Arts & Entertainment
Christmas Eve and Day church services
Christmas Eve
The River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation (6301 River Rd.) in Bethesda will be holding two candlelight services today. The first service will be at 5 p.m. with a family candle lighting service with carols and the traditional River Road Christmas Eve Pageant and the second service will be at 8 p.m. and is for adults and older children and will feature songs, choral music, readings and an original story.
Foundry United Methodist Church (16th and P streets, N.W.) has a family-oriented service ideal for families with young children at 6:30 tonight. Then at 8, a half-hour concert featuring the church’s soloists will serve as a prelude to an 8:30 p.m. candlelight “lessons and carols” service. The choir will perform at the latter. A reception will follow each service. Foundry is an LGBT-friendly “open and affirming” congregation.
The United Church, a union congregation of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church, has a bilingual candlelight service today at 5 p.m. The church is at 1920 G Street, N.W. Visit www.theunitedchurch.org for more information.
All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church (2300 Cathedral Ave., N.W.) has a children’s Mass and blessing of the creche (nativity) today at 4. Carols and preludes for Midnight Mass start at 10:30 p.m. Midnight Mass starts at 11 p.m. A low Mass will be said at 10 a.m. on Christmas Day. Lessons and Carols are at 11 a.m. on Dec. 26. Visit www.allsoulsdc.org for more information.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) will be holding Christmas Eve worship tonight at 8. MCC-D.C. is the region’s largest mostly LGBT church.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist at 6 and 10 p.m.
Covenant Baptist Church (3845 S. Capitol St.) will be holding its Christmas Eve Service at 7 p.m. tonight.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) will be holding its Christmas Eve service today at 7 p.m., starting with a festive prelude followed by a candlelight communion.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) will be holding a Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. It will also have a choral prelude at 10 p.m., the Holy Eucharist at 10:30 followed by coffee hour.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist along with a Christmas Pageant at 4 p.m. A Feast of Carols and Noels will begin at 8:30, followed by the Festival Holy Eucharist at 9 p.m.
Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) will be holding its Christmas Eve worship tonight at 7.
First Trinity Lutheran Church (309 E St., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve service at 7:30 p.m. following a pre-service of Christmas music that starts at 7 p.m.
Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) will have its Christmas Eve service tonight at 7 p.m.
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) will be holding a vigil at 4:30 p.m. following a prelude at 4, Vigilia at 6:30 p.m. following a concerto at 6, and the main service at 10 p.m. with Cardinal Wuerl presiding.
Christmas Day
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) will have its Christmas Day Festival Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. today. Its Christmas Day Holy Eucharist, Rite II will start at noon. There will also be a Christmas Day organ recital at 5:15 p.m.
Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist today at 10 a.m.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) will be holding its Holy Eucharist with traditional carols today at 10 a.m.
Dignity Washington will hold its Christmas Mass tonight at 6 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Church (1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W.)
Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Ave., N.W.) will have multiple services today starting at 8:30 a.m. The other services are at 10 and 11:30 a.m. and a service in Spanish at 1 p.m.
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Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
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The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
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