Christmas Eve Worship

Dear UCG,

This is the registration page for the brief in-person Christmas Eve services at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm that we will be holding at UCG. We will also be offering a livestream at 5pm and a Virtch Church service that will be available anytime after noon on December 24th. The service will be the same for each of these offerings: some carols, the Christmas story, a sermon and the lighting of candles (though, to be fair, if you’re at home you’ll have to provide your own candles). Brief, and simple; lovely and life-giving.

Please be assured that we did not come to the decision to host in-person services lightly. We also reserve the right to offer only online services should some important change occur over the next week (a dramatic uptick in cases in the county, illness among some member of the leadership, dangerously inclement weather, etc.). But we really do believe that these services of worship will not endanger those who elect to come, if and only if, the following protocols are followed.

1. Participants are limited to under 50 people, and the gathering to well under an hour (apprx. 30 minutes).

2. Everyone is masked at all times and socially distanced in reserved, assigned seats.

3. The gathering takes place during the day, when humidity is less, UV rays are present, and the lighting is good.

4. Trained COVID monitors from the congregation ask 3 questions at the entrance to the courtyard, and otherwise ensure safety protocols are being universally observed.

If you’d like to join us in the courtyard, please RSVP here. You will need to order a "ticket" for each individual member of your household hoping to attend so that we can get an accurate count.

Please note, in order to make the reservation system as fair as possible, and to leave time to finalize seating charts, reservations will not be accepted until 9:00am on Friday, and will close on Wednesday, December 23rd at 12:00pm.

At the end of the registration you will be asked three COVID screening questions, and given instructions about arrival, masking, seating and more. You will be sent an e-ticket, but you will not need to present it to attend. Please register everyone in your household/family group at one time.

If you find that you are unable to complete your reservation online, please contact Shanna during business hours at 352-378-3500 or shannas@ucgainesville.org