Advent & Christmas

Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 15 at 10:15 a.m.

On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we will celebrate with a traditional service of lessons and carols. The service, which alternates between scripture readings and music led by our choir, helps prepare us to hear the message of Christ’s birth.

Service of Remembrance and Hope

Saturday, December 21 at 5 p.m.

On the longest night of the year, we remember that it is often difficult to grieve during a season when everyone else is celebrating. In this solemn service, we will commemorate our loved ones who have died, acknowledge the challenge of celebrating the holidays when we are in pain, and hear again the hope of the gospel message.

Christmas Pageant Service

Sunday, December 22 at 10:15 a.m.

During our normal service time on Sunday the 22nd, our children will tell the Christmas story through a Christmas pageant, followed by communion.

Christmas Eve Services

Sunday, December 24 at 9:00 pm (with children’s sermon) and 9:00 p.m. (livestreamed)

We will ring in the joy of Christmas with carols led by a full choir and instrumentalists, the reading of the Christmas story from Luke’s Gospel, communion, and concluding with the traditional singing of “Silent Night” by candlelight.

Christmas Day Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral

Monday, December 25 at 10:00 a.m.

We will not hold a Christmas Day service at St. Timothy’s this year. Instead, we encourage those interested in attending a service on the 25th to attend worship at St. Paul’s, Des Moines (815 High Street).

Adult Formation

Adult Forum

Sundays, December 15 and 22 at 9:15 a.m.
In the Gathering Center

This Advent, we will look at some of our favorite Christmas carols. How did they come to be? What are the words of some of the verses we don’t know as well? What are your favorite carols? What might you be able to teach the rest of us?

Wednesday Night Connect During Advent

December 4, 11 and 18 at 6:30 p.m.
In the Gathering Center

During Advent, we will break from our usual concentration on the lectionary readings and instead focus on the two stories of the birth of Jesus, one from Matthew’s Gospel and the other from Luke’s Gospel. How are they alike? How are they different? How do we mix the two stories together to form the narrative that we are all familiar with?

Angel Tree Outreach

This year, we are adopting ten families for whom we will provide Christmas gifts! On December 7-8, you’ll see the Angel Tree set up in the Parish Hall with “ornaments” detailing suggested Christmas gifts. Four of the families are from our own grocery ministry and the other six have been referred to us by West Des Moines Human Services. We are asking our parishioners to choose and adoptee, purchase gifts for that person, and return the gifts wrapped and tagged by December 22 so that we can deliver them to the recipients.

This is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas with your family. It truly marks each of us as being the hands and feet of Jesus!