FRAMINGHAM, MA – Months become weeks, weeks become days, and as December 25th approaches, children’s questions like; “How long until Christmas?“, and “Are you sure Santa knows where our house is?“, come with increasing frequency.
Thanks to NORAD, (the North American Aerospace Defense Command), kids of all ages can track Santa’s travels on Christmas Eve with radar accuracy — and spend time on the NORAD Santa Tracker Website playing games and enjoying other activities while they wait for the jolliest elf to arrive.
History of the NORAD Santa Tracker:
1955 Sears Christmas Ad mistakenly publishes Air Force / CONAD hotline number.
In 1955, a U.S. Air Force agency called “CONAD”, (the Continental Air Command), had it’s phone number, (ME2-6681), mistakenly published in Christmas ad for the Sears Roebuck store in Colorado Springs, CO.
The ad encouraged kids to call the number to talk to Santa.
In the spirit of Christmas, CONAD Operations Director, Col. Harry Shoup had staff give children updates on Santa’s location.
Three years later, the United States and Canada formed NORAD, and the agency decided to follow Col. Shoup’s lead, and made the “Santa Hotline” a favorite annual event for the agency.
From 1955 to 1996, the “Santa Tracker” was a call-in telephone hotline and newspapers, radio and television programs promoted it to children across the country.
In 1997, Santa went high-tech, and the agency created the NORAD Santa Tracker website — which has been updated over the past 15 years to include “live satellite tracking” and fun, interactive activities for kids.
Merry Christmas to all from Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Below is a list of Christmas services, masses and other events held at Framingham churches and houses of worship during the week of December 22nd through 26th, 2014.
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Armenian Church of the Holy Translators – American Christmas Eve Carole and Prayer Service, (in English), Wednesday, December 24th, 2014, Christmas Eve, 4:00pm. — 38 Franklin Street, Framingham, MA, 01702 — www.armenianchurchofmetrowest.org
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Edwards Church (UCC) – Wednesday, December 24th, 2014, Christmas Eve—5:00pm Pageant for all ages (come at 4:30 to choose a costume), 9:00pm Candlelight service of lessons, carols, and poetry — 39 Edwards Street, Framingham MA 01701 — www.edwardschurch.org
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First Baptist Church of Framingham – Christmas Eve Service – Wednesday, December 24th, 2014, 7:00 p.m., Rev. Jason Rutherford Preaching “What if God was One of Us”, Special Music, Candlelight. — 1013 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 — www.firstbaptistframingham.org
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First Parish Framingham – Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2014 at 5:00pm, Traditional Candlellight Service and Children’s Christmas Pageant, 8:00 pm Candlelight Service. — (Note: 5:00pm service is more ‘small-child’ friendly!) — A Unitarian Universalist Congregation — 24 Vernon Street, Framingham, MA 01701 — www.uuframingham.org/
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First United Methodist Church – Christmas Eve Service, Wednesday, December 24th, 7:00pm – 8:00pm at Wesley United Methodist Church, see church calendar at www.firstumcframingham.org for more info.
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Grace Congregational Church – Christmas Eve Service with Candles, Carols and Communion, Wednesday, December 24th, 2014, 7:00PM. — 76 Salem End Road, Framingham, MA 01702 — www.gracechurchucc.org
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Lutheran Church of Framingham -Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, 2010, 1:45PM Service at Heritage, 7:00PM Candlelight Service with Lessons, Carols. — 720 Edgell Road, Framingham, MA, 01701 — www.lcfworships.org
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Plymouth Church of Framingham (UCC) – Christmas Eve Worship, Wednesday, December 24th, 2014, 5:00pm and 10:00pm service. Time to sing favorite Christmas hymns and share the beloved story of Jesus’ birth. — 7 Edgell Road, Framingham, MA 01701 — www.plymouthchurchframingham.org
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St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church – Christmas Eve Services, Wednesday, December 24th, 2014 — 4:00 PM Family Holy Eucharist — 10:00 PM Festival Holy Eucharist with Special Music — Thursday, December 25th, 11:00 AM Morning Prayer and Carols — www.standrewsframma.org
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St. Bridgets Church -Christmas Mass Schedule: Wednesday, December 24th, 2014 “The Vigil of Christmas”, 4:00 pm Upper & Lower Church — 6:00 pm Family Mass — Beginning at 11:30 pm: Christmas Music! St. Bridget’s Adult Choir will give a half-hour concert of Christmas Carols and Choir Motets before the Midnight Mass at 12:00 am — 830 Worcester Road (Rt. 9),
Framingham, MA 01702 — www.stbridgetparish.org
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St. George’s Church – CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE / HOLY DAY MASS SCHEDULE – Wednesday, December 24, 2014, Christmas Eve: 9:00AM Mass of the Day, 4:00PM Upper Church, 5:30PM Upper Church — Thursday, December 25, 2014, Christmas Day: 8:00AM Upper Church, 10:30AM Upper Church– Saint George Catholic Church, 74 School Street, Framingham, MA 01701 — www.churchofstgeorge.org
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Please contact us to have your house of worship’s Christmas 2014 services or other holiday events added to this page.
On December 14th, 2014 from 6:00pm ’til 7:00pm Santa and Mrs. Claus will be doing a live “ON-AIR” broadcast on Access Framingham TV — and taking calls from Framingham children!
Framingham, MA – Yes it’s true; Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the Access Framingham television studio on Sunday December 14th.
Tune in from 6:00-7:00pm on Sunday December 14th when Old Saint Nick will pay us a special visit on the air-LIVE. He and Mrs. Claus will be taking phone calls from all the good boys and girls in Framingham.
Do you have a special question for Santa? How do his Reindeer fly? How many toys do the elves make every year? How does Santa know who has been naughty or nice? Or just call in to wish Santa a Merry Christmas!
Mrs. Claus will be reading Twas the Night Before Christmas while grown-ups call in to sign up the kids for a call back from an AF-TV Elf and the kids can talk directly to Santa!
Now is your chance to talk to Santa, live on television. The number to call is 508-875-5403.
Access Framingham can be seen in the Town of Framingham on Comcast Channel 9, RCN Channel 3, and Verizon Channel 43. For more information about Access Framingham programming, training, and services, you can also visit us online at www.accessfram.tv
