pm, 6:00pm, 8:00pm, 11:00pm
Take a break from the holiday craze and join us for Christmas Eve services at Zionsville UMC. This year, Zionsville UMC will host four services. All services are available both online and in-person.
4:00pm is directed to families with young children. This service includes our contemporary band, a shorter message, and songs from the Children's musical.
6:00pm & 8:00pm are more traditional services with special music from instrumentalists and vocalists.
11:00pm - for those who welcome an 11 o’clock service as part of their Christmas tradition, we will gather at the last hour of Christmas Eve to welcome in Christmas Day. This service will be a simplified service with music from the cantata and familiar Christmas music.
All services will feature candlelight and Silent Night. Eveyone is invited to this wonderful celebration of the hope and joy that is found in the birth of Jesus.
Childcare will be offered for the 4:00pm and 6:00pm services.
Sunday Service After Christmas December 29 // Once service only at 10:00am
While many people, including church staff, will still be traveling for the holidays, we will host one service, at 10:00am only on December 29. As always, the service will be live-streamed online (zumc.org/livestream).
Christmas Offering
Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southeastern U.S. Knowing it will be months and years before roads, towns, and families’ lives will be put back together, the Mission Committee decided the Advent offering will go to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to support their local relief efforts. 100% of gifts made to UMCOR go directly to help those in need rather than funding administrative and operating costs.