Balboa, Union Church.

The Balboa Union Church, a bastion of Christian unity established during the construction of the Panama Canal, will hold its traditional Christmas Eve Service Dec. 24, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. As usual, the event includes the planting of candles at the church’s grounds –a tradition started during World War II by a governor of the former Panama Canal Zone who, for security reasons, requested members of the congregation to perform the service by candlelight.

The building of the Balboa Union Church was dedicated in 1914. For information, call 314-1004.

Christmas has arrived and Panama City has been transformed, once again, into a spectacle of lights. Parque Urracá, with its giant Christmas tree, Avenida Balboa and Calle 50 are some of the areas beautifully adorned by the Mayor’s office, and banks have done their part to embellish the capital during the holidays. Many office buildings of the banking area (which also encompass the main hotel district) have installed live-sized Nativity scenes, and "toylands" within their premises.

Christmas arrives at The Theatre Guild

The Christmas Spirit will invade the Theatre Guild of Ancon on December 14, as it opens its Christmas show: LIVE AT STATION XMAS. Written by Theresa Apple and directed by Charles Todd Apple, the story is about a 1940's radio program that goes up to the North Pole to interview Santa Claus on the eve of his famous trip around the world only to find that the workshop is filled with unhappy elves and a Santa who isn't "all-together." Despite this, the program goes on as scheduled with music and interviews while it's discovered that the discontented elves have taken Mrs. Claus hostage for a half-million in cash and a plane to Rio -- all for better working conditions and a salary! The Christmas Spirit appears and is determined to make everything right through her devotion to the Season and her great ability to party! In the end, The Christmas Spirit comes up with a solution that satisfies everyone and allows Christmas to go on as scheduled. This show was originally performed as part of a USO Tour in Okinawa, Japan, and has also been performed in West Africa and in Virginia.

The play opens December 14, with shows on December 15,16, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. There will be a matinee on Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. Donation: $10.00

For tickets and reservation information, please call 212-0060.

Many hotels and resorts in the interior provinces have organized special Christmas and end-of-the-year parties for guests and visitors.

La Casa de Lourdes, a boutique hotel in El Valle de Anton which is reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, will host a grand Old Year's party Dec. 31. For $75.00, visitors will enjoy a champagne dinner and a dance party featuring a live orchestra. Seventeen of the resort's bedrooms will be available for those attending. (For information, call: 983-6450.)A favorite retreat for tourists, expats and Panama City residents, El Valle is located in the cool mountains of Coclé, 126 km west of the capital.

Not far away, on the Pacific coast, Coronado Golf & Beach Resort will offer a Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 24 at 7:00 p.m., at Restaurante La Huaca, featuring a midnight open bar at the swimming pool. A similar activity will take place on New Year's Eve at 7:00 p.m. Both events are only for guests and affiliates of the resort. (Call 223-3175).

In the town of Boquete in Chiriquí, the long-established Panamonte Inn & Spa will offer a Christmas Eve a -la-carte dinner ($25.00 per person) between 8:00 and 11:00 p.m.

Also in Boquete, Valle Escondido, the country's first major residential development for expats, will have a "New Year's Eve Gala", a dinner buffet with live music, champagne, open bar and fireworks (couples: $145.00, $75.00 single). For reservations, call 720-2454, ext. 302/204.