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Dear Chicagoist,
Where is the best church to go see traditional Christmas carols this holiday season?
I've just moved here from Kansas City and only today realized I now have to find a new place to go for my annual trip to church. I don't mind if it's really Jesus-y (it's Christmas after all) though that's not really my "scene"--I just really love traditional carols sung in a traditional "churchy" way (versus some big Mannheim-steamroller-Andrew-Lloyd-Weber-$45 -a-seat-spectacle). Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
jb
Merry Christmas, JB.
Chicagoist and church haven't really gone together since -- well, ever. We do like Christmas music though; it's probably our favorite part of the whole holiday shebang. [Ed note: I like the presents.] So while we may not have first-hand experience with any of the churches we're going to discuss, we think they at least sound like comfortable and welcoming places for casual church-goers who want to get into the holiday spirit, in the more literal sense.
St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 621 W. Belmont promises to "love, nurture, and celebrate one another in our diversity," and has Christmas services Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On the 24th there are carols at 10pm, and a service at 10:30pm. Christmas Day has service at 10am.
Ebenezer Lutheran Church at 1650 W. Foster has two Christmas Eve services. One at 4pm is a children's service complete with the Christmas story and children's choir. The other is at 9pm and is a candlelight worship; "traditional and contemporary music will be included."
Third Unitarian Church at 301 N. Mayfield (near Austin and Lake) has Christmas Eve dinner, service, and caroling starting at 3:30. On Christmas day they have an 11am service "with much holiday music."
LaSalle Street Church at 1136 N. LaSalle has two Christmas Eve services. One at 5:30pm is "an intergenerational celebration, featuring special music, visuals, storytelling and lots of carol singing." The one at 9pm is "a quiet, elegant, candle lit service of carol singing, Scripture reading, prayer and reflection." Take your pick based on your needs and personality.
Chicago's Fourth Presbyterian Church at 126 E. Chestnut has four Christmas Eve services (with the 8:30pm one being broadcast on CBS). They are all candlelight services, the 4pm one being a Children's Pageant, 6pm is a family service, and 8:30pm and 11pm are both more traditional services of "Lessons and Carols."
First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple is the oldest church in Chicago, and is located at 77 W. Washington. They have two Christmas Eve services "with carols, candlelight and communion." One is at 7pm, and the later at 11pm.
So we know there are more churches out there than we could ever hope to start to touch upon, so please help us out here; is there a place you'd recommend for JB to go on Christmas to hear some traditional Christmas carols?
Image via paata
God rest ye merry gentlemen? Need some advice? Email ask(at)chicagoist(dot)com.
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If you can find a church that does the traditional 'lessons and carols', that is a nice Christmas service to attend.
If you are unfamiliar with it, see below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Lessons_and_Carols
Being that it is an Anglican tradition, if you look for an Episcopal church, you might find one that does the service.
Duh, I just noticed that 4th Presbyterian is doing the traditional service. I'd go there.
Wow that looks like a nice suburban church, now where did I put my spray paint......?
If by 'suburban' you mean Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia .. then by all means, get your spray paint, buy a plane ticket, and end up in a Georgian jail.
You are so damn predictable.
If by 'suburban' you mean Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia .. then by all means, get your spray paint, buy a plane ticket, and end up in a Georgian jail.
You are so damn predictable.
What about Moody? One of the oldest, most well respected places of worship in the city?!
http://www.moodychurch.org/index.html
The Children's Service at All Saints (an Episcopal church in Ravenswood, at Wilson & Hermitage) is fun. It starts at 4:30 pm on Christmas Eve. Traditional carols and candlelight, with excited little kids.
The mass at St. Vincent De Paul (directly related to the university of course...) was very nice the last two years. Of course I'm not sure if Catholic massess use all of the 'traditional' christmas carols. But it has my vote.
I go to First Saint Paul's Lutheran Church on the corner of LaSalle & Goethe. There's a family service at 3 p.m. and a candlelight service at 8 p.m. Lutherans love to sing, so you'll get plenty of music with your experience. http://www.fspauls.org
oowhhhhhhhh spare me Vittle before I smack you with a Henry James‘s Bio. And I will leave Georgia and her jail cells to you as I can barely tolerate the Midwest and its predictable people that would defend the above “Church” done in suburban “Gingerbreadian” as opposed to say classical Greek, Roman, Renaissance, Baroque or Georgian, which has nothing to do with your Georgia, its trailer parks, or Jail cells,
Yes perhaps a mural by a NYC graffiti artist would be wasted on it, so perhaps a bull dozer than?
Spook, you are a dim one aren't you? You do realize the Georgia of which I speak is the country in the Caucasus, not the state.
For those who are wondering what I'm talking about, just click on the reference for the damn photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paata/2086653058/
From the summary "The Monastery of St. George at Bodbe is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and the seat of the Bishops of Bodbe located 2 km from the town of Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia. Originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in the 17th century. The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, due to its association with St. Nino, the 4th-century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are shrined there."
Oppps! Don,t blame me, it was those that made me drink last night!
And how was I suppose the know where that church is? It look's like the one in Elmhurst next to the Metra tracks. They should have included it in the text!
How about Old St. Pat's?
(I'm not a churchgoer myself, so I've never been, but it seems like I've heard most about this place. The pictures on the website look like a beautiful old church.)
How about Old St. Pat's?
(I'm not a churchgoer myself, so I've never been, but it seems like I've heard most about this place. The pictures on the website look like a beautiful old church.)
Spook, I have a hard time believing anyone has to "make" you drink.
The New Guest Number 2,dude stop exposing my "proclivities"!
Now who's thirsty!?!
Tis the season b*tches!
I know such church talk!
Sorry guys -- I just thought it was a pretty chuch!