…the Saugatuck Congregational Church celebrates at 3 separate sites this winter. A fire 4 days before Thanksgiving drove the congregants out of their building. But several institutions immediately offered space.
The annual feast — serving hundreds — is set for Christ & Holy Trinity Church. It begins at 11:30 a.m. Christmas Day (not the usual 1 p.m. start).
The Easton Congregational Church, doing its Saugatuck Church imitation. It's just a few minutes from Westport -- and very hospitable.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service of lessons and carols will be held at the Easton Congregational Church (9 p.m.). That’s fitting: Built in 1835, it was modeled on the Saugatuck Church.
Most intriguingly, the Christmas Eve family worship service and pageant will be held at Temple Israel, beginning at 5 p.m. There will be the traditional baby gift giving, when unwrapped presents are placed in a “manger.” The gifts — including disposable diapers — are taken to the Norwalk Domestic Violence Crisis Center, for newborns who have no manger.
The birth of Jesus will be celebrated on Christmas Day at 10 a.m. — also at Temple Israel. The heart of the service is a spirited carol sing.
The Saugatuck Church welcomes the New Year on January 1 at Temple Israel, also at 10 a.m. Holy Communion will be celebrated. There is no sermon; instead there’s a “true and moving story of a child’s impression of one family’s life at Christmas.”
The spirit of Christmas is indeed everywhere.
This might actually be the greatest town in the world.
LOL………..yeah and it is so affordable to live in too!
LOL………….and it is so affordable to live in too!!!!
Fortunately kindness, caring and courtesy come with no price tag
this blog is fantastic. it really brings together and to action the best of Westport.
I don’t believe the cost of living here has anything to do with the good will displayed by the Saugatuck Churck in its decades of providing a Thanksgiving and Christmas feast for everyone, including the down/out as well as the more blessed. I also believe it to be a blessing how other churches in this area have come to SCC’s rescue during the holiday season. Westport may have its flaws but compassion is certainly not one of them. If affordability is at issue with your residence here, I suggest you consult a financial planner or realtor instead of making an ass of yourself here on the blog.
Amen, Well Done