Celebrate the Joy of Jesus

In a world that can feel hurried, heavy, or uncertain, Christmas invites you to pause and remember why joy still breaks through the darkness.

Celebrate the glorious joy that came with the first Advent—when Jesus Christ was born—and the lasting hope that is yours in Christ as you await His return.

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Christmas in Iowa City

You can celebrate Christmas at one of our convenient Iowa City locations:

A diverse group of people, including families and older couples, walk under a covered entrance into a modern brick building on a bright, sunny day.

Central Campus

15 Foster Rd, Iowa City, IA

December 24 | 3 & 5 PM

Nursery offered only at 3 PM service.

Tell us you're coming!Directions
People walking in and out of the main entrance of Parkview Church, a modern building with a large white sign over the glass doors on a sunny day.

East Campus

1027 US-6 E, Iowa City, IA

December 24 | 7 PM

No children's programming.

Tell us You're coming!Directions

Something for:

A smiling family of four, with a mother, father, daughter, and son, posing for a photo in front of a colorful, geometric background.

Families

  • Convenient service times that fit around nap time and family celebrations.
  • Christmas-themed photo op to capture everyone in their Christmas best.
  • Hot cocoa for the kids (or you!) and coffee to keep you going through your holiday festivities.
  • Nursery care for those under age 3 so you can enjoy the worship service knowing your kids are well cared for (only at the 3 PM service).
Young Adults

Young Adults

  • Time to connect before or after the service with other young adults.
  • Music that merges traditional lyrics with modern music.
  • A message that inspires hope and joy in an increasingly dark world.
An elderly woman with short dark hair smiles warmly. She wears a colorful striped cardigan over white clothing and carries a straw bag in a bright, busy lobby.

Older Adults

  • A cup of coffee on your way in to warm you up as you prepare to worship.
  • Your favorite Christmas hymns to help you remember the reason for the season.
  • A meaningful message straight from the Bible about the Joy that we get from Jesus's birth.
  • A familiar candlelight ending that will bring back your favorite Christmas memories.

We hope to see you there!

Christmas Eve Worship at 3 PM, 5 PM, and 7 PM in Iowa City.

Let us know you're coming!
A view from behind a congregation in a dimly lit church, focusing on a large wooden cross illuminated by a warm light against a wall washed in blue.

Christmas Resources

We know your to-do list is already miles long and finding ways to embrace the season beyond a Christmas Eve service might not be on your mind. But in case it is, our staff team has put together their favorite resources for this season to make it a little easier to find something you can trust.

Below, you will find:

  • A sample of our 4-week devotional series (delivered via text message).
  • A Spotify playlist with a mix of Christmas classics and modern Christian Christmas songs.
  • A list of other recommended resources (podcasts, books, videos, etc.)
Devotional SampleListen to the Christmas PlaylistOther Recommended Resources

Christmas Eve service FAQs

Yes, kids are welcome to join us for the service! If you’d like childcare for your infants and toddlers, we are offering nursery care for kids under 3 at the 3 PM service at Central Campus. Christmas activity bags will be provided in all services.

Nope! If you have a Bible, you may find it helpful to bring that for during the service. However, any Scripture read or talked about will be displayed on our screens in the Worship Center, and we have Bibles for you if you would like your own copy.

We don’t have a dress code at Parkview, but our members generally dress casually. If you feel like wearing a suit, go ahead, and if you feel like wearing a t-shirt and jeans, that’s great too. Just be yourself.

Each service will be about 50-60 minutes long.

During our Christmas Eve service, we will stand and sing together, likely the familiar Christmas Carols as well as some newer Christmas songs. Then a pastor will share a message from the Bible. Throughout the service, we may pray corporately or individually.

One unique element of our Christmas Eve service is closing the service by candlelight while singing Silent Night.

This year, we do not have a Christmas Day service. Enjoy your time with family at home!

We hope to see you the following Sunday at 9:45 AM at our Central Campus location or 10:30 AM at our East Campus location.

The phrase 'Sent with Joy' written in stylized lettering on a textured, reddish-orange background. 'SENT' is in a large, white serif font.

Start the season off with Sent With Joy

We believe we're called to care for our neighbors, coworkers, and classmates around us, so we started an event last year called "Sent with Joy" to help express gratitude for those in our life who are close to us but far from Jesus.

This year, we're opening this event up a bit, and want anyone to be able to come to be filled and sent with joy during a season that can feel anything but peaceful and joyful at times.

This free event is on Saturday, December 13 from 4-6 PM and is open to the public.

Learn more and let us know you're coming:

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