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.

2024 Sun Dec 22

Advent 4 – Love

Love is a crucial part of the Advent story. Because of Joseph’s love for Mary, he didn’t stone her when he found out she was pregnant with what he thought was a child out of wedlock with another man (Matthew 1:18-19). Mary has a natural motherly love for Jesus, and ultimately, we see God’s love for everyone by sending his son for us (John 3:16).

Jesus focused on preaching love throughout his ministry. Two of his greatest commands involve love: Love God, love your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).

Love is the greatest of all the virtues on the Advent wreath and encompasses Jesus’ entire purpose for being on earth (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Recent Articles, Advent 4, Dec. 22, 2024


Fourth Sunday in Advent, Dec. 22, 2024
Advent 4

Advent 4, Year C
Visual Lectionary, Dec. 22
Advent 4 – Love
Arts & Faith: Week 4, Year C
The Chosen – Birth of Jesus
Advent 4- Apollo 8 Christmas Eve at the moon
Christmas Articles
3 Saints after Christmas

Advent 3

Lectionary Advent 3, Year C
Advent 3, Joy
Advent 3 is Gaudete Sunday
Lent 3’s message – Inclusion, Hope, Joy
Visual Lectionary, Dec. 15
Arts and Faith- Advent 3, relating art and scripture
Mary’s Song – the Magnificat
Christmas without Anglicans
Origins of the 12 Days of Christmas
Saylor Nativity Collection
Golden Hour at St. Peter’s

Advent 2

Dec. 2024 Parish Post
Visual Lectionary, Advent 2
Advent 2, Year C
John the Baptist in art – National Gallery, London
Preparing the Way of the Lord – Perspectives on Advent 2
Arts and Faith, Advent 2, Year C
Advent Thoughts
Advent 2- Peace

Advent 1

The Importance of Advent 1
The Church’s New Year begins on Advent 1
Advent 1, Dec. 1
Lectionary, Dec. 1
Visual Lectionary, Advent 1
Commentary Advent 1, Year C
The Shape of Advent in Scriptures

All About Advent

Advent Collection 2024
The Wonderful Season of Advent
Waiting in Advent
Getting Ready for Advent
Advent 1 – Hope
Advent Wreath
Arts and Faith, relating art to scripture

Education

Advent Education – “His Gospel is Peace”
Advent Meditations from Living Compass
Advent online learning

3 saints after Christmas Day

1. St. Stephen Dec. 26

Stephen was among the earliest Christian martyrs, stoned to death for his beliefs. St. Paul not only witnessed the event but held the garments of those stoning Stephen which he regretted later on and carried a lasting sense of guilt.

2. John the Apostle Dec. 27

John, one of the Apostles, possibly lived the longest life associated with the Gospel, an author in that time and Evangelist spreading the Gospel to many in the Mediterranean area who were not of Jewish background. He is believed to be the only Apostle not martyred for the cause. He is associated with the Gospel that bears his name, 3 Epistles and possible authorship of the Book of Revelation.

3. Holy Innocents Dec. 28

The term “Holy Innocents” comes from Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 2. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King Herod, fearing for his throne, ordered that all the male infants of Bethlehem two years and younger be killed. These children are regarded as martyrs for the Gospel — “martyrs in fact though not in will.” This can be compared to the conduct of Pharoah in Exodus 1:16. “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”