Senior Pastor Ian B. Reid of First Lutheran Church in Parkersburg lights the Advent candles prior to a Wednesday evening Compline service. These services will be held at 7 p.m. each Wednesday in Advent – Dec. 4, 11 and 18. All are welcome to these services designed as quiet meditation at the end of the day. (Photo provided by First Lutheran Church)

PARKERSBURG — First Lutheran Church at 1701 19th St. in Parkersburg will hold Advent services on Sundays and Wednesdays, Dec. 1-18.

Sunday services are scheduled at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m., with Wednesday services at noon and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22, will be a combined service during which the children will present their annual program.

The restful evening candlelight Compline services will be held on Wednesday evenings prior to Christmas, Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Compline services offer a time for quiet meditation in the candlelit setting of the sanctuary at First Lutheran.

The Rev. Ian B. Reid, senior pastor of First Lutheran, said the evening Compline services were originally designed as the last prayer service of the day and date back to the Benedictine era (circa 480-550 A.D.). They have become highly anticipated each Advent Season at First Lutheran. To this day, Compline services by candlelight last approximately 30 minutes and preserve the ancient traditions of simplicity, restfulness and timelessness of text and song.

Reid said this year’s Compline services will use the devotional study “The Word Made Flesh” as the inspiration for Compline homilies.

All Advent and Compline services are open to the public. First Lutheran is handicap-accessible, and there is free parking adjacent to the church. Additional information is available by contacting the church office at 304-428-6174.