Christmas At First
Before joining us for any of our Christmas events here on campus there are five key components to our health and safety protocols that you need to be aware of.
Reservations/Tickets: Everyone should make a reservation via the church office or website so that we have a record of who is attending and can contact you in the event anything should change. If you register to receive a ticket this counts as your reservation.
Personal Responsibility: Anyone testing positive, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or who has been exposed to the virus should not attend until cleared by medical officials or allowed to be around others according to public health regulations.
Temperature Checks: Upon entry to the church, volunteers and staff will conduct temperature checks with touchless monitors at all building entrances. Anyone registering a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be asked to return home and monitor your health.
Masks: Everyone over the age of 10 is required to wear a mask upon entry, exit and while moving around the church building. We strongly encourage people to wear masks during the service, especially while singing. There will be masks available at entrances for those who forget or do not have a mask.
Seating: Pews will be marked for seating in order to ensure social distancing between family units. Those who arrive at the church in the same vehicle or from the same household should sit together on the ends of available pews. The center portion of the pew sections will be blocked to better organize our seating.
Take a look at our Campus Map to familiarize yourself with our Entry/Exit Locations
December 6
An Evening With The Hoppers
5:00 PM
The Hoppers are known as America’s Favorite Family of Gospel Music. They have enjoyed a global ministry sharing in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Israel. Their ministry in the USA has ranged from presidential inauguration religious ceremonies and Carnegie Hall to singing conventions and church platforms. They are one of the most popular and beloved singing families of all time. We welcome back The Hoppers for a Christmas singing experience of worship.
December 12 & 13
A Christmas Symphony
3:00 PM
The Christmas Symphony is a delightful evening of mostly instrumental Christmas music featuring our FBC orchestra along with friends who usually play for The Columbia Christmas Pageant. From popular Christmas songs such as “Sleigh Ride,” “White Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song” to a few surprises like “Christmas at the Movies” and” Jingle Bells Forever,” you will enjoy the sounds of the season! You will also experience the true meaning of Christmas with such songs as “Journey to Bethlehem,” “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World,” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” While the music will be primarily instrumental, we will also be joined by a few vocalists to enhance the meaning of Christmas.
December 13
Sunday Morning Service
Special guests:
Michael O’Brien
The Foto Sisters
10:30 AM
Michael O ‘Brien is a much-accomplished Christian singer and song writer who began his 20-year career as the lead singer for the group NewSong. In addition to his many wonderful songs, he wrote, sang, and produced “The Christmas Blessing Song” for the first of two CBS movies in which he appeared: The Christmas Blessing and The Christmas Shoes. He has led worship and sung in numerous conferences and venues including The Cove, FCA events with Dennis Swanberg, and Life Today with James Robison.
The music of the Foto Sisters is a charming and unique blend of sacred, classical, cinematic, and pop styles, with a hint of Celtic. Audiences across the United States have been delighted and inspired by their heartfelt melodies and graceful instrumentation. For over seventeen years, this classically-trained sibling trio has appeared in many different venues, including churches, conferences, schools, cantatas, weddings, and charity events. In the words of Gaylyn Foto, “It’s hard to remember life as sisters without music!”
December 20
Carols, Candlelight, Communion
5:00 PM
The Carol, Candlelight, Communion Service is always a highlight of our Christmas worship. Bring your family and enjoy this special Christmas service where we will sing favorite Christmas Carols, partake in Communion and fill the Sanctuary with the glow of candlelight. Please RSVP just like you do for Sunday morning services.
33rd Annual Columbia Christmas Pageant
Television Broadcast Only
This year the 33rd Annual Christmas Pageant will be televised and streamed online only. You will be thrilled and blessed by the sights and sounds of one of the great traditions in our state. The Pageant will be posted here on the website on December 28.
33rd Annual Columbia Christmas Pageant Broadcast Times
Columbia – WLTX
December 25 – 1:35 AM, 6:00 AM, 9:00 AM
Charleston – Fox-24
December 26 – 5:00 PM
Myrtle Beach – Bounce TV
December 27 – 9:00 AM
Augusta – CW
December 27 – Noon
Greenville – WGGS
December 23 – 8:00 PM
December 24 – 8:00 AM
Savannah – CW
December 25 – 11:30 AM