A Season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
This Advent season, St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano invites the community to experience the beauty and wonder of Christmas through a series of meaningful events designed to reflect the season’s themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. From moments of quiet reflection to joyful gatherings filled with light and music, Advent at St. Andrew offers something for everyone.
Beginning November 30 and continuing through December 31, Stations of the Nativity provides a meaningful outdoor experience available daily from dawn to dusk. Guests are invited to journey across the church’s scenic campus while listening to a 35-minute audio-guided message with music (accessed via a QR code) that brings the story of Christ’s birth to life in a powerful way—inviting reflection, renewal, and a heart prepared to celebrate the greatest promise ever made. There is no cost to participate in this inspiring reflection on the true meaning of the season.
On December 3, the church will host Advent Rhythms: Practicing Presence in the Season, led by Rev. Kim Meyers, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Piro Hall. This reflective gathering invites participants to pause amid the busyness of the holidays and rediscover the sacred rhythm of Advent through simple spiritual practices such as breath prayers, journaling, and the lighting of Advent candles.
The celebration continues on December 7 with the St. Andrew Advent Celebration, a beloved community tradition that fills the campus with joy and light. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., guests of all ages can enjoy a spaghetti supper (available for purchase), live music in Piro Hall and on the Piro Terrace, festive photo ops, s’mores, a cocoa truck, and the ever-popular ice slide. Families will also enjoy the meaningful Nativity Experience hosted by the Children’s Ministry by the pond. Before the celebration begins, families are invited to a Yancy Concert at 4:15 p.m. (tickets available). Register at https://standrewmethodist.org/events/event-details/?id=256497
Music takes center stage on December 14 with the St. Andrew Christmas Festival at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. (identical performances) in the Sanctuary. This year’s Christmas Festival features a full orchestra, the Chancel Choir, and the contemporary band, leading the congregation in joyful new arrangements of beloved carols. The morning culminates as the children’s choir leads the congregation in “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Santa and his reindeer will also make special appearances, posing for photos before and after both performances.
On December 20, families are invited to gather for the Children’s Nativity Service from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. One of the most cherished traditions at St. Andrew, this special service allows children to lead the entire worship experience, reenacting the story of Jesus’ birth in costume while the Children’s Choir performs and Rev. Arthur Jones shares a message of hope.
For those who may be experiencing loss, separation, or other hardships during the holidays, the Service of Comfort and Hope on December 21, from 2 - 3 p.m. in Hasley Chapel, offers a beautiful space for reflection, song, prayer, and remembrance—a reminder that no one walks alone in this season.
The celebration of Christ’s birth culminates with Christmas Candlelight Services on December 23 and 24, offering both traditional and contemporary worship experiences across multiple times and venues. Traditional services will be held on December 23 at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary and on December 24 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Hasley Chapel and at 6, 8, and 11 p.m. in the Sanctuary, while contemporary services will be offered at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary, and 6 p.m. in Smith Worship Center. Childcare for ages 3 months through pre-K 5 is available at the 2, 4, and 6 p.m. services.
The season concludes on December 28 with Blessing of the Toys, from 10 - 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary—a joyful, pajama-friendly family service where children are invited to bring their favorite new toy for a special blessing. Hot cocoa and coffee will be served in the Narthex. On that day, there will only be one service.
“The Advent season is a time filled with anticipation as we await the fulfillment of a long-standing promise embodied in Jesus,” said Rev. Arthur Jones, senior pastor, St. Andrew. “Throughout the whole Bible, God is consistently making a relational promise: He will be with His people. Even when they are unfaithful, God’s faithfulness endures, so much so that He came to Earth Himself. In Jesus—who is both fully God and fully human—we meet the ultimate answer to this promise. This is the miraculous demonstration of unwavering love reflected in the Advent season.”
For full details and event registration, visit standrewmethodist.org/Christmas.
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St. Andrew Methodist Church, founded in 1986, is located on 21.2 acres in Plano, Texas, and has more than 7,000 members. The church hosts over 2,000 people each weekend for worship services in both a traditional style with the classic pipe organ and a contemporary style with an LED center screen and lighting technology. St. Andrew extends an open invitation for all to be a part of a community ready to embrace faith in Christ that is real, practical, and life changing. Many opportunities are provided to gather on campus and serve locally, regionally, and globally. Through Invite Ministries, St. Andrew’s publishing house, and Beacon of Light, a mental health ministry, St. Andrew offers innovative ways to reach Christians within its congregation and out in the community. The new 300-seat Hasley Chapel provides worship and other gathering opportunities in a scenic and more intimate setting. In 2022 St. Andrew became an independent Methodist Church seeking to live more like Jesus every day and to learn in deeper ways what it means to follow His teachings, live in community, and serve the world. 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75093. Visit www.standrewmethodist.org; call (972)380-8001.
