With each holiday season, Christians take the opportunity to focus on the meaning of Christ’s birth anew.

Christians believe the Old Testament passage of Isaiah 7:14 prophesies about the birth of Jesus Christ.

That passage says a virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son who will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

Amid all the busyness of the holiday season, many Tyler area churches provide opportunities for people to hear about a different meaning for the season.

It is a meaning not tied to presents, or snowmen or Santa Claus, but to the love of a Savior, who came to this Earth in human form, not to condemn it, or limit it, but to give life to the full.

Check out this list to find one or more opportunities to participate in the sacredness of this season and enjoy a different side of the holidays.

– Emily Guevara

Apostolic

First Apostolic Church

14151 Rhones Quarter Road, Tyler

Sunday School, 11 a.m. Dec. 25

Worship Service, 12:30 p.m. Dec. 25

Assembly of God

Calvary Assembly of God

1723 E. Front St., Tyler

Christmas morning service, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25

First Assembly of God

5309 Rhones Quarter Road, Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m.

First Assembly of God

502 Texas Highway 110 South, Whitehouse

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service, 6 p.m.

Baptist

Bethel Baptist Church

13108 TX Highway 64 E.

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Calvary Baptist Church

6740 Old Jacksonville Highway

Christmas Day Service, 10:15 a.m.

Central Baptist Church

1343 E. Grande Blvd.

Christmas Day Service, 10:45 a.m.

College Hill Baptist Church

1314 W. Houston St.

Christmas Day Service, 9 a.m.

Colonial Hills Baptist Church

7330 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler

Candlelight Vigil, 6 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Faith Baptist Church

405 S. Hart St., Quitman

Christmas Day Worship, 11 a.m.

First Baptist Church – Downtown

412 W. Ferguson St., Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 4 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:45 a.m.

First Baptist Church – South

17002 U.S. Highway 69 South, Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 4 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:30 a.m.

Friendly Baptist Church

1903 E. Front St., Tyler

Candlelight Vigil, 6 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Grace Baptist Church

5512 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 9:30 a.m.

Greater Saint Mary Baptist Church

1615 Texas College Road, Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Green Acres Baptist Church

1607 Troup Highway, Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:30 a.m.

Iglesia Bautista de Fe

10788 Farm-to-Market Road 14

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

LifePoint Fellowship Church

13973 Texas Highway 64 West, Tyler

Christmas Service, 11 a.m. Dec. 25

New Harmony Baptist Church

10251 Farm-to-Market Road 724, Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Southside Baptist Church

8875 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Sylvania Church

2801 S. Southeast Loop 323

Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:30 a.m.

Catholic

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

423 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler

Christmas Eve, 5 p.m. (children), 7 p.m., 9 p.m. (Spanish)

Christmas Day, Midnight, 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. (Spanish)

Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul

1435 ESE Loop 323, Tyler

Christmas Eve, 6 p.m. (children) and 9 p.m.

Christmas Day, 9 a.m.

St. Mary Magdalene

18221 Farm-to-Market Road 2493, Flint

Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Christmas Day, 10 a.m.

Christian Church

First Christian Church

4202 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler

Candlelight Vigil, 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Service, 9:30 a.m.

Church of Christ

North Tenneha Church of Christ

Christmas Day Bible Class, 9 a.m.

Christmas Day Services, 10:15 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Church of God

New Life Worship Center

18535 U.S. Highway 69 South

Christmas Day Service, 10:30 a.m.

Rose Heights Church of God

2120 Old Omen Road, Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Episcopal

Christ Episcopal Church

South Campus

15747 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler

Children’s Christmas Pageant, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Eucharist Rite II, 11:05 a.m.

Downtown Campus

118 S. Bois D’Arc Ave., Tyler

Children’s Christmas Pageant and Family Eucharist, 4 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Eucharist, 7:30 p.m.

Festival of Lessons and Carols: The Solemn Eucharist, 10:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Eucharist Rite I, 10 a.m. Dec. 25

St. Francis Episcopal Church

3232 Jan Ave.

Family Service with Children’s Pageant, 6 p.m. Dec. 24

Festive Carol Sing, 10 p.m. Dec. 24

Traditional Service with music, 10:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Traditional Service without music, 10 a.m. Dec. 25

St. John’s Episcopal Church

514 W. Vance St., Tyler Paper

Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 p.m.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

16292 Farm-to-Market Road 849, Lindale

Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10 a.m. Dec. 25

Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1617 Shiloh Road, Tyler

Christmas Program, 11 a.m. Dec. 25

Lutheran

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

4900 Kinsey Drive, Tyler

Christmas Cantata, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Worship, 7 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Worship, 10 a.m.

Methodist

Bascom United Methodist Church

12055 Farm-to-Market Road 848

Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Bullard First United Methodist Church

204 S. Rather St., Bullard

Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:30 a.m.

Dayspring United Methodist Church

310 W. Cumberland Road, Tyler

Family Christmas Eve Service, 11 a.m.

Candlelight/Communion Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m.

Edom United Methodist Church

8430 Highway 279

Candlelight Worship Service, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Worship Service, 11 a.m.

Fairwood United Methodist Church

1712 Old Omen Road, Tyler

Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, 5 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Service, 10:45 a.m.

Lanes Chapel United Methodist Church

8720 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 2 p.m.

Marvin United Methodist Church

300 W. Erwin St., Tyler

Children’s Pageant, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Traditional Services at 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24

Contemporary Service, 7 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Service, 10 a.m. Dec. 25

Mt. Sylvan United Methodist Church

13090 County Road 434, Lindale

Candlelight Worship Service, 5 p.m. Dec. 24

Christmas Day Worship Service, 5 p.m.

Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church

417 County Road 1143, Tyler

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7 p.m.

Christmas Day Worship Service, 11 a.m.

Pollard United Methodist Church

3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler

Children’s Christmas Celebration, 5 p.m. Dec. 24

Candlelight Service, 7 p.m. Dec. 24

Combined Service, 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

215 S. Clayton Ave., Tyler

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m. Dec. 25

Nondenominational

Bethel Bible Church

South Campus

17121 U.S. Highway 69 South, Tyler

Christmas Eve Services, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10 a.m.

Whitehouse Campus

306 Highway 110 North

Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service at South Campus.

Downtown Campus

202 S. Broadway Ave., Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service at South Campus.

CrossPointe Community Church,

4642 Farm-to-Market Road 2813, Tyler

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Day Service, 10:45 a.m.

Grace Community Church

OJ Campus

3215 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Lindale Campus

15567 Woodsprings Road, Lindale

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

UB Campus

3001 University Boulevard, Tyler

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 4 p.m.

Grace Español

Christmas Day Service, 11 a.m., OJ Campus

New Covenant Church

4402 Watson St., Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m.

Presbyterian

Fifth Street Presbyterian Church (PCA)

1616 E. Fifth St., Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m.

Christmas Morning Worship, 11 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)

230 W. Rusk St., Tyler

Christmas Eve Service, 3 p.m.

Moravian Lovefeast, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24

Highland Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)

3101 Paluxy Drive, Tyler

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service, 5:30 p.m.