BAHA’I FAITH OF NEWTOWN

Contact Michael or Susan Dutton

364-1738 • mdutton@bestweb.net

Devotional meetings; spiritual discussion meetings; discussions of social issues from a religious perspective. Call for current schedule.

BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH

35 Sugar Street (Route 302); 426-6484

Pastor Steve Plodinec

Sunday, Children’s Bible Hour and Adult Bible Groups, 9:30 am; Worship, 10:45 am with nursery; Wednesday, Bible and Prayer Group, 7 am and 7 pm.

CALVARY INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH

2 Side Cut Road (next to RR station),

 West Redding

Kenneth Brooks, Pastor

Sunday School 10 am, Sunday morning service 11 am; Sunday evening service 6 pm; Wednesday evening service 7 pm, nursery care provided.

CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH

85 Mt Pleasant Road at Tory Lane,

Newtown; 426-6300 or 426-0651

Gregory Wismar, Pastor

Johanna Perry, Parish Worker

The last Sunday of Advent service will be celebrated on Sunday, December 24, at 10:30 am.. The message for the morning will be given by Robert Harris of Newtown, a Lutheran seminary student. The special choir anthem is the Spanish carol: “To a Virgin Meek and Mild.” Sunday school and Bible classes meet at 9 am. The Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be held at 7:30 pm. On Monday, December 25, the Christmas Day Festival Service will be held at 10:30 am. On Tuesday evening at 8 pm, the Missions and Evangelism Committee will meet to plan the 40th Anniversary Year events for the congregation, which will be happening throughout the year 2001.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR ORTHODOX MISSION

Middle Quarter Mall, 706 Main Street South,

Woodbury; 263-0809

Fr  Vladimir Aleandro, Priest

Gregory Curran, Youth Director

Christ the Savior is a pan-Orthodox, all English mission of the New England Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America. Sunday Divine Liturgy 9:30 am; coffee hour and fellowship follows. Saturday Great Vespers, 5 pm.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF

 LATTER DAY SAINTS

Saw Mill Road; 270-1455

Bishop Gary Hutchison

Family History Center 426-1752

Full-time missionaries may be reached at 270-7087. Sunday Sacrament Meeting, 9 to 10 am; Sunday School and Primary School at 10:20 am; Priesthood, Relief Society and Young Women meeting, 11:10 am; Teenagers’ Activities on Wednesday, 7-8:30 pm. The women’s organization also sponsors monthly classes on a variety of topics dealing with the family and homemaking. The group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7 pm.

COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Meets at Newtown Meeting House

36 Main Street (at the flagpole)

Rev William Kessler, Pastor

Sunday School, 9:45 am; Worship Service, 11 am; Evening Service, 6 pm. Home Bible Studies and Women’s Bible Study are held in members’ homes. For information about time and location, call Rev Kessler at 270-3730. For further information, call Chris Crandall at 426-9569.

CONNECTICUT KOREAN UNITED CHURCH

35 Sugar Street (Route 302); 426-8610

Rev Jun-Soo Han, Pastor

Sunday Worship Service, 2 pm; Wednesday, Praise, Bible, and Prayer Time, 8:30 pm; Saturday, Neighborhood Bible Study, 8 pm.

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

27 Roxbury Road (corner of Routes 6 & 67),

 Southbury; 262-1944

Sunday Services, 11 am. All are welcome to hear the worldwide weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson with readings from the Bible and correlative passages from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Join in singing hymns, silent prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer. All children up to age 20 are welcome to attend the Christian Science Sunday School, also at 11 am. New pupils are asked to come a few minutes early. Childcare is provided for children too young to attend Sunday School. Wednesday, Testimony Meeting, 7:30-8:30 pm. Everyone is invited to listen to passages selected from the Bible and Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures on a timely subject, sing hymns, and listen to the congregation testify to the healing effects of prayer in their daily lives, as well as give remarks on Christian Science.

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

466 Elm Street, Monroe; 268-7596

Julia Haspel-Schoenfeld, Pastor

On Sunday, December 24, the fourth Sunday in Advent worship service with Holy Communion will be held at 10:30 am; Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion will be held at 7 pm and at 11 pm.

GRACE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

174 Mt Pleasant Road, Newtown; 270-1005

The Rev Barry Fredericks, Pastor

The Rev Sheila Fredericks, Associate Pastor

Christopher Caton, Administrator

Adam Fredericks, Children & Youth Pastor

Sunday worship, 8 and 10 am; Children’s Church and Nursery at all services. Wednesday, worship 7:30 pm. Ladies’ Fellowship and Bible Study third Saturday of the month, 10 am at the church. Men’s Fellowship, first Saturday, 8 am, breakfast at the church. Care Group, second Sunday.

HOLY TRINITY ORTHODOX CHURCH

Eighth and Roberts Avenues,

Danbury; 748-0671

Fr Luke Mihaly, Priest

Robert Hubiak, Youth Director

Susan Paltauf, Choir Director

Sunday Divine Liturgy, 10 am, coffee hour follows. Church School every Thursday, 6:30 pm. Pierogie cooking sessions Tuesday, 9 am to noon. Holy Trinity is a New Calendar, English services parish. Guests and visitors are always welcome.

MATTATUCK UNITARIAN

UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY

122 South Pomperaug Avenue,

Woodbury; 266-4810

Rev Bonnie Vegiard

Sunday Service, 10:30 am. Religious education and childcare are available during the service. Visitors are welcome.

NEWBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Corner Route 133 and Tower Road,

Brookfield; 860/355-4955

Rev Carl E. Mesnig

“The Bethlehem Disconnect” is the topic of the sermon by the Rev Carl E. Mesnig on Sunday, December 24, at 11 am. The Children’s Moment is “The Evolution of St Nick.” The fourth candle of the Advent wreath will be lighted by the John Luce family. The youth will add figures to the crèche during the worship service. The 7 pm worship service for Christmas Eve will feature a presentation, Season of Joy, composed and directed by Sandra Lybe, organist and choir director, with singing by both the adult and youth choirs and narration by Rev Mesnig. Again the youth will add the angel and baby Jesus to the crèche and the David Williams family will light the Christ candle in the Advent wreath. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month.

NEWTOWN BAPTIST CHURCH

102 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook; 426-3819

Pastor Allen Johnson

Newtown Baptist Church is a local church with a worldwide vision for reaching souls with the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. NBC is a warm and friendly church with a ministering heart. Its goal is to help meet the spiritual needs of the individual, the family, as well as the community. Sunday school, 10 am; Sunday Morning Service, 11 am; Sunday Children’s Church, 11 am; Sunday Evening Service, 6 pm. Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 7 pm. Nursery is provided during all services.

NEWTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH

210 Sugar Street, Newtown; 426-6189

Jack Tanner, Minister

Alan Richardson, Youth Minister

Sunday Bible School, 9:45 am; Worship, service 11 am, nursery is provided. Wednesday mid-week prayer, 7 pm; mid-week Bible Study 8 pm. Youth meetings for middle school and high school students on Mondays at 7 pm. The church hosts a number of youth activities, including National Youth Week in January, Vacation Bible School in July and August, special outings for junior high and senior high students, and a Christmas workshop during December. The congregation is locally autonomous.

NEWTOWN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

14 West Street

The Rev Steven Gordon, Senior Minister

The Rev Janice Touloukian,

Associate Minister

The Rev Alastair Sellars, Pastor Emeritus

Edwin Corfey, Commissioned Lay Minister

There will be four services on Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve. The regular 10 am worship service will be led by the Rev Steven Gordon, senior minister, assisted by the Rev Janice Touloukian, associate minister. The children’s pageant will be at 5 pm narrated by Lay Minister Edwin Corfey and led by Rev Touloukian. The two candlelight services will be at 7:30 and 11 pm with special Christmas music by individuals, the choir, the organ, and the bells.

NEWTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

92 Church Hill Road

The Rev Terry W. Pfeiffer, pastor

Rev E. Sue Klein, deacon

Sunday services at 8 am and 10 am. Adult Church School Classes are at 8:45 am followed by Family Worship with Church School at 10 am. For more information 426-9998.

STEPNEY BAPTIST CHURCH

423 Main Street, Monroe; 268-9680

Rev Dr George W. Britt, Pastor

David Edwards, Youth Director

Sunday school for all ages (birth-adult), 9 am; Fellowship, 10 am; Worship Service, 10:30 am, childcare available. Youth Group for grades 7-12 meets Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 pm.

ST JOHN’S EPISCOPAL

Washington Ave (Route 34)

(Mailing address is PO Box 716)

Sandy Hook; 426-9938

The Rev William Padgett, Priest

Lois Pratt and Joanne Hornak, Co-Wardens

Sunday, Holy Eucharist and Sermon, 9:30 am, childcare provided; Church school for children 9:30 am. Annual events include Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. St John’s is the home of FAITH food pantry, an ecumenical ministry that distributes to those in need on an emergency basis. Hours are Tuesday, 10 am to noon, and Thursday, 6 to 7:30 pm. St John’s is presently housing The Back Door Cafe, sponsored by Newtown’s public schools.

ST PETER AND PAUL

ORTHODOX CHURCH, OCA

A mission parish of the

Orthodox Church of America

93 Dodgingtown Rd, Bethel • 791-9994; www.oca.org

Saturday, Vespers 6 pm. Sunday, Divine Liturgy 10 am. Wednesday, prayer ministry at 7:30 pm, with class following. Services in English, and all are welcome.

ST ROSE OF LIMA CHURCH

46 Church Hill Road; 426-1014

The Rev Robert E. Weiss, Pastor

The Rev Lawrence A. Larson, Parochial Vicar

The Rev Peter J. Towsley, Parochial Vicar

Thomas F. Curran, Deacon

Weekday Masses, 6:45 and 9 am; Saturday Masses, 8 am, 4 pm and 5:30 pm. Sunday Masses are 7:30, 9, 10:30 am and noon. Confessions on Saturday, December 23, are from 2 to 4 pm.  Masses for the fourth Sunday of Advent and for Christmas Eve will be held on December 24 but are separate obligations. Christmas Mass schedule: On December 24, three Masses at 4 pm ( in the church, in the parish hall and at Newtown High School); 5:30 pm in the church, 11 pm in the church. On Christmas Day, December 25, all Masses will be in the church: 7:30 am, 9 am, 10:30 am, noon.. Pre-baptismal instruction on first Sunday at 1:30 pm (register with the parish secretary); legal holiday Mass, 8 am only; Holy Day Vigil, 7:30 pm; Holy Day Masses, 6:45 and 9 am, 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Parish Education Coordinator, Pam Arsenault; Director of Religious Education, Alice Kohler; Music Director Joseph Jacobino; Women’s Club President, Debra Sennefelder; Patrick Shevlin, Men of St Rose. Annual events include a parish carnival, a Christmas fair and parish dances.

TRINITY CHURCH

36 Main Street; 426-9070

The Rev Kathleen E. Adams-Shepherd, Rector

The Rev Kurt J. Huber,

Assistant to the Rector

Sunday, December 24 (Advent IV), 9 am Holy Eucharist service; Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 4:30 pm carol sing; 5 pm, Holy Eucharist with children’s sermon and children’s choirs, a service focused on families and children; 10:30 pm, musical prelude; 11 pm, Festival Holy Eucharist with choir (incense will be used at this service). Monday, December 25, Christmas Day: 11:30 am, Holy Eucharist (with music); Sunday, December 31 (first Sunday after Christmas Day): 8 am, Holy Eucharist; 9:45 am, Holy Eucharist (No church school, children’s liturgy or nursery).

Administrative Assistant Patricia G. Ehlers; Music Minister Maria Coffin; Parish Secretary Margaret Cassin; Sexton Jack Qubick; Church School Director Sue Vogelman; Wardens, Dick Kraycir and Anne McWhirter; Treasurer, Margy Henderson; Clerk, Patricia Patrick; Altar Guild Co-Directors, Sallie Meffert and Peg Watson.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY

OF NORTHERN FAIRFIELD COUNTY

9 Picketts Ridge Road, West Redding;

438-4281 (main office) or 

438-2534 (minister’s study)

Rev Dr Daniel Simer O’Connell, Minister

Karen Judd, Director of Religious Education

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Northern Fairfield County will hold two Services at 10 am and 7 pm on Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve. At 10 am guest minister Rev Harry Green from Stamford will lead “A Family Christmas Eve Service,” celebrating the magic of the season; come prepared to sing and celebrate. At 7 pm, Peggy Block, a chaplain at Green Chimneys in Brewster, N.Y., and a member of our congregation, and our Director of Religious Education, Karen Judd, will lead an “intergenerational service,” complete with our candle lighting ritual and choir. There will be no religious education classes this day, but child care for young children will be available during both services.  For more information, please call the Society office at 203/438-4281.

VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (PCUSA)

21 West Whisconier Road, Brookfield;

 775-2624

The Rev Royal B. Garren

On Christmas Eve, December 24, the Rev Royal B. Garren will present the morning message, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” at the 9:30 am service. The Sanctuary Choir will sing “Alleluia! Gloria! Magnificant! Nowell!!” by D.W. Music. The fellowship and coffee hour is at 10:30 am. There will be no Sunday school for children or adults. Childcare is provided. Rev Garren will present the message “A Night of Miracles” at the 8 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil. The Sanctuary Choir will sing “Fanfare for Christmas” by M. Shaw and a Coventry carol “Lullay, Thou Tiny Little Child.” Youth group meets at 6 pm on the first and third Sundays.

Area Synagogues

B’NAI ISRAEL

122 South Pomperaug Ave, Woodbury;

263-3213

Friday services, 7:30 pm. Saturday services, 9:30 am. All are welcome.

CONGREGATION ADATH ISRAEL

111 Huntingtown Road

(mailing address is PO Box 623);

426-5188 or 426-6817

Rabbi Moshe Betan

Friday Night Services, 8 pm, except the first Friday of the month, at 7:30 pm, which is a family service. Saturday services on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, 9:30 am. Hebrew School, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:15 pm. Sunday School, 8-10 am and 9:45 am-noon. President is Sybil Blau (426-6817). The sisterhood is made up of ladies of the synagogue; President is Marsha Moskowitz (426-5655). Eric Israel (426-2932) is president of the Men’s Club. Traditional events include a Purim Carnival, Progressive Dinner, Corn Party and Community Break-the-fast.

CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL

“Danbury’s Only Conservative Congregation”

193 Clapboard Ridge Road,

Danbury; 792-6161

Rabbi Vivian S. Mayer

Shalom Lampell, President

Saturday services, 9:30 am.  For more information call 792-6161. Saturday, December 23: Vayeshev: Joseph, the favorite son, is sold to his brothers and sent down to Egypt. For more information call 792-6161 Monday through Friday between 9:30 am and 1 pm.

UNITED JEWISH CENTER SYNAGOGUE

141 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury; 748-3355

Rabbi Bradd Boxman

Friday, Reform Services 8 pm. Family Service, third Friday of each month, 7:30 pm, and Saturdays during the school year at 11:15 am. Traditional services, Saturday 8:45 am.