Christmas Eve Worship at First Unitarian

The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn Announces its Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Family Service is Planned for 4:00PM

First Unitarian Choir

This year’s 5 o’clock Candlelight Christmas Eve program at First Unitarian will feature several new arrangements of traditional spirituals and carols, by First U’s new Music Director, Adam Podd, as well as other contemporary choral arrangers.  These reimagined Christmas tunes will draw from styles including gospel, jazz, contemporary, and classical.  There will also be two major choral works on the program – Hoggard’s setting of Personent Hodie, and selections from Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata. Pinkham was an American composer and organist, who studied composition with Samuel Barber, and held the position of principal organist for forty-two years at King’s Chapel, a Unitarian Universalist church in Boston.

Featured performers include Marielle Murphy (soprano), Melissa Paul-Perez (alto), Dominick Corbacio (tenor), and Jon Dendy (baritone), as well as a brass quartet.

Rev. Ana Levy-Lyons, First Unitarian’s Senior Minister says, “The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service has been a tradition in Brooklyn Heights for many decades and we are always so proud to open our beautiful gothic revival sanctuary to the wider community”. Music Director, Adam Podd, adds “I am thrilled to continue the tradition and excited to be adding some new elements.  It is a pleasure to lead the First Unitarian choir and soloists who work very hard to present beautiful and meaningful music for the holiday season”.   

This year First Unitarian will add a 4:00 family service featuring familiar carols and stories of the season.  The service will be held in the chapel which will be decorated with holiday greens. Meagan Henry, the Director of Education Ministries says, “It has been several years since we’ve offered a more casual service especially for families with children.  We are planning a worship that will celebrate the Christmas season in a way that is approachable to children of all ages”.  Rev. Levy-Lyons adds, “Of course some people may choose to go to both services and that would be great”.

Childcare will be available for younger children at the 5:00PM service.