Christmas Eve Services in Wilmington (2026)

Christmas Eve Services
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated November 9, 2026 · Checked weekly

5 churches in the Wilmington area with Christmas Eve services on Thursday, December 24, 2026. None has posted 2026 times yet; these churches held Christmas Eve services in recent years and usually post their times in late November or December. Every listing links to the church's own page, so you can check the latest schedule before you go.

The short version

  • 5 churches with Christmas Eve services on Thursday, December 24, 2026. 0 have posted 2026 times so far.
  • 3 church traditions, listed in the same format, alphabetically.

Planning the rest of the season? See Christmas events for kids in Wilmington and Christmas train rides in North Carolina.

Kelsey Lizee Cecil with Rally, the real corgi

Why we made this

A story my mom wanted to write. So I wrote it for her.

On Christmas morning in 2020, I found out I was pregnant with my son, Holden.

Read Kelsey’s story

That same day, my mom went into a coma. She never woke up. Two months after her memorial, I lost my dad too.

My mom had spent years telling me about a story she wanted to write: a little corgi named Rally who rides the train to visit his "grand-paw-rents." She never got the chance. So I wrote it for her.

Rally Takes the Train is a picture book about Rally's first train ride. He packs his turtle toy, his green bone and his orange ball, and meets the conductor. Then he goes through a dark, scary tunnel and finds the light on the other side. Every page is hand-painted in real watercolor. My kids will never meet their grandparents, but this book is how they get to know them.

In college I was a religion minor, and I believe Rally Takes the Train was made for all children, from all religions in the world.

Christmas could have become the hardest day of my year. Instead, I decided to use Rally to bring Christmas magic to as many families as I can.

Kelsey Lizee CecilLearn more about the book (opens in a new tab) →

Churches with Christmas Eve services in Wilmington

Showing all 5 churches. Filters, calendar, directions and church links unlock free with your email.

More Wilmington area churches with Christmas Eve services

These churches held Christmas Eve services in past years. Most post 2026 times in late November and December; we check every week.

Christmas Eve services by tradition in Wilmington

Churches whose tradition we have confirmed, grouped by tradition in alphabetical order, in the same format.

Baptist Christmas Eve services in Wilmington (1)

Baptist services across North CarolinaBaptist services in other cities

Lutheran Christmas Eve services in Wilmington (1)

Lutheran services in other cities

Methodist Christmas Eve services in Wilmington (1)

Methodist services across North CarolinaMethodist services in other cities

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi researches Christmas events for kids in Wilmington.

  • New events every weekWe research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Wilmington.
  • Exclusive access to free eventsFind the free Christmas events in Wilmington before they fill up.
  • Every button on this pageFilters, add to calendar, directions and every church link open right away.
  • Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendarEarly access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
  • One-tap add to calendarSave any service or event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.

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More Christmas Eve services near Wilmington

All Christmas Eve services in North CarolinaAll Christmas Eve services in the United States

More Christmas for families in Wilmington

Family Christmas plans in and around Wilmington, from Rally’s own guides.

Questions about Christmas Eve services in Wilmington

What day is Christmas Eve in 2026?

Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, 2026. Most churches in the Wilmington area hold services from the afternoon into the evening.

How many churches in the Wilmington area hold Christmas Eve services?

This page lists 5 churches in the Wilmington area with Christmas Eve services. None has posted 2026 times yet. All of them held Christmas Eve services in recent years, and most post times in late November or December.

Which parts of the Wilmington area have Christmas Eve services?

Churches on this page are in Downtown, Midtown and North Wilmington. Each listing has its address and a map link.

Which church traditions hold Christmas Eve services in Wilmington?

The 5 churches on this page include 1 Baptist, 1 Evangelical Lutheran and 1 United Methodist. Baptist: First Baptist Church. Evangelical Lutheran: St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Which Wilmington churches have not posted 2026 Christmas Eve times yet?

First Baptist Church, Grace City Church, Grace United Methodist Church, Port City Community Church and St. Paul's Lutheran Church held Christmas Eve services in recent years but have not posted 2026 times. We check their pages each week.

Which Wilmington churches had a family Christmas Eve service last year?

Port City Community Church held a family or children's Christmas Eve service last year. Their 2026 times are not posted yet.

When do churches in Wilmington post their Christmas Eve times?

Most churches post between late November and mid December. We check every church on this page each week and add 2026 times as soon as they appear on the church's own page.

Is there a Baptist Christmas Eve service in Wilmington?

Yes. This page lists 1 Baptist church in Wilmington with Christmas Eve services, including First Baptist Church (Downtown). Its 2026 times are not posted yet.

Is there a Lutheran Christmas Eve service in Wilmington?

Yes. This page lists 1 Lutheran church in Wilmington with Christmas Eve services, including St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Downtown). Its 2026 times are not posted yet.

Is there a Methodist Christmas Eve service in Wilmington?

Yes. This page lists 1 Methodist church in Wilmington with Christmas Eve services, including Grace United Methodist Church (Downtown). Its 2026 times are not posted yet.

Is this page connected to any church or faith?

No. Rally Takes the Train is a children's book. This is a free public listing of Christmas Eve service times and addresses, and it does not endorse any church or faith.

How can a church add or correct its listing?

Church staff can email kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com with the church's name and a link to its Christmas Eve page. We check corrections against the church's own page, usually within 24 hours.

Where can I find Christmas Eve services elsewhere in North Carolina?

Our page for North Carolina lists every city we cover in the state, with Christmas Eve services by city and by tradition.

Where can I find Christmas events for kids in Wilmington?

Our guide to Christmas events for kids in Wilmington lists Santa visits, holiday lights, shows and free events for 2026, each checked on the host's own website.

Rally Takes the Train book cover

Rally Takes the Train is a picture book about a corgi’s first train ride to visit his grand-paw-rents. Our story

A free public listing. Rally Takes the Train is a children’s book and does not endorse any church or faith. Every church is listed the same way, and no church pays to be listed or placed higher. Times come only from each church’s own page; check it before you go. Church staff: send corrections to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com.

Kelsey Cecil
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