Area churches plan Christmas mass

The Blackwell and Tonkawa Catholic churches have announced the times of their annual Christmas masses. Father Balaswamy Bathini will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Tonkawa, 320 W. North Ave.

Preceding the Mass, the Christmas choir, directed by Madison Davis and accompanied on the organ by Marjilea Smitheisler, will begin caroling at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend the caroling and the Mass. As the choir leads the congregation in singing “Angels We Have Heard on High,” the procession of celebrant and servers will enter the church, with Kennedy and Evelyn Stanford bringing the figure of the Christ Child to the crèche.

Bathini will bless the crèche and then light the Christ Candle as the choir sings “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.” Larry Swords will declaim the Christmas proclamation.

The lector will read from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 62:1-5 and Acts 13:16-17, 22-25. Bathini will proclaim the Gospel according to Matthew 1:1-25 and preach the homily based on that scripture. As the offertory gifts are presented, the choir will sing “I Wonder As I Wander.”

The choir will sing “Christmas Communion Song” during Holy Communion, and the final hymn will be “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” Evergreen wreaths placed in the windows by Anne Evans and Myrna Fath symbolize the eternal God. Lighted Christmas trees arranged by Melinda Glasgow recall the light of Christ brought into the world. The red of the ribbons and poinsettias decorating the church symbolize the blood shed by the crucified Christ, who came into the world to bring salvation to mankind.

The crèche, prepared by Melinda Glasgow, will remain throughout the Christmas season. Bathini will celebrate Christmas Eve Mass at St. Joseph Church in Blackwell, 3rd St. and Bridge Ave., at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 24. On Christmas Day, he will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. in Blackwell and 11 a.m. in Tonkawa.