Local Communities of Faith Partner with 99.3 County FM to Present the Fifth Annual “Celebrate Christmas” Broadcast

Local Communities of Faith Partner with 99.3 County FM to Present Fifth Annual “Celebrate Christmas” Broadcast to air Tuesday, December 24 at 8 pm, and again Wednesday, December 25, at noon.

Community Radio Delivers to Homes Across the County on Christmas Eve!

For several years, County FM has partnered with many local communities of faith to broadcast this exceptional Christmas Eve program. Initially begun as a way to offer a traditional Christmas Eve experience during the period of pandemic restrictions, Celebrate Christmas is quickly becoming a wonderful, local Christmas tradition.

The program has been so well-received that many of this year’s participating individuals and organizations have been with the program from the outset. This Christmas our listeners will enjoy contributions from 18 communities of faith.

Celebrate Christmas answers the question: What do the faithful do when “there’s no room at the inn?”  “Many churches now have some kind of online worship option, whether it’s a live stream on social media or a website,” says Rev. Cathy Duggan, founder of the project. “But like many parts of rural Ontario, internet in the County isn’t always great. And all churches have at least a few folks in their congregations who just don’t use the internet—period.” And for some, health concerns inhibit in-person attendance.

99.3 County FM to the rescue!

Initially Duggan approached 99.3 County FM, the community radio station in Prince Edward County, and proposed a program of Christmas scripture readings and carols to be broadcast on the radio on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The station was eager to help. After all, everybody has a radio! As public health concerns and evening nighttime travel are still an issue for many in our community, the Celebrate Christmas program is a way for all to enjoy the magic of Christmas. 

This year, Rev. Philip Hobbs of Bloomfield United is partnering with United Church minister Rev. Aaron Miechkota to co-manage the project. With the support of County FM Production Lead, Gage Broderick, the various Celebrate Christmas elements are produced and brought together to produce a Christmas Eve show like no other. 

Says Craig Mills from 99.3 County FM, “We embraced the non-denominational project during Covid as a chance to help the community heal and celebrate without anybody feeling like they missed Christmas. It’s now become an important local holiday tradition and we cherish the opportunity to work with our local communities of faith to create the program. A special thank you to our 99.3 Production Lead Gage Broderick for his work on the project.  The program airs on 99.3 FM and streams across Canada and around the globe @ www.993CountyFM.ca.”

Celebrate Christmas is a curated combination of scripture, carols, and Christmas greetings on behalf of the various congregations. “Coming together in the spirit of community is what Christmas is all about,” says Hobbs. 

Celebrate Christmas airs exclusively on 99.3 County FM on Tuesday, December 24 at 8 pm and will repeat on Wednesday, December 25 at noon. The complete program will be posted at CountyFM’s website closer to the broadcast date.

2024 Participating Congregations

Bloomfield United Church

Consecon United Church

Cressy Glenora United 

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Friendship United Church

Gilead Fellowship

The HOPE Centre

Picton Free Methodist Church

Picton United Church

Rednersville-Albury Community Church

Picton Salvation Army

Sonrise Christian Academy

South Bay United Church

St. Andrew's Circle of Friends

St. Andrew's & St. Philip's Anglican Churches

St. Gregory's Catholic Church

St. Mary Magdalene Church

Wellington United Church

For more information, please contact: Rev. Philip Hobbs, Bloomfield United (613) 970-7880 rev.philip.picton@gmail.com

Craig Mills, 99.3 County FM 613-476-2229 gm@993countyfm.ca