Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate 2020 Christmas services by way of live streaming, in your car, or at any of these 16 Morrison, IL, churches. To keep worshipers safe from the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, procedures have been amended.
Bethesda Lutheran Church–301 W. South Street, will live stream a 5:00 p.m., a Candlelight service on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. This service will be filled with traditional hymns, carols, and special music. All 9:00 a.m. Sunday services are offered by live stream on line, at https://www.facebook.com/BethesdaLutheranChurchMorrisonIL/videos/?ref=page_internal. “Like” and “Follow” the Facebook page to receive notices when the live streams are about to begin.
Brethren in Christ Church–209 E. Knox Street, will have an in-person, Candlelight Christmas Eve service Thursday, December 24, at 7:00 p.m., with music. There is no nursery. Goodies will be served. All are welcome to attend.
Crossroads Community Church–Morrison Institute of Technology Auditorium, 701 Portland Avenue (IL Route 78), on Thursday, December 24, will have two Candlelight, Christmas Eve, family services at 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. All persons must wear a face mask at all times. The congregation will sing traditional carols, listen to the Praise Team, and hear a reading of the Christmas Gospel story. Due to MIT seating limitations, everyone must pre-register at www.crossroadscn.com/Christmas. Online services during the week are found at www.crossroadscn.online.church: Friday, 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 6:00 p.m.; Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. In-person Sunday services at MIT are held at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m. Everyone must wear a face mask at all times.
Ebenezer Reformed Church–309 E. Park Street, will have an outdoor, drive-in, Candlelight Christmas Eve service, Thursday, December 24, at 6:00 p.m., broadcast live on radio channel 90.1 FM at 6:00 p.m. Speaker Ken Renkes will deliver the Message outside, from the parking lot. In advance of the broadcast, tune the vehicle radio and enter the parking lot behind the church from South Street. A battery-operated candle and program will be given to each driver upon entry.
Emmanuel Reformed Church–202 E. Morris Street, will have two, in-person, Candlelight Christmas Eve services, Thursday, December 24, at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. The sanctuary will be limited to 100 people at each service. Everyone must pre-register at 815-213-8715. At the first service, masks are mandatory and must be worn during the entire service. At the second service, masks are recommended. Familiar carols and hymns will be sung by the congregation. Tonya Ernst will sing “Breath of Heaven;” Rich Criss will sing “O Holy night.” Narrators are Jason and Hilary McDearmon. Pastor Luke Schouten and Ministry Coordinator Criss will lead the services. Childcare is not available. In-person Sunday services are held at 9:00 a.m., with live streaming at the same time on the website: https://emmanuelreformedchurch.org/. On Friday, January 1, 2021, watch the 2019 Christmas Contata on the website.
First Presbyterian Church–100 E. Lincolnway, will live stream a 5:00 p.m., family-friendly, Candlelight Christmas Eve service with organ music. Please have a candle ready to light. Visit First Presbyterian Facebook page to follow the service: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144860328971029/media/videos. Sunday services are live-streamed at 10:45 a.m.
Kingdom Life Community Church–11429 Ward Road, will not have Christmas services. Viewers can watch live-stream Sunday services at 10:00 a.m., at www.kingdomlife.global.
Morrison Christian Church–201 S. Genesee Street, will hold Christmas service, including Holy Communion, on Friday, December 25, at 10:00 a.m. Shelly Jaquet is the featured vocalist; the congregation will sing carols. Attendees must wear a mask when entering the building; use hand sanitizer at the door; follow social distancing when sitting. Masks may be removed for the service but must be worn again as people leave the church.
Morrison Christian Reformed Church–300 W. South Street, will have a Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 4:15 p.m., on Thursday, December 24. Mask wearing is suggested. No nursery will be provided.
Morrison First Baptist Church–406 E. Maple Avenue, will hold a Friday, December 25, Christmas online podcast with a message and carols at 10:00 a.m. All Sunday services are conducted by podcast at noon. Visit https://www.facebook.com/morrisonfirstbaptist/?rf=624046697730745.
Morrison United Methodist Church–200 W. Lincolnway, will hold no in-person Candlelight Christmas Eve service on Thursday, December 24. Watch the live service at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9yjS8q_BZgzzzOUJ09L_Mw. There will be no Christmas Day service.
Our Savior Lutheran Church-LCMS–21496 Hazel Road, will hold a Candlelight Christmas Eve service on Thursday, December 24, at 6:00 p.m. The service is a traditional hymn sing with a short message. Worshipers must wear a mask and follow social distancing in the sanctuary.
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church–401 N. Cherry Street, will have no in-person Masses at Church of Saint Anne, due to COVID-19 mitigations. All services are virtual Masses celebrated in the Rectory and streamed on the internet via GoToMeeting. The recordings of these masses will be available for viewing a few hours after the service, on YouTube Channel “James Brzezinski” and GoToMeeting. Please contact Fr. James at Church of Saint Anne for an e-mail invitation with hyperlinks for these services and recordings at revjamesbski@gmail.com or 407-761-5665. Eight Mass schedules: December 20 Advent IV Mass 10:30 a.m.; December 23 Advent Feria Mass 5:30 p.m.; December 24 Christmas Eve Mass 5:30 p.m.; December 25 The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day Mass 9:00 a.m.; December 27 First Sunday after Christmas Day Mass 10:30 a.m.; December 30 The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (transferred) Mass 5:30 p.m.; January 3 Second Sunday after Christmas Day Mass 10:30 a.m.; January 6 The Feast of the Epiphany Mass 5:30 p.m.
St. Mary Catholic Church–13320 Garden Plain Road, will hold in-person, Candlelight (Christmas Eve) Holy Day Vigil Mass on Thursday, December 24, at 5:30 p.m., with Cantors leading songs. Midnight Mass is still to be determined; contact the Church at 815-772-4890. In-person, Nativity of the Lord Mass starts at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, December 25, with Cantors leading songs. Both of those Masses also will be live streamed at StMaryMorrison.org. To watch, click “Dec. 24 Mass” or “Dec. 25 Mass” titles. Holy Day Vigil Mass on Thursday, December 31, begins at 5:30 p.m. Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Holy Day Mass is Friday, January 1, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. All Masses offer Holy Communion. The sanctuary will be limited to 38 people at each service. Everyone must pre-register at StMaryMorrison.org; click the “Mass Sign Up” button. Parishioners must wear a mask when entering the building; use hand sanitizer at the door; follow social distancing in the sanctuary; keep masks on during the Mass and upon leaving.
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS–601 N. Jackson Street, will hold Thursday, December 24, Candlelight Christmas Eve worship at 7:00 p.m. On Friday, December 25, the Christmas Day worship starts at 9:00 a.m. Attendees are urged to wear a mask when entering the building; use the standing, hand sanitizer at the narthex before entering the sanctuary; follow social distancing when sitting. Masks may be removed for the service but must be worn again as people leave the church. No nursery will be available.
Spring Valley Reformed Church–10960 Spring Valley Road, will have no Christmas services this year.