Austin College has hosted a Christmas Eve Worship Service in Wynne Chapel for decades for all Presbyterian congregations in the Sherman-Denison area.
In 2020, a pre-recorded Christmas Eve service will be streamed on the Austin College Facebook page and YouTube page on Thursday, December 24, at 6 p.m. The service will include leadership and music from members of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church in Sherman, First Presbyterian Church and Hyde Park Presbyterian Church in Denison, and the Austin College A Cappella Choir.
KTEN-TV also will broadcast the service at 10:35 p.m. on Channel 10.
Rev. Dr. Lander Bethel, pastor of Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church in Sherman and First Presbyterian Church of Denison; Rev. Lisa Juica Perkins, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sherman; and Rev. Dr. John Williams, Austin College Chaplain, have planned and will lead the service. Dr. Bethel will present the sermon.
This service will include communion and the lighting of candles.
All interested participants are encouraged to have a candle and Communion elements (bread and wine or grape juice) in their home so they can participate in those parts of the Christmas Eve Service.
“Please join us online for this meaningful service of worship,” Williams said.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and more than 100 expert faculty members allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.