Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve Service Details

Children’s Pageant & Holy Communion, Rite II
3:00 p.m.
In this family-friendly service, we’ll have lots of traditional carols, and for little ones, we’ll keep the service to less than an hour. Three o’clock usually falls between nap time and dinner time, and is convenient for out-of-town grandparents and family to see the children in the pageant. Special prelude music will begin at 2:30 p.m. including a flute and harp duo, a piano presentation by Mary Hetherington, and “He Shall Feed His Flock” from Handel’s Messiah sung by Keely Borland and Caroline Whisnant. Music during the worship service will include “Go Tell It on the Mountain” sung by the Children’s Choir, “Star Carol” by John Rutter sung by the Parish Choir, and “Gesu Bambino” by Pietro Yon sung by Chase Peak with flute and organ.

Lessons & Carols
5:00 p.m.
This service intersperses readings with music from many traditions. It begins with Genesis, and follows the arc of the Christian salvation story from creation to the first coming of Christ. The service time accommodates those with plans to gather later that evening, and works for those who don’t want to drive later at night. The Parish Choir will lead the music. Special prelude music will begin at 4:30 p.m. including the Virginia Commonwealth University brass quintet and “He Shall Feed His Flock” from Messiah sung by Keely Borland and Caroline Whisnant. The Parish Choir will sing musical selections by Marty Wheeler Burnett, Harold Darke, Patrick Hadley, Kola Owolabi, and John Rutter at the Lessons and Carols worship service.

Holy Communion, Rite I
11:00 p.m.
A traditional Rite I communion service, with the Parish Choir Ensemble leading the music. The timing of this service reinforces the holiness of the birth of the baby Jesus in the deep dark of the bleak mid-winter, as the light comes back into the world. Special prelude music will begin at 10:30 p.m. including flute and harp duo, Parish Choir Ensemble, and “He Shall Feed His Flock” from Handel’s Messiah sung by Keely Borland and Caroline Whisnant. The Parish Choir Ensemble will sing musical selections by Camille Saint-Saëns, Richard Shephard, and Charles Wood. Chase Peak will sing“Gesu Bambino” by Pietro Yon with flute and organ.

Christmas Day Service Details

Holy Communion, Rite I
10:30 a.m
A traditional Rite I communion service, with simple music. We begin Christmas morning welcoming the birth of Christ.