Yearning for something more sacred than Santa Claus and snowmen this Christmas?

A number of area churches will hold Christmas Eve services, telling the story of Jesus’ birth in scripture and song. And some churches will also hold Christmas Day services.

All services are open to the public. A partial list follows:

Assembly of God

Abundant Life Assembly of God, 410 N. Main, North Salt Lake, will hold a Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m.

Baptist

At Bountiful First Baptist Church, 1915 S. Orchard Drive, a 6:30 p.m. a candlelight service will be held.

Bountiful Heights Baptist Church, 390 N. 400 East, (formerly Grace Baptist Church), will hold a Christmas Eve service, “What If Christmas Never Happened?” at 7 p.m. Then, on Dec. 26 at 10:30 a.m., the sermon will be “Christmas Happened, Now What?”

Mountain View Baptist Church, 2585 E. 300 North Layton, will hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 p.m. The Lord’s Supper will be observed.

Catholic

At St. Olaf Catholic Church, 1800 S. Orchard Drive, Bountiful, a Christmas Vigil Mass will be celebrated Christmas Eve at 5:30 p.m. Christmas carols will be sung at 11 p.m. that night, with Midnight Mass following. Christmas Day Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 and 11:15 a.m.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 S. Chapel Street, Layton, will celebrate two Masses on Christmas Eve. The first will be at 5 p.m., preceded by Christmas music by the Celebration Chamber Orchestra, organ and cantor beginning at 4:15 p.m.; Midnight Mass will be preceded by carols by the choir, organ and instrumentalists at 11:15 p.m.On Christmas Day, Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m., with the organ, cantor and the Creation Trio; at 10:30 a.m. with the choir, organ, cantor and instrumentalists; and in Spanish at 12:30 p.m.

Community

At Clearfield Community Church, 200 S. 500 East, there will be two Christmas Eve services. The first at 6 p.m. will be family-oriented, the second, at 10 p.m. will be a Candlelight service.

Episcopal

The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection,1131 S, Main, Centerville, is planning a Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist Service at 5 p.m.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1579 S. State Street, Clearfield will hold a Choir Cantata at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Lutheran

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 1840 S. 75 East, Bountiful, is planning a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. The church will also hold a Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.

Grace Lutheran Church, 835 N. Main, Bountiful will offer a Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m. Participants will include members of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 74 N Fort Lane, Layton will hold a candlelight service at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve. On New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m., a special Divine Service is planned.

Presbyterian

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 796 S. Mountain Road, Fruit Heights, is holding two Christmas Eve service. A 6 p.m. service will be a family candlelight service, while an 8 p.m. service will be more traditional.

United Church of Christ

Bountiful Community Church is joining with the New Jerusalem Samoan Church for a Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols, to be held at 9 p.m. at Bountiful Community Church, 150 N. 400 East. The service will feature anthems sung by the Samoan and BCC choirs in both English and Samoan.

mwilliams@davisclipper.com