Saturday, Dec. 15
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, 7 p.m., Lappin Park, corner of Washington and Essex streets, Salem. Chabad of the North Shore will light the menorah. Music and traditional holiday foods, like potato pancakes. The Lappin family will also be honored.
Sunday, Dec. 16
“Lighting the Way,” 10 a.m., Maple Street Church, 90 Maple St., Danvers. Special music program during worship service features the Chancel Choir, Dream Catchers and Good News Choir performing music for Advent and Christmas. A variety of anthems has been selected for the service. www.maplestreetchurch.org.
Holiday Music Service, 10:30 a.m., Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, 323 Locust St., Danvers. Carol singing, drumming, Native American flute, handbells, the Singing Group and more. 978-774-7582 or www.nsuu.org.
Christmas Festival Concert: “Rejoice in His Coming,” 2 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish, 17 Chestnut St., Peabody. Inaugural season of the SJB Concert Series presents Christmas cantata performed by four choirs accompanied by a live orchestra. www.stjohnsmusic.org or 978-826-7515.
“A Traditional Christmas,” 3 p.m., Ste. Anne Church, 290 Jefferson Ave., Salem. The Paul Madore Chorale presents concert with Joseph Stella, Ste. Anne Choir & Bell Ringers and tenor Giovanni Formisano. Free admission; donations accepted. 781-592-7284, 978-774-7981 or www.paulmadorechorale.org.
An Afternoon of Christmas Delights, 4 p.m., Christ the Redeemer Church, 188 Elliott St., Danvers. Christmas classics performed by harpists Nancy Unsworth and Jena Boehm, violinist Suzanne Powers, and solo vocalist Erin Cherry. Music will be interwoven between poems: Yeats’ “The Mother of God,” Levertov’s “Annunciation,” Donne’s “Annunciation,” Betjeman’s “Advent 1955,” Kavanagh’s “Advent,” Rossetti’s “Christmas Eve,” Coleridge’s “Salus Mundi,” Donne’s “Nativitie,” Hopkins’ “Moonless darkness stands between,” Eliot’s “The Journey of the Magi,” L’Engle’s “A Christmas Poem” and Wilbur’s “A Christmas Hymn.” A tea reception will follow. Free admission. www.ctr-anglican.org.
Holiday Christmas Concert, 5 p.m., Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers. Features both the Chancel Choir and the Handbell Choir, as well as vocal and piano solos. Also, guest soloist Audrey Fernandez Fraser from Boston will perform. Free. Handicapped-accessible. 978-777-7408.
Community Outreach Christmas Dinner, 6 p.m., St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St., Beverly. For anyone in need. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Free. To volunteer, donate warm clothing or provide musical entertainment, contact 978-948-3720 or barbalex3720@comcast.net.
Monday, Dec. 17
Advent Adult Education Scripture Program, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Hall, 80 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Will focus on Isaiah the prophet with speaker Steven Fahrig, pastoral associate of St. Bridget of South Boston and professor at St. John’s Seminary and Blessed John XXIII Seminary. www.staroftheseamarblehead.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
Blue Christmas Worship Service, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 391 Bay Road, Hamilton. For those in need of comfort, healing, quiet and hope for the holy season. Special music offerings from A. Jorgelina Zeoli and the church choir, along with the candlelight singing of “Silent Night” by the congregation. 978-468-1256 or www.hamiltonumc.org.
“Advent Service of Healing/Blue Christmas,” 7 p.m., Maple Street Congregational Church chapel, 90 Maple St., Danvers. For people who find the holidays stressful or are having a difficult time because of grief. Service led by Pastor Kevin Smith and the Rev. Dr. Charles Gross. Music provided by the director of music, Kathy Gross, and assistant director of music, JiHye Jung. 978-774-4510.
Friday, Dec. 21
Handel’s “Messiah,” 8 p.m., First Parish Church, Unitarian Universalist, 225 Cabot St., Beverly. The 39th annual performance, presented by combined Beverly church choirs and guest singers and directed by Robert F. Littlefield and organist Frederick A. MacArthur. Free admission. 978-922-3968.
Sunday, Dec. 23
Winter Solstice Service, 4:30 p.m., Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church, 323 Locust St., Danvers. Outdoor procession by candlelight, drumming, the lighting of the yule log, readings and songs, hot cider, and cookies. 978-774-7582 or www.nsuu.org.
“Christmas Carols by Candlelight,” 7 p.m., St. John the Russian Orthodox Church, 16 Mount Pleasant Ave., Ipswich. Evening of singing traditional Christmas carols led by the parish choir in the candlelit historic church interior. Program includes illuminating the Christmas tree. A reception with holiday refreshments will follow. Free. Parking available in the rear of the church at 34 Lafayette Road. 978-380-6499 or frspyridon@comcast.net.
Annual Blue Christmas Service, 7 p.m., Tabernacle Congregational Church, UCC, 50 Washington St., Salem. Light candles, sing songs, and focus on the peace and love of Christmas. Handicapped-accessible. 978-744-3164 or www.tbaernaclechurch.org.
Sunday, Jan. 6
Festival of Christmas Lessons and Carols, 5 p.m., Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, 188 Elliott St., Danvers. The choir will sing music of William Billings, Charles Callahan, John Joubert, Austin Lovelace, Alice Parker, John Weaver and others. The congregation will sing hymns of the season, and scripture lessons will be read by parishioners and clergy. Child care provided. Reception afterward. Free admission. 978-774-3163, ext. 353.
Wednesday, Jan. 9
Preschool Open House, 10 to 11 a.m., Temple Beth Shalom, 489 Lowell St., Peabody. Sign up for the 2013-2014 school year. 978-535-2100.
Wednesday, Jan. 16
PJ Library Make and Take, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Cohen Hillel Academy, 6 Community Road, Marblehead. Free and open to 3- and 4-year-olds; children must be accompanied by an adult. Event includes stories, songs and a craft. 978-740-4404 or posher@rilcf.org.
