Loveland area churches will offer a Christmas Hymn-Sing, Aaron Shust concert, a Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service, St. Nicholas visit and more.
First on Fourth church offers Christmas Hymn-Sing
First United Presbyterian Church, 400 E. Fourth St., Loveland, will hold a Community Christmas Hymn-Sing at 6-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10.
All are welcome to join in singing holiday carols, and can join in person or via the church’s 1st on Fourth YouTube channel.
The event is free, and freewill donations will be accepted at the door.
Aaron Shust to perform at Foundations Church
Foundations Church, 1380 N. Denver Ave., Loveland, will present a Christmas concert with Aaron Shust at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12.
Shust will present a night of music celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Promised Messiah.
He is a Christian recording artist, songwriter and worship leader. He has won multiple Gospel Music Association awards, including Songwriter of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year in 2017 for “My Savior My God.”
All money from ticket sales will go to the nonprofit Ordinary Nurses to benefit the mothers and babies it serves.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $30 for early admission and $100 for VIP admission.
For details, visit bit.ly/3xLCbRS
Lutheran churches to hold Blue Christmas service
King of Glory, Trinity and Zion Lutheran Churches in Loveland will hold a Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3333 N. Duffield Ave., Loveland.
For many people, the holidays are a difficult time. Holidays sometimes bring up painful memories as people mourn the loss of loved ones, are reminded of broken family relationships, or feel inadequate because of lack of financial resources in this season of gift giving.
On Dec. 21, the longest night of the year, the churches will acknowledge this pain, loss, grief, and loneliness that many experience with a special worship service to lift these concerns to Jesus who is the light of the world.
For details, call 970-667-1836.
St. Nicholas welcomed at St. Peter’s Anglican Church
The fourth century Bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas, will arrive at St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Sunday, Dec. 5.
St. Nicholas has a history that is varied from nation to nation. In England his day is celebrated by children dressing up as priests and bishops while lording over their elders. In Greece and Italy, he is celebrated as “Lord of the Sea”, and in Russia he is celebrated on a weekly basis with a special church service.
One legend of St. Nicholas holds that in Turkey a man had lost all of his money, and he could not support his three daughters. To solve his financial problem, he determined that he would sell his daughters into slavery. Hearing of this tragedy, St. Nicholas threw bags of gold into the window of their home.
Following this legend, in some countries in Europe children place their shoes outside of their door on St. Nicholas Day eve with the hope of finding them filled with gold the next morning. To their excitement, yet disappointment, they are usually filled with candy. On St. Nicholas’ visit to St. Peter’s, and during a church neighborhood walk after the church service, he will hand out gold chocolate coins to children.
Also happening on St. Nicholas Sunday will be a cookie baking contest. A competition will be held for the best-looking cookie design of the saint. The winner will receive a porcelain figure of St. Nicholas to keep until next year’s contest. Following the contest, the congregation will get the best treat of all when they consume the cookies.
The Rev. Matt Rucker celebrates Holy Communion each Sunday at St. Peter’s Anglican Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. The community is invited to join in with the St. Nicholas program on Dec. 5, and to participate in worship services any Sunday of the year.
St. Peter’s Anglican Church is located at 4044 N. Duffield Ave., Loveland.
For details, call 970-292-8595 or visit stpetersonline.org.
First Baptist offers Christmas Reimagined
First Baptist Church of Loveland will make a journey toward Christmas with the music of the holidays and the stories that bring new life in “Christmas Reimagined.”
The services to rekindle that childlike merriment of this special time of year are held each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the church at 1003 W. Sixth St.
For details, visit fbcloveland.org.
Namaqua Unitarians to hold hybrid service
Namaqua Unitarian Universalist Congregation will return to its church at 745 W. Fifth St., Loveland, with a hybrid service both in person and online on Sunday, Dec. 5.
The Rev. Laurel Liefert and ministerial intern clare hammoor will kindle the fire of commitment to justice and mercy in the service exploring the Zulu concept of Ubuntu, which is often expressed as “I am because of who we all are.”
Drawing from restorative practices inside the prison system and in our community, this service invites people to consider: How might we all be more alive and accountable when practices of justice and mercy are in circles of care? How might Unitarian Universalists manifest redemption in our larger world?
Visit namaquauu.org for details.
Giving Machines return to Denver
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has once again installed Light the World Giving Machines in Denver.
The machines, which look like regular vending machines, give the opportunity to make a difference for those in need within Colorado and around the world.
The machines are located at Writers Square (off of 16th Street, between Larimer and Lawrence) and will be open 24/7 through New Year’s Day.
Volunteers will be there from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day to assist visitors.
Four Denver-based and two worldwide charities will receive donations through the Giving Machines.
The charities include: The Crowley Foundation, Denver Rescue Mission, Jewish Family Service, Project Worthmore, CARE and United Nations Refugee Agency.
Donors pay by credit card or mobile pay, then make their choice, just like a regular vending machine.
Prices range from $5 to $300.
For a complete list of items and more information about the different charities, visit givingmachinesdenver.com or on Facebook: Giving Machines Denver.
All donations go to buy the items selected. Machine costs and credit card fees are covered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Faith calendar
Loveland area churches that have reached out with news or information about how people can access services, include:
Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church services starts at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, 300 42nd St. SW, Loveland. Bible study classes will meet at 10:20-11:20 a.m. Masks are required. For information, call 970-667-7403.
First United Presbyterian Church, 400 E. Fourth St., Loveland, holds Advent Prayer Services every Wednesday through Advent at 7:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary. A Community Christmas Hymn Sing will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the church. A freewill offering will be taken. Call 970-667-0605 or visit 1ston4th.com.
Menorah Lighting, 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, in Old Town Square, Fort Collins. Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik, Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt, dignitaries and community will light a giant menorah and enjoy Jewish holiday music and traditional Hanukkah foods. Website: bit.ly/3l3MbRn.
“Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” Course, 6-9 p.m. Monday evenings, Jan. 10-May 2, at Clearwater Church, 2700 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins. Fifteen lessons designed to equip every day believers with greater vision, hope and passion to bless the world around them. The first three classes are free. For details, visit perspectives.org or contact Nathan Hrouda 970-310-1998.
Trinity United Methodist Church Operation Turkey runs through Dec. 12. Nonperishable holiday side dish items and money to purchase turkey/hams for the House of Neighborly Service Food Pantry can be dropped off at the back of the sanctuary. Look for the Operation Turkey display. Monetary donations can be placed in the offering plate (checks made out to TUMC with Operation Turkey in the memo line) or cash in an envelope marked Operation Turkey. There will be a drive-thru food drive at 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 11, at the church, 801 N. Cleveland Ave., Loveland. Can’t make it that day but want to donate? Contact the church office and we will set a time to pick up your items.
Trinity United Methodist Church offers an in-person and livestreamed service at 10 a.m. Sundays. The service is also rebroadcast at 5 p.m. on YouTube. Visit tumc-loveland.org for details. For more information, email secretary@tumc-loveland.org or call the church office at 970-667-4381 and leave a message. Calls will be returned as soon as possible.
Women in the Word meets at Faith Church, 2707 N. Wilson Ave., Loveland. Participants in the interdenominational Bible study will study the book of Acts. Daytime and evening small groups are offered Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Kids in the Word, for ages infant to 6 years old, also available. Preregister at faithepc.org/witw or call 970-663-0522.
This column is open to Loveland-area churches and church groups. Email news@reporter-herald.com by Wednesday for inclusion in the Faith Briefs, which runs on Fridays.
