Local houses of worship have released their schedules for the holiday season.
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish
St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish has several services and events throughout the month of December.
The observances began with The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; there was a 7 p.m. Vigil Mass with Vespers on December 7 at St. Joseph Church, located at 226 French St. On December 8, there was an 8 a.m. Mass in English and a 7 p.m. Mass in Spanish, both at St. Joseph Church.
To celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, there will be several Masses on December 24. There will be 4 p.m. Masses at both St. Joseph Church and St. Anthony of Padua Church, located at 285 Route 206. At 8 p.m., a Mass will be celebrated in English at St. Anthony of Padua Church, while a Mass in Spanish is celebrated at the same time at St. Joseph Church.
A trilingual Mass will be celebrated at midnight at St. Joseph Church.
On December 25, there will be Masses celebrated in English at 8 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church and at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church. A Mass will be celebrated in Spanish in noon at St. Joseph Church.
There will be no evening Vigil Mass on December 25.
The regular Sunday Mass schedule applies for December 26, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Masses will be celebrated in English at 7:30 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, with a Mass in English at St. Joseph Church at 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated in Spanish at noon at St. Joseph Church.
On December 31, a Mass for Mary, the Holy Mother of God will be celebrated at 5 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Masses will also be held at St. Joseph Church on January 1, 2022; there will be a 10 a.m. Mass in English and a noon Mass in Spanish.
There will be no Vigil Mass on January 1.
The regular Sunday Mass schedule applies for January 2, the Epiphany of the Lord.
Masses will be celebrated in English at 7:30 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, with a Mass in English at St. Joseph Church at 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated in Spanish at noon at St. Joseph Church.
The regular Saturday and Sunday Mass schedules also apply for The Baptism of the Lord on January 8 and 9. On January 8, there will be a 5 p.m. Vigil Mass at St. Joseph Church. On January 9, Masses will be celebrated in English at 7:30 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, with a Mass in English at St. Joseph Church at 9 a.m. Mass will be celebrated in Spanish at noon at St. Joseph Church.
Harvest Church
Right near St. Anthony of Padua Church is Harvest Church, located at 272 Route 206.
The church meets in-person at 10 a.m. and simultaneously livestreams on its Facebook page at facebook.com/harvestchurchnj/.
Harvest Church started its celebration of the season at 6 p.m. on December 3 with their Ladies’ Christmas Gathering, featuring food, music and connection with women of all ages.
On December 19, they will hold a Parents’ Day Out from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parents are encouraged to drop off their children for pizza and games so that parents can shop for—and wrap—presents. Registration is required; call (609) 561-1239.
On December 24 at 4 p.m., Harvest Church will hold a Candlelight Christmas Eve service with a family photo area, coffee/cocoa bar and more.
First United Methodist Church of Hammonton
Nearer to the downtown is the First United Methodist Church of Hammonton, located at 398 Bellevue Ave.
The church began the season by hosting Christmas carol singing in its parking lot on December 4, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
On December 21, a Longest Night Service will be held at 7 p.m. For some, the holiday season is a difficult time; this service is a time to gather together for peace and rest for those who are having a difficult year.
On December 24, a 5 p.m. Family Service will be held both in person and online, found by visiting their Facebook page at facebook.com/hammontonumc. An in-person Candlelight Service will be held at 11 p.m.
There will be no services on Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.
Presbyterian Church at
Hammonton
Down the street from the First United Methodist Church of Hammonton is the Presbyterian Church at Hammonton, located at 326 Bellevue Ave.
All of the church’s worship services are viewable online via Facebook Live and can be found by visiting their Facebook page at facebook.com/hammontonpres.org.
Their weekly worship services are held at 11 a.m. on Sundays.
The Presbyterian Church at Hammonton will be holding a candlelight service at 10 p.m. on December 24.
There are no services on Christmas Day.
Hammonton Baptist Church
Just around the corner from the Presbyterian Church at Hammonton is Hammonton Baptist Church, which can be found at 19 S. Third St.
The church will be holding a service with holiday music, both instrumental and vocal, on December 19 at 6 p.m.
On December 24, Hammonton Baptist Church will hold its Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m.
There are no services on December 25.
SS. Peter and Paul Traditional Catholic Parish
Down the street from Hammonton Baptist Church is SS. Peter and Paul Traditional Catholic Parish, Society of St. Alphonsus Marie de Liguori, located at 300 Peach St.
For each Sunday in Advent, the church is holding a celebration of the Holy Mass at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. During each Wednesday in Advent, there is an evening Mass at 7 p.m.
A Christmas Eve Midnight Vigil will be held on December 24 at 10 p.m.
On December 25, a Christmas Day Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Solemn Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
A New Year’s Eve Vigil and Mass will be celebrated at 10 p.m. on December 31.
On January 1, 2022, a Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord will be celebrated at 10 a.m.
All of SS. Peter and Paul Traditional Catholic Parish’s Masses and Devotionals, throughout the month of December, may be viewed online by visiting YouTube and searching for the Society of Saint Alphonsus Traditional Catholics.
Calvary Chapel of Hammonton
Located at 660 S. Egg Harbor Rd., Calvary Chapel of Hammonton has several events on its calendar for the season.
Calvary Chapel of Hammonton’s regular Sunday Worship Services, held at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., will focus on the theme of “For Unto Us.” December 5 was “The Wonderful Counselor” and December 12 was “The Mighty God;” December 19 will be “The Everlasting Father.” “The Prince of Peace” on December 26 will be at 10:30 a.m. only.
Pastor Vince and Dianne’s open house will be held on December 19 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There will be no midweek services from December 20-22 and from December 27-29.
A Christmas Eve service will be held on December 24 at 7 p.m.
There will be a special Sunday Worship Service on January 2, 2022. That day will see one service 10:30 a.m., which will include baptism and communion.
All services are viewable through their YouTube channel, accessible through their website at cchammonton.org.
Victory Bible Church
Just down the road from Calvary Chapel is Victory Bible Church, located at 816 S. Egg Harbor Rd.
Victory Bible Church began the holiday season with their Free Drive-Thru Living Nativity, which was held from December 3-5.
They will hold two Christmas Eve services on December 24—one at 6 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m.
More information about their services may be found at vbchammonton.org.
St. James Lutheran Church
Situated in Folsom is St. James Lutheran Church, located at 1341 Mays Landing Rd.
Throughout December, St. James Lutheran Church will hold their regularly scheduled services on Sunday at 10 a.m. and on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
They will hold two services on Christmas Eve: a 5:30 p.m. Family Service and an 11 p.m. Candlelight Service.
There are no services on Christmas Day.
On December 26, there will be a 10 a.m. Service of Carols and Lessons.
On December 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., individuals are invited to St. James Lutheran Church to enjoy a time of quiet meditation during the Christmas season at their Lighted Labyrinth. The labyrinth will be at the back of the cemetery and available for use during this time.
Services are both live and via zoom; the link can be found on their website at stjamesfolsom.org. For those who attend in-person worship, the church asks that they maintain physical distancing and wear masks.