We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Lent

Palm Sunday March 28, 2021

We reopened the church for the first time since March 8, 2020. There was a Litany of Thanksgiving that accompanied the usual Litany of the Palms to celebrate. From the flowers in the window to special violin music there were small touches that added to the celebration. We had 24 people in attendance.

Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 – once again

Shrove Tuesday is the last day of Epiphany and the bridge to Lent which begins Wed. Feb. 14. Shrove Tuesday is a day of reflection but mostly feasting. And we did that with about 20 in the Parish House. For a variety of reasons – renovation, Village Dinner, weather we have not had one since 2013. Thanks to Dave, Eunice, Roger, Andrea, and Catherine for helping out preparing and serving and making this day a reality once again.

Lent 1, March 5, 2017

This week was the end of Epiphany and the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent began with a bang with a intense storm that knocked out electricity in the area for several hours. So you can say God’s power was felt in the storm and we realized our own tenuous nature, a theme of Lent! Like Jesus we were tested.

Both our events went on normally. The Village Dinner ended Epiphany with Andrea’s fish, rice, mullins and pie. We then had 20 at the Ash Wednesday service. Despite cooler snap this week, the spring flowers continued in the not spring weather.

The story is here.

Best of Easter 2017

We started out at the Sunrise Service at the Long’s House at 6:30am. It was a half an hour later than last year. The weather was both warmer and clearer with a gentle warm breeze in contrast to the overcast 40 degree weather of a year ago.

Easter is a time of new growth. Walking through Port Royal there were plenty of examples – cherry trees, forsythia, dogwood, and new leaves on trees. Bill Wick’s Viburnum was amazing for its growth

Easter is a time of celebration and that included music. The choir had worked hard on John Rutter’s “Glory to God” with trumpeter Andy Cortez playing the descant. Andy also had accompaniments written for the opening hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and the closing “The Day of Resurrection.

Celebration was apparent in the number of Easter bonnets that were worn. We had 70 in attendance, an overflow helped by several families. The service opened with the lighting of the Paschal fire outside and procession inside.

Link. to the news page.

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014

The weather was warm (70’s) and glorious with abundant sunshine. We had 51, including the Andersons who returned from Texas. We had a few guests also. All the children were present for Godly Play.|Lent wrapped up this week. It was the Liturgy of the Palms before the service at 10:45am and then the Liturgy of the Passion which is the extended Holy Week reading, this year from the Gospel of Matthew. We had less than 20 for the Litany of the Palms last year when it was colder in March, 2013. We had 30-40 this year with the excellent weather.|The altar was stripped for the passion narrative. One by one Eunice brought objects to the altar which were symbolic of the event and also provide a lesson for us. It included the bread and wine, a sword, a bowl of water and towel, fair linen, a rock, 30 pieces of silver, a crown of thorns and scarlett robe. After the passion narrative Catherine explained the symbolism as the sermon.