Advent

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.

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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