Advent

Since the 1990’s the annual St. Peter’s Christmas Play was inside the Church, usually during Advent 4. The play has always involved much of the congregation. However, due to Covid, there was no 2020 play.

Let’s do something different! In 2021, the idea was to go outside in terms of location and marketing. We would invite the community and bring the meaning of Christmas to the world and schedule it in the evening outside. It would have two performances to attract a larger audience in the community. We also went outside the church for additional actors and actresses for an ecumenical flavor. We had a real Jesus born in 2021! The angels were not just children but adults as well. The music had to be mobile!

This was a more involved play with 6 scenes and locations, including the pavilion dedicated in 2021. With this complexity the play had to include more directions and location managers.

This year we had a baptism prior to the play because the baby would star as Baby Jesus. Da’von ny’kese Townsel, son of Cornesha Howard and David Townsel was baptized.

The play takes place with the Trinity, God, Son, Holy Spirit looking down at the world. God sees the world as beautiful but the Holy Spirit laments “I’m having trouble getting through to people. They are barely able to catch their breaths, much less breathe deeply enough to take me in.” Jesus adds “And their hearts have turned to stone, impervious to love. They are busy hating on each other.” God adds his response – “They seem so distant and lost from us, and they’ve made a mess of our good creation “But….many people are praying for rescue. Holy Spirit: “I’ve noticed too, as I blow where I will on the earth, that not all hearts have turned to stone. Take Mary, for instance. What a kind heart she has, overflowing with love.”

Christmas Eve turned cloudy in the mid-40’s with rain later. We had 51 for the service. Of note within the church were “cherry tree toppers” used as ornaments toward the rear of the church from Fraser Wood Elements in Fredericksburg. Cookie outdid herself with the poinsettia in the windows with nandina and pine. The red candles complemented them well.

Music is part of Christmas. Marilyn brought her harp and Nancy joined in on soprano for one piece. The choir presented “In the Bleak Midwinter” at the offertory. Brad’s prelude was “Unto to us a child is born.” We normally sing “Angels we have heard on High” but it was the postlude this year.

We had numerous visitors. Cherry had her “hugging shirt” and she was busy doing that. Catherine presented Luke 2 reading for memory as well her sermon. We have a selection from it under the videos. The intimacy of St. Peter’s gives everyone a front row seat. The story of William Weaver and the stolen bike brought all into several themes of Christmas in the sermon.

Today was Advent 3 but for St. Peter’s better known as the Christmas Play. This play was different than in the past. It was exclusively performed by children but this time with speaking lines rather than involving the adults with the speaking parts. The play was inserted in the service rather than the service inserted into the play. This year Advent 4 and Christmas Eve are the same day so Advent seems shorter. Thus, the decision to make it an Advent 3 Sunday as much as the play.

The play was written by Catherine around the Gospel reading for this Sunday starting with John the Baptist. It continued with a mixture of the traditions from Luke and Matthew. We had 58 people in the service including 11 children in the play.

Becky Fisher as the director deserves credit for rehearsing the children over several weeks with their lines, organizing the costumes and getting the PA system. The props had to be purchased and blocking had to be done.

Link to the Videos

Link to the Story

The Port Royal Christmas had probably 75 people there, less attended in previous years. Snow was coming down as the party began and predictions for Saturday were anywhere from 1-3 inches. However, the outside tree which was planted many years ago showed the splendor of Christmas and the numbers that were in attendance had more time with Santa.

There were three groups collaborating for this event – Town of Port Royal, Parks and Rec, St. Peter’s Episcopal. St. Peter’s took care of the pizza and Town of Port Royal the sweets.

St. Peter’s also helped with the serving and support. Catherine helped to organize the group and provided fellowship. Johnny Davis and Jim Heimbach served pizza. Nancy and Elizabeth were in the kitchen. Andrea provided the desserts. Families from St. Peter’s who enjoyed the evening included the Davis’ and Dukes.

Link to the story

Today we celebrated Advent 3, including the lighting of the Advent wreath, the UTO ingathering and a reception honoring the ordination to the priesthood of Catherine Hicks

83 people shared in a 5pm Christmas Eve service featuring soloists Helmut on both violin and voice (Silent Night), the choir under the direction of organist Brad Volland, Mary Lawrence Hicks on trumpet (Ave Maria, A Child is Born) and Doug Henderson in the choir and also accompanying Mary Lawrence on A Child is Born. Double click on the images to see larger picture and caption

This was a busy but rewarding Sunday showing off the talents of many of the St. Peters Community- from Christian Education, 11AM ;Eucharist, Coffee Hour, St. Nicholas Celebration, Wine and Cheese Party and then finally Even Song at 7pm.

The Christmas service was centered around music and story told through scripture. Brad and Helmut began it with violin and piano for three numbers and the choir added 7 carols, including Nancy’s solo on “O Holy Night”. Scripture was highlighted through Catherine’s reading of the Christmas story.

Thanks to Nancy Long for overall direction of this year’s play – an amazing job. Special thanks to Becky Fisher who made the beautiful angel costumes. Both the Fisher family and Duke family committed their entire families to the play. Thanks to all participants.

Lessons and Carols is a great way to the end the year with a summary of the Christmas season in songs and words. A cold day outside but with exciting singing and readings inside. The choir previewed two new possible hymns for next Christmas. So we look forward too.

A big Sunday, not only with two services at 9am and 11am but also a combination of the first Sunday in Advent backed with the Altarpiece fundraising kickoff. Cleo Mullins our altarpiece conservator was here to explain the conservation process during the announcements and describe the problems she encountered in the various parts of the altarpiece. It is a case of the elements (earthquake water damage), time (framework gild, tablets bowing) and human mistakes (overpaint and damage to the framework by ladders). She opened the review to questions. The conservation is not an exact process since various /details may be revealed in the conservation.

This was a combined effort among Catherine, Cookie, Eunice, Betty and Toni. Toni is from Bethlehem, PA, central home of the Moravians and Catherine graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, the largest southern settlement. Thus, it was a natural to bring some of Moravian traditions to Coffee hour. The Episcopalians and Moravians are now in full commuunion as well. On about the first weekend of December, the Moravians celebrate Candle Tea. This is hosted tour into their culture with foods (cookies, sugar cake), crafts (candles) and Putz and music (hymns). Highlights of today’s effort would include Cookie’s Moravian chicken pie, Eunice’s meat balls and assorted spreads, Betty’s cake and Catherine’s sugar cake plus Toni’s contributions of book and funds

This year’s play was shorter and simply told the entire story. Highlights included Mary and Elizabeth’s moving dialog. (Cookie memorized her lines and was very effective). Alex rendition of Angel Gabriel was also magnificent helped by his height and booming voice. (This is actually his favorite part that he played in year’s past). Mary and Joseph did a wonderful job with the Baby Jesus even when the latter started crying. The Shepherds and angels acted out their parts well.Of note were the costumes made by the Fisher family. It is an amazing set that will last for years. Callie also was able to get all the children into costume before the play and keep it all together.