This post is for all you nostalgic Christmas-and-Easter Christians. Also for you folk who have never set foot in a Christian church, but who are…curious. If you don’t have a church home, but feel the nudge, the lure, the longing of belonging at Christmastime, if Santa’s lap just doesn’t do it for you (creepy!), if you are mall-weary and think there must be more to it all, consider coming to First Church Somerville. We’ll welcome you warmly, and let you choose how lightly to be involved. No pressure—just the beauty of the Christian tradition, art, music, hope and anticipation—with good coffee thrown in.

Here are some events you might be interested in:

Advent Morning Prayers: Advent has been described as a mini-Lent, a time of preparation and waiting. Get more God in your day by starting it every morning in silence, scripture-reading, open-ended and open-minded reflection, with a few other hardy souls, amid Christmas lights and candles in our downstairs chapel. Every weekday, starting November 30, through December 23, 7a.

Christmas Caroling: We’ll carol the neighborhood on Saturday evening, December 12 at 6p, beginning from the warm, welcoming home of a dedicated church member. All are welcome, children especially. Email Rev. Molly at revmolly@yahoo.com for more details.

re/New emergent-style worship: Sunday evening, December 13 at 7p, we’ll gather in our downstairs hall, which will be transformed by comfortable chairs and candlelight, to pour ancient faith into fresh new forms of spiritual expression.

Christmas Cantata for all ages: Sunday, December 20 at 10a. Our rad musical extravaganza:  bell choir, children’s choir, adult choir sing Handel et alia. To be followed by raucous carol singing, great brunch and cookies galore at coffee hour afterward.

Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols: Thursday, December 24 at 7p, the odds and ends of  humanity will gather in the sanctuary, in semi-darkness, to sing the old songs in a new way, hear the old story made new, and enter in, by voluntary participation in our unrehearsed Christmas pageant. Ending on a high note:  Silent Night.

…And, of course, Advent wreath-lighting, carols and more, every Sunday morning at 10a and on Wednesdays’ services of Rest and Bread at 6:30p.