Historic Wilton Congregational Church is bustling once again with festive Christmas activities and events for the entire community!

Throughout the four weeks of Advent that lead up to Christmas, the 18th-century sanctuary is the setting for worship services on Sunday mornings, each of which begins with the lighting of the Advent wreath and includes added holiday joy:

  • Sunday, Dec. 8, following the 9:30 a.m. service, live animals will join the fun at the annual Cookies, Crèche and Carols event, a special way to begin the Christmas season with barnyard animals and festive music in the church’s courtyard.
  • Sunday, Dec. 15 will bring the annual Christmas Pageant — starting at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary — with children and adults participating in a production filled with beautiful music, dramatic lighting, scenery, and authentic costumes.
  • Sunday, Dec. 22, the 9:30 a.m. worship service will include the sparkling sounds of the church’s English handbell choir.

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, will bring two services of music and scripture. The first is a family-friendly service well-suited for young children, at 4 p.m. Later in the evening, a candlelight service will begin at 7 p.m., featuring a string quartet, trumpet, English handbells, and a choir with five soloists singing Dan Forest’s “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

During the Christmas season, the congregation takes special care to think about those in and around the community who may be in need. Individuals have the opportunity to purchase a gift that will go to children supported by two organizations: Covenant to Care for Children and Wilton Youth Services of the Wilton Social Services Department. And Christmas comes for the elderly, too, so the church also cares for the needs of Wilton senior citizens identified by Wilton Social Services. Church members purchase a simple gift that will be distributed to seniors in partnership with other local churches and Boy Scout Troop 20.

On Saturday, Dec. 14, Wilton Congregational Church will participate in Wreaths Across America, a nationwide series of wreath-laying ceremonies to honor our country’s veterans. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Wilton Veterans Memorial Green along Center St., and then continues at 12 p.m. at Sharp Hill Cemetery, at the corner of Rte. 7 and Sharp Hill Rd.

The Wilton community is welcome to join in all of Wilton Congregational Church’s Christmas events:

  • Live Animals at the Crèche: Sunday, Dec. 8, immediately following the 9:30 a.m. service. It’s outdoors in the church courtyard — wear your hat and mittens!
  • Wreaths Across America: Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. at Wilton Veterans Memorial Green along Center St. and noon at Sharp Hill Cemetery, corner of Rte. 7 and Sharp Hill Rd.
  • Christmas Pageant: Sunday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m. in the sanctuary
  • Christmas Eve Services: Tuesday, Dec. 24, family service at 4 p.m. and candlelight service at 7 p.m., both in the sanctuary

If you have any questions or would like more information about worship services and holiday events, call the church office at 203.762.5591 or visit the Wilton Congregational Church website. The church is located at 70 Ridgefield Rd., Wilton, CT 06897.