From a live nativity to bell ringing to brunch, Churches invite community in to celebrate Christmas

Sharon United Methodist Church

If you don’t attend a church in Manchester, but are looking for an opportunity to participate in the religious celebration of Christmas, Manchester’s churches offer a variety of services open to everyone!

Emanuel United Church of Christ, located at 324 West Main Street, will hold its 41st Annual Live Nativity and they invite the community to join them Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 from 6:30 to 8 pm, in the Courtyard between church and fellowship hall.

Community Bible Church, located at 8400 Sharon Hollow Rd., will be holding a candlelight Christmas Eve service on Sunday, Dec. 24th at 6 pm.

St James United Church of Christ, 11005 W Michigan Ave. in Saline Township, will be holding three services on Sunday December 24th: 10:15 am Worship Hour, 6:30 pm Children's Program, and 9 pm Candle Light Service.

Historic Zion Lutheran Church, at 3050 S Fletcher Rd. in Freedom Township, will hold its Christmas Eve services at 3 pm (family worship), with 7 and 10 pm candlelight worship services.

Manchester United Methodist Church, located at 501 Ann Arbor Street, will also be holding three Christmas Eve services. At 10:30 am, there will be a casual worship service downstairs in Hoffer Hall including a light brunch. At 7:30 pm, they will hold a family-friendly candlelit worship service in the sanctuary and at 11 pm, a traditional, candlelit worship service in the sanctuary.

Sharon United Methodist Church, on the corner of M-52 & Pleasant Lake Roads, invites everyone to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day events. On December 24th, at 10:30 am they will hold a “baby shower” for Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. Everyone is encouraged, in remembrance of Jesus’s birth, to bring diapers (size 2 & 4), pull-ups, diaper rash ointment and baby wash/shampoo. All gifts will be donated to the Manchester Community Resource Center food pantry. Carols will be sung and Holy Communion shared. At 7pm they will hold an evening service. At noon on Christmas morning, Dec. 25th, they will hold the annual “Come Ring the Bell” celebration. Anyone can come ring the Sharon church bells. The bell ringing will continue as long as people want to continue the celebratory ringing!

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new information from Sharon United Methodist Church. It originally stated their baby shower for Mary and Joseph would be on Christmas Day instead of Christmas Eve.

Previous live nativity at Emanuel Church

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.