Newton Highlands Congregational Church held two services on December 24, 2024–one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 7:30 p.m.
The shorter afternoon service was geared to children and families.
At the evening service guest musicians Susanna Boberg (clarinet), Katie Chuang (cello), and Chloe Wang (violin), accompanied by organist Yevgenia Semeina, played Christmas preludes.
The evening service also included a vocal trio (Ted Palés, Amanda Ketchpaw Palés, and Jan Zimmerman) singing “Gesu Bambino.”
As the service ended, worshipers lit candles and sang “Silent Night.”
The Christmas Eve offering collections were rounded up to $2,000, half of which was donated to the United Church of Christ Christmas Fund for retired clergy, and half to Newton Food Pantry.