Area churches offer Christmas worship

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: December 25 2020 Strathmore Times

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Christmas church services will be different this year because of COVID-19 public health measures.

On Dec. 8, the government of Alberta enacted new province-wide public health measures in response to increase COVID-19 case and hospitalization numbers. Included in these measures is that in-person attendance at all places of worship is limited to 15 per cent of fire code occupancy.

Because of this, many churches in Strathmore are taking a different approach to Christmas this year.

Several churches are also following an additional recommendation “strongly encouraged” by the government of holding services online. Different churches are using different online platforms to bring Christmas worship services to their members, including websites, Facebook and YouTube. Others are looking at innovative ways to still hold services while minimizing the chance that worshippers could be exposed to the virus. 

Harvest Healing Centre Church is holding a Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m., outdoors if the weather allows (403-880-3171, harvesthealingcentre.com). 

Hope Community Covenant Church is holding three Christmas Eve services, with a maximum of 100 people attending each service, and is also broadcasting services on YouTube (403-934-2424, hope-community.ca).

Sacred Heart Parish is offering a number of services, including three Christmas Eve masses, a Christmas Day mass, as well as masses on Dec. 26 and 27. Pre-registration is required (403-934-2641, sacredhc.ca).

Strathmore United Church is hosting a Christmas Eve service online at 7:30 p.m., ending with the candle lighting and singing of Silent Night (403-934-3025, smoreuc.com).

St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church is holding a Christmas Eve service online at 4:30 p.m. (403-934-3017, calgary.anglican.ca/programs/st-michael-all-angels).

Strathmore Alliance Church is offering an in-person service on Christmas Eve at 6 p.m. (pre-registration is required), and is also streaming on YouTube and on their website (403-934-3543, strathmorealliance.com).

Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Hussar is hosting a virtual Zoom traditional Christmas Eve service at 3:30, 5 and 9 p.m. Pre-registration is required (facebook.com/oursaviorshussar)

For all in-person services, wearing masks and physical distancing is mandatory under the provincial health orders.