Advent and Christmas

The Advent season, the four Sundays preceding Christmas, is a season of preparation and is marked with traditional Advent hymns, such as Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist Cries, and O Come, O Come, Emanuel.

The Advent wreath has a prominent place in the church. On each of the four Sundays of Advent, an Advent candle is lighted on the Advent Wreath.

Preparations get underway for the great tradition of the Christmas Pageant, usually held on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The Christmas Pageant was initiated by the Rev. Thornton Turner, Rector of St. Peter’s from 1912 – 1919. The Pageant is the narrated story of Christ’s birth, with the choir leading congregational hymns and providing musical settings for portions of the story.

There is opportunity for all children and young people to take part in the Pageant as angels, shepherds, pages for the Three Wise Men, and all of the various characters in the story. Adults also take part, as the Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and others. The costumes for the Pageant were created many years ago and continue to be tended, mended, and cleaned with loving care.

Poinsettias and evergreen branches adorn the festive celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at Christmas. Services are usually held at 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, 11:00 PM on Christmas Eve (the traditional Midnight Mass) and at 9:00 AM on Christmas Day. There is music at all services, with congregational carols at 5:00 PM and music led by the choir at 11:00 PM. The Christmas morning service features many favorite Christmas carols for congregational singing.