We had 65 with us on Christmas Eve on a rainy night. The bulletin is here with insert1 and insert2. The readings are here.
The preparations began on Sunday afternoon with the greening of the church with poinsettia and this year, creche being placed in the windows. A gallery is here of the creche. They are from several places around the world. Candles were placed in the windows and at the end of the middle pews.
A gallery of Christmas Eve is here. The service was balanced between instrumental and vocal music, scripture and Eucharist.
The service began with music Helmut on violin and Brad at the piano in the front of the church. They played three pieces – Largo from Xeres, Away in a Manger and Ave Maria.
The choir then sang 7 carols, including "Ding! Dong! Merrily on High", "Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" and the Sussex Carol. Certainly one highlight of the service was Nancy’s solo on "O Holy Night." Brad and Paige Martindale worked very hard with the choir and certainly the results showed. Thom Guthrie also participated in the choir
Catherine welcomed everyone, particularly non-Episcopalians at the service.
After singing "O Come All Ye Faithful", Laura Long lit the Christmas candle. Mary Lawrence played her trumpet on various pieces which accentuated the festive nature of the service. The liturgy began.
At the Gospel reading, Catherine read the Luke 2 Gospel reading for memory. Here is a video in the dim candle light of her reading:
The sermon focused on the role of the shepherd. Examples were provided of those who needed shepherds in Newton (Troy family) and those who became shepherds. "Jesus, this little child, grew up to be the shepherd who watches over us, who feeds and cares for us, who walks with us through the dangerous places in our lives, who guides us to safety, and who at last brings us to a peaceful rest and to a perfect end. ..But most of all, the miracle of Christmas is that when we return to our dark fields, and see the dawn breaking in the eastern sky, we see in the light of this new day, that not only are we God’s sheep, but that we too can grow up to be God’s shepherds."
At the announcements, we were pleased to wish a happy birthday to Linda Upshaw at the service.
Nancy and Crystal collaborated on the duet "Savior’s Lullaby"
Just after communion, Helmut led the choir in the first verse of "Silent Night". The congregation then responded in English.
We were pleased to see Genevieve at the service. Several members of the congregation brought their larger families – Cookie and Johnny Davis, Linda and David Beck and Jim and Elizabeth Heimbach.
The pine tree in the yard had been decorated by the Long family. The wreath was made this year by Catherine and flanked by poinsettia. Merry Christmas to all!