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WHEELING -- It has been a trying Advent season for the faithful in the local community as churches figure out the best and safest way to hold services.
Christmas Eve tends to see church pews filled with regular attendees and out-of-town visitors as the focus of the holiday is on family gatherings. However in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, congregations are being asked to do things differently this year.
As directed by various denominations and church leaders, many churches have opted to hold in-person Christmas Eve services on Thursday, but with a twist.
Masks and enforced social distancing, stepped up-disinfecting between services and the need to make reservations prior to Thursday seem to be the norm for many congregations.
In contrast, some well-attended churches are opting for online virtual services only as counties in the Northern Panhandle have seen COVID cases and deaths rise in recent weeks. It is recommended that you check with any church before heading to in-person services.
Fourth Street United Methodist Church on Chapline Street in Wheeling will hold its candlelight service at 8 p.m. Thursday.
The Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling will hold in-person Christmas Eve Masses at 3, 6 and 11:30 p.m. Masses also will be livestreamed on the Catholic Diocese website.
St. Mark Lutheran Church in Wheeling will hold Christmas Eve services at 1 p.m. in its chapel at 7 p.m. family services and 11 p.m. candlelight service.
Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Woodsdale will hold Christmas Eve services in the church and online at 4 and 7:30 and 11 p.m.
In churches where reservations have been required, most of the early Christmas Eve services have filled up. Corpus Christi Parish in Warwood shows its 2:30 p.m. children’s Mass filled while seats are still available for its 4:30 p.m. and midnight Mass.
St. Michael Parish in Wheeling will have in-person Christmas Eve Masses at 2, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. by reservation. Most of the early day services have been filled since the Dec. 11 deadline. The Christmas services will be available on the parish's Facebook site.
Our Lady of Peace Church in Mount Olivet requires reservations and offers Masses at 4, 6 and 8 p.m. as well as midnight.
St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Elm Grove also requests reservations but offers four Mass times at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem will approach its Christmas Eve service in a unique way this year. They will hold a drive-in parking lot service at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Going virtual only are Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in North Wheeling with its 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Wheeling will provide online only Christmas Eve services on YouTube that can be viewed starting at noon and throughout the day.
Christ United Methodist Church in Wheeling also will livestream its 4 p.m. family service and its 6 and 8 p.m. traditional services on Thursday.
The Vineyard Church will hold online virtual Christmas Eve service every hour from noon to midnight on its website, Facebook and YouTube.
The First Baptist Church in Wheeling will livestream its 6 p.m. Christmas Eve service on Facebook.
C3 Church in Wheeling will host Christmas Eve services online only at 3 p.m. for a kids service and a regular 4 p.m. service.