Catherine and Helmut began the music with a bright sounding “Still, Still, Still”. Brad Volland and the choir followed it with a series of Christmas hymns and music. Here is a listing not included in the bulletin:
(1) "Rejoice, and Be Merry" (English Traditional Carol arranged by Reginald Jacques);
(2) "The Holly and the Ivy" (English Traditional Carol arranged by Reginald Jacques);
(3) "Ave Maria" Franz Schubert and as arranged by Mary Lawrence Hicks and as adopted by V. Douglas Henderson, Jr.;
(4) "To A Maid Engaged to Joseph" (Ancient English Carol/arr. Rusty Edwards, 1983);
(5) "Come Jesus, Holy Son of God" (G.F. Handel from "Judas Maccabeus," arr. Hal Hopson; and
(6) "Angels We Have Heard on High" (traditional French Carol, arr. Edward Shippen) and lead trumpt as arr. by Mary Lawrence Hicks.
Mary Lawrence Hicks was featured on trumpet accompanied by Brad on the organ for “Ave Maria”. She later joined Doug Henderson on the jazz influenced “A Child is Born.”
Traditional anthems included “O Come O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Once in Royal David City”, “Silent Night” with Helmut singing the first verse in German, and “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”. (Bulletin can be found here )
Catherine’s sermon encouraged us to look deeper into the Christmas story as we look closely into a mirror at ourselves. God was seen as a great gambler on both the baby Jesus where he might, or might not, be loved and cared for as well as Mary and Joseph Already, God has gambled on both Mary and Joseph to accept this miracle. And God is telling us, “Be not afraid.” “Take a risk, and enter into the next moment of your life with me.” “Let me wrap you in the swaddling clothes of my love for you.” “Make space for me in the inn of your heart.” She followed that up with how this is being carried out at St. Peter’s -"to release the power of God’s healing, restoring and redeeming love into our midst by wrapping one another in God’s swaddling clothes of love. We can do our tiny part to bless the world through our love for one another." (The full sermon is here)
Luminaries were placed earlier outside of the Church guiding people back to their vehicles. A photo gallery of the day is here) Thank you to all who participated and those who took their time to spend it here on this blessed day.