Join us for the 2025 Christmas Season!
Advent/Christmas Services Beaverton Portland
The season of Advent is all about remembering the anticipation and welcome of Jesus and its meaning for us today.
At Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ in Beaverton, near Portland Oregon, we welcome people of all ages, races, faith journeys, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate the Advent Season with us!
Join us for the season of Advent / Christmas
Advent/Christmas 2025 season:
The season of Advent begins November 30th, 2025. This year we will celebrate the season of Advent with resource materials from A Sanctified Art. Our theme will be “What do you fear? Insisting on Hope this Advent”.
Advent is a season of enduring hope. Christ is born into a fearful world, a world many of us may feel familiar with today. But God does not avoid vulnerability. In spite of this tumultuous time and place, God arrives as a newborn baby. In a season of unknowns, the resilience of hope leads us to the message of good news. Even when we feel fearful or vulnerable, God is still at work in the world around us.
“What do you fear?” will include these weekly themes:
In The Time of Herod, We Long for God to Break In (Luke 1: 5-13 and Lamentations 3: 55-57)
When We’re Running Out of Hope, God is At Work (Matthew 11: 1-11 and Isaiah 43: 19-21)
Even In Our Fear, We Are Called Forward (Luke 1: 26-39 and Jeremiah 1: 4-10)
When You’re Afraid, Give Me Your Hand (Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 41:5-10)
Good News is Louder Than Fear (Luke 2.1-20)
Let Fear Fuel a Fire for Justice (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23)
Epiphany – Fear Doesn’t Stop Us (Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18)
In addition, we will be sharing art work, music, and fellowship times that deepen these themes and prepare for and celebrate the gift of Christmas.
Check our electronic newsletter, Weekly Highlights for updates. Email our office to sign up!
Dates at a glance:
This year’s dates for each Advent Sunday are November 30th, December 7th, 14th, and 21st. We will have a Family Christmas Eve Service on December 24th at 5 pm, and also a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service later that evening at 10 pm. We hope you will join us!
Advent/Christmas chancel decorated with beautiful stained glass and poinsettias
A Closer Look at our Services and Programs for Advent 2025:
WEEK 1
The first Sunday of Advent, November 30th - Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year rushes in. Christ’s birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving—and yet, we feel the weight of many things coming to an end.
Blue Christmas, November 30th at 2 pm
Later in the afternoon of November 3oth, we will offer a “Blue Christmas Service” at 2pm in the sanctuary. As its name suggests, the Blue Christmas service provides comfort and support for those who may be struggling to be “happy or merry or cheerful.” If you have lost a loved one, or have experience any significant loss, the holiday season be especially difficult. You may feel out of step with everyone else. The Blue Christmas service makes room for and acknowledges these “counter cultural” feelings.
WEEK 2
The second Sunday of Advent, December 7th - Sermon: When We’re Running Out of Hope, God is At Work (Matthew 11: 1-11 and Isaiah 43: 19-21)
Join us for our annual Wassail Celebration (sharing of cider and sweet breads) after service, led by our choir!
WEEK 3
Children’s Christmas Pageant, DECEMBER 14th
The third week of Advent, December 14th, we celebrate the angel’s message and Mary’s courage: “Even in Our Fear, God Calls Us Forward” The children and youth of Bethel will inspire us to discover how God seeks us and meets us with the annual Christmas pageant.
WEEK 4
The fourth Sunday of Advent, December 21st - Sermon: When You’re Afraid, Give Me Your Hand (Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 41:5-10)
Christmas Eve, 5 pm and 10 pm
Christmas Eve is December 24. and will be celebrated with two services. We will have a shorter Family Service at 5 pm and a Candlelight service at 10PM. Kids of all ages will be invited to help tell the story together and join in carols and teachings.
The Christmas Eve candlelight service at 10pm will celebrate the “aliveness” of God and the joy of Christ’s birth: “Good News is Louder Than Fear!” A number of lessons and carols will be shared at this service as well as special music from our chancel choir.
WEEK 5
The fifth Sunday of Advent, December 28th, Theme: Let Fear Fuel a Fire for Justice (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23) This service will feature music from the John Nilsen Trio, a beloved local group that has performed at Bethel on the Sunday after Christmas for years.
Epiphany
Epiphany Sunday, January 4th, Sermon: Fear Doesn’t Stop Us (Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18)
Check out this video below of our past Advent services to show what you can expect when you celebrate Advent and Christmas with us. Please join us!
A Progressive Church Near Me?
We're convenient to Portland's west side, right in the heart of downtown Beaverton, just south of the Beaverton City Library at the corner of 6th and Watson Avenue.
Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ
5150 SW Watson Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97005
(503) 646-1191