Several area churches are having evening services tonight and encouraging people to come and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Services will begin at Fairview Baptist Church at 5 p.m. as parishioners partake in the Lord’s Supper. Pastor Kevin Jenkins said the church decided to offer Christmas Eve services so believers could come together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Christmas is so family oriented and we truly are a family here at the church, too,” said Jenkins with Fairview Baptist Church.

Jenkins said observing the Lord’s Supper is a way to remember Jesus’ birth as well as His death.

“The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of what He did for us,” Jenkins said. “Both in His birth and in His death. Our salvation was His object of coming.”

Katherine Wood, a verger at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, said the downtown church will offer two services tonight to give church members an opportunity to celebrate with family.

“It is a very special time for the church family to get together to remember that Christmas is, after all, a celebration of the birth of the Christ Child,” Wood said.

She added that gathering on Christmas Eve and celebrating the birth of Christ is a “tradition” for many families.

“The Christmas Eve Services have been a part of the Episcopal tradition for generations,” she said. “Adults remember coming to services when they were little and now they bring their families. It’s tradition.”

In addition to partaking in the Holy Eucharist, churchgoers will hear music from the Mississippi State University Brass Ensemble. The ensemble will begin playing approximately 20 minutes before both services. Services begin at 6 p.m. and at 10:30.

Evangel Church in North Columbus will also be offering worship services this afternoon and evening.

Calvin Barnes, one of the pastors at the nondenominational church, said the church would be putting on a “Christmas Spectacular” at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“It’s part show and part worship experience,” Barnes said. “If people want to come worship they’ll definitely get to do that.”

Childcare will be provided for children five and under.

In addition, Annunciation Catholic Church will host a midnight mass with Holy Communion and a selection of special Christmas music and Main Street Presbyterian Church will is having a “Lessons and Carols” Service at 5 p.m.

Details on other church services can be found on the churches’ websites, Facebook pages, or by calling the church office.

Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.