Aquebogue-Jamesport: Local Christmas Eve services planned

It’s almost Christmas Eve. I hope all your preparations are filled with joy!

We have one birthday announcement this week from Sandy and Goldie Martin. Best wishes for a very happy birthday are extended to Craig, who will turn 50 on Dec. 28. Craig had already celebrated his big day in October. Family and friends surprised him with a bus trip to Mohegan Sun Casino, where there was a private poker table for them to play Texas Hold’em. Everyone had a great time! Happy 50th birthday, Craig.

There are many Christmas and New Year’s services offered at the local churches in our area. The holidays are a wonderful time to connect with the mystery of life. The local churches offer us the time and space to do just that.

Living Waters Full Gospel Church is hosting a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. For more information, call 722-4969 or visit lwfgc.org.

On Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. Old Steeple Church will tell the whole story with Scriptures, Carols, and Candles to enter once again into the mystery of that Silent Holy Night. You may want to make the journey a little early since the sanctuary may be as full as the Inn at Bethlehem. But they won’t make you go out to the barn. On Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. the church will host a hymn-sing, “Celebration: Sing with the Angels.” For more information, visit oldsteeplechurch.com or call 722-3070.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is hosting its Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. and Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Visit ourredeemerlutheranli.com or call 722-4000 for more information.

First Parish Church, Spirit Renewal Center, will be hosting a Christmas Eve family candlelight service at 7 p.m. Christmas Day candlelight service begins at midnight. For more information, call 608-3827 or visit spirit-renewal.com.

My family is looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas at home. Life is a little crazy around here because we just received some difficult news about my daughter Johanna. She has a brain tumor, unrelated to the neurological disease she was born with 14 years ago. She will be going back into the hospital after Christmas for brain surgery to resect the tumor. Thanks for your prayers.

Next week, Dec. 27-31, the Times/Review office will be closed, so there will be no Dec. 30 issue, and there will be no community columns in the Jan. 6 edition. Enjoy your holidays. The column will be resumed in the New Year in the Jan. 13 issue.