Advent

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.

Catherine’s introduction of the Love Feast-We had 56 at the Love Feast on Dec. 24.This service was the culmination of our Advent in introducing Moravian traditions. We hosted the during Coffee Hour on Dec. 7. We have added Moravian musical pieces such as Candle Glowing for the Advent candle lighting each Sunday. The Love Feast was the final celebration. Here is from the service.Thanks to Marilyn, Amy, Helmut and Brad who provided the music before the service and the choir during the service. The Love Feast required many hymns!

The Port Royal Christmas event has centered around lighting the town Christmas tree, opening the Christmas season. However it is much more and is really a Christmas party for the whole town with food, games, songs and a vist from Santa. St. Peter’s provided 3 types of soup, chicken noodle, chicken vegetable and vegetable plus there were hot rolls and a raw vegetable tray from Memorial Baptist. St. Peter’s provided most of the servers for the food and drink. After a soup dinner, Nancy Long (whose birthday was on Friday also) led a group out for the Christmas tree lighting and caroling. Finally after a phone call, she led the group to the front of the fire house where Santa arrived in a Port Royal fire engine.

Two services to begin Advent – 9am Morning Prayer, Rite 1 and 11am Holy Eucharist Rite 2 with 7 and 32 at each service, respectively on a relatively mild Nov. morning for this time of year. During the 10am hour, we had the second part of the Advent Christian Ed study, Singing Mary’s song with 13 present. Advent was setup with a change of color to purple and pink. At 11am we had the lighting of the Advent Candle by Michael and Sydney. A Moravian hymn was introduced for the ceremony – Candleglowing. Each week we sing a different verse. The sermon was taken from the latter sentences in Mark and was a dialog between the master and his slaves trying to keep his teaching alive, to share the good news.

Last year the focus was on the Angel Gabriel. This year it was Mary. The church windows were decorated with art concerning Mary from all over the world. The play, written by Catherine, featured an older Mary reflecting on her life which included the birth of Jesus.

49 enjoyed music from the choir, soloists (harp, violin, organ, vocal), scripture, hymns and a sermon about Joseph. While chilly, we were treated to a spectacular sunset and evening before the service. Links 1. 2.

It was all here:1. A visit from St. Nicholas at a breakfast in his name 2. A sermon about the The Circle of the Church Year 3. The children lighting the Advent Candle 4. The Giving tree 5. The collection of the UTO offering 6. New music, a change in the altar

What a group! St. Nicholas, Hamilton Duke, Alex Long IV, Mary and John the Baptist – all on 3rd Advent. A wonderful, fun Sunday.

Creche adorned the windows during Christmas, 2012 One was left by Karen Woodruff and has been in the Parish house. Others were contributed by Catherine, Nancy W and Eunice. Here is a gallery of 8 of the creche. Notice how the appearance is altered depending on the light conditions. The pictures were shot both in the afternoon of Advent 4 and on Christmas Eve. St. Francis is credited with creating the first creche – a living one in 1223

With a cast of 20 we presented the “Angel Garbriel”, written by Catherine. The focus was more on the angels with meetings between Gabriel and Mary, Gabriel and Joseph, Gabriel and the Shepherds. We also had a scene between King Herod (Fred) and the wisemen. Baby Jesus was real – daughter of Ben and Kelly who played Joseph and Mary. Nancy did a solo on the famous carol, “Angel Gabriel.”

The 2011 production on 4th Advent featuring Hamilton Duke as baby Jesus. Directed by Nancy Long and assisted by Becky Fisher. Almost 20 people participated.