HOLIDAYS : Finding Meaning in Season’s Frenzy : * There are plenty of services and celebrations--from spectacular to small-scale family affairs--aimed at spreading the true spirit of Christmas.

After the shopping and the decorating, the baking and the wrapping, the parties and the sending of cards, it’s finally time for Christmas.

And for those who have even an ounce of energy left for the holiday itself, there are a score of Christmas Eve celebrations and services designed to help replace the madness of merrymaking with meaning.

Some are set to be spectacular, with breathtaking decorations, string orchestras and brass, and large choirs that will fill huge sanctuaries with their voices. Others are small-scale, family-style affairs, with carols and music and the Christmas story for the children. Some services will be in Spanish, Vietnamese and other languages; some will be held in late afternoon, some later, some at midnight. Despite the variety, all the services promise to offer the same overriding message of the season: There is joy this Christmas, for one and all.

Here is a selection of services; others will be offered at most area churches:

Byzantine Cathedral of Saint Mary, 5329 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 907-5511. The church, designed in the Eastern tradition, features gold steeples and a Byzantine cross at the altar. An 8 p.m. service will include the children’s pageant, an enactment of the Gospel, a reading of Psalms, the Mass and carols.

Calvary Community Church, 31293 Via Colinas, Westlake Village, (818) 991-8040. Four one-hour candlelight Communion services will be held, at 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., with singing, meditations, and a procession of new believers--those who have become Christians during the year. Child care will be provided at each service for children up to age 5.

Congregational Church of the Chimes, 14115 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 789-7124. Geared for the entire family, the 7 p.m. service includes a children’s sermon and full choir. At 11 p.m., there will be a candlelight service with a full choir and handbells.

First Baptist Church of Lancaster, 44648 15th St. West, Lancaster, (805) 948-0855. Two identical family services will be offered, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Each will include one hour of music, drama and singing, in a casual atmosphere. Soloists, and the Praise Team--contemporary singers accompanied by drums, guitar, bass, piano and synthesizer--will perform. Child care will be available for children up to 5 years old.

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 10800 Moorpark St., North Hollywood, (818) 766-3838. In addition to a 5 and 7 p.m. Christmas Mass, the church will offer midnight mass with full choir, led by Charles Salamunovich, who also directs the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Salamunovich is celebrating his 50th anniversary as music director at St. Charles, and under his leadership, the choir has toured Europe, performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican and done soundtracks for movies, classical recordings and television.

St. Clare’s Catholic Church, 19606 Calla Way, Canyon Country, (805) 252-3353. In addition to a 5:30 p.m. children’s mass and a 7:30 p.m. family mass--both with choir--St. Clare’s will offer a midnight mass with full choir.

St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, 111 S. Sixth St., Burbank, (818) 842-7461. A family-oriented midnight mass, beginning at 10:30 p.m., will include special soloists and choir. Child care will be available.

St. Mel’s Catholic Church, 20870 Ventura Blvd, Woodland Hills, (818) 340-6020. The highlight of the St. Mel’s Christmas Eve services is Midnight Mass, which will begin at 11:15 p.m. The service will include a string orchestra with brass and a 50-person choir, performing Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D minor, and the traditional lessons and carols. For those who prefer earlier celebrations, there also will be a 5:30 p.m. service, featuring a girls choir, and a 9 p.m. service with an adult choir.

St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church, 3646 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City, (818) 763-9193. Celebrations begin with a 6 p.m. family service, geared to young children. A second service begins at 10:30 p.m. with carols, followed by a Holy Eucharist at 11 p.m., when a choir with hand bells will perform.

St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, 17114 Ventura Blvd., Encino, (818) 788-4486. At 5 p.m., there will be a special service for children, including a Family Mass with the blessing of the creche. An 11 p.m. Solemn High Mass of Christmas will include traditional lessons and carols.

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 19850 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, (818) 341-6634. Four different services will be offered: a 4 p.m. family celebration, geared for those with small children; a 7 p.m. service, conducted in Spanish; a 9 p.m. Mass, in Vietnamese; and an 11:30 p.m. Midnight Mass with readings and carols, featuring the parish choir.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 5619 Lindley Ave., Tarzana, (818) 708-7068. Offers a 7 p.m. candlelight service with choir, with a Christmas Eve meditation by the Rev. Paul Hill.

West Valley Christian Church, 22944 Enadia Way, West Hills, (818) 884-6480. A 7:30 p.m. family candlelight service with piano, organ and guitar will include guest soloists and choir.

Elsewhere

Bel-Air Presbyterian Church, 16221 Mulholland Drive, (818) 788-4200. Two services of lessons and carols, with a choir and soloists will be held.

A family service geared for young children at 6:30 p.m. will be followed by a more traditional service at 11 p.m.

The later service will include a sermon titled, “Presence or Presents,” encouraging people to return to their roots of faith.

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 974-1343. The 34th annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration at the Music Center will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KCET, Channel 28.

Admission and parking will be free; no reservations are needed.

The program will include several children’s choirs, dance companies and symphonies, and will conclude with the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, “Ode to Joy,” by an international choir of 150, accompanied by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.