Advent & Christmas
Advent & Christmas
Advent
Slow Down. Quiet. It's Advent Calendars
Copies of 2024 Advent calendar poster with illustrations by Jay Sidebotham are available in the rear of the Nave. The calendar suggests ways to mark the days through the Advent season, offering ideas for prayer, helping others, and being thoughtful about the true meaning of Christmas.
Deck the Halls
Submitted by Michael Bonilla and Kim Goodman O'Connell
December 1 marks the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new church year. As has been our tradition, we will meet in the cathedral on Saturday, November 30 from 9am to Noon with the purpose of hanging the greens – wreaths and garlands – in the cathedral in preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord. All able bodied volunteers are welcome. If you cannot get on a ladder, not to worry. If your fingers are in good working order, you can help with the "fluffing" of the greens. No matter how carefully we put them away, they always need to be fluffed and shaped before we hang them. Hope to see you there, and if you have any teenagers who need volunteer service hours for school, bring them along as well
Advent - Christmas Book Study - The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha.
When we picture the first Advent, we see Mary and Joseph huddled by a manger. We picture Gabriel, magi, and shepherds tending their flocks. A shining star against a midnight sky. But this harmonized version has lifted the Advent story out of its context--those who experienced the first Advent had to travel through great darkness to reach the hope that shining star announced. Trusted scholar and community organizer Kelley Nikondeha takes us back, to where the landscape of Palestine is once again the geographic, socioeconomic, and political backdrop for the Advent story.
Reading the Advent narratives of Luke and Matthew anew, in their original context, changes so much about how we see the true story of resistance, abusive rulers and systems of oppression, and God coming to earth. This thought-provoking examination invites us into a season of discovery, one that is realistic and honest, and that still wonders at the goodness of God's grace. (from Amazon)
Dean Rebecca and Mother Liz Grohowski will co-lead this seasonal book study. Hybrid sessions will be on Saturdays, Nov. 30 - Jan. 11 from 2-3:30pm in the Walker Room and on Zoom. Copies of the book may be obtained from your favorite book seller. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Dean
Advent Choral Evensong
All are welcome to mark the beginning of Advent by attending Choral Evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral. On December 1st at 4PM, the cathedral choir will present a service including works by Bach, Vaughan Williams, Bord, Decker, and Neary. The historic St. Paul’s Cathedral is located at 139 Pearl Street in downtown Buffalo, NY. For more information, please email Kevin Durkin, or call 716-855-0900.
Christmas Services
Longest Night/Blue Christmas, December 21 – 5pm
On the longest night of the year, we celebrate a service designed especially for those who have experienced loss, are going through a challenging time, or find the holidays difficult.
Christmas Eve, December 24
4:00pm - Lessons and Carols
At 4PM on Christmas Eve, December 24th, the cathedral choir will be joined by a brass quintet to proclaim the birth of our Savior through word and song. This festive, family-friendly, hour-long service will include a brass prelude on the steps of the cathedral beginning at 3:30. With roots at Truro Cathedral and being widely popularized by King’s College, Cambridge, this annual service is much-loved throughout the world.
11:00pm - The Nativity of Our Lord - The “Christ-Mass”
The ChristMass: At 11PM on Christmas Eve, December 24th, the community is invited to gather for the ChristMass. This solemn, joy-filled, and candlelit Eucharist will include music by the cathedral choir and organ. During the Mass, the congregation will sing the beloved carol “Silent Night” by candlelight.
Christmas Day, December 25
10:15am – Christmas Day: The Nativity of Our Lord
On Christmas Day, December 25th, all are welcome to attend Christmas Mass at 10AM. This Eucharist will include congregational singing of Christmas carols with organ accompaniment.
New Year's Day, January 1, 2025 - The Feast of the Holy Name
On New Year's Day, we will step into the New Year with the celebration of Holy Eucharist at 10:15am. This day we recall the naming of Jesus eight days after his birth and that God highly exalted Jesus "and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
January 6 - Feast of the Epiphany, 6pm
Join us as we celebrate the arrival of the Magi and the manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth.