1. family and parenting
2. children

An Advent Festival of
Lessons & Carols
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 4, 2005
Grace Episcopal Church
THE REVEREND DONALD S. MCPHAIL, RECTOR
THE REVEREND GREGORY S. HODGSON, PRIEST ASSOCIATE
THE REVEREND ALASTAIR VOTAW, PRIEST ASSOCIATE
DR. SCOTT BENNETT, ORGANIST/CHOIRMASTER
JODI BENNETT, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S CHOIRS
THE ORDER OF PROCESSION
VERGER
CRUCIFER
TORCHES
GRACE CHURCH CHOIR
ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR
THE RECTOR AND ASSOCIATE CLERGY OF GRACE CHURCH
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Voluntary
Introit
Two Chorale Preludes on
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 661
(Come, Savior of the nations)
J. S. Bach
J. S. Bach
E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come
Paul Manz
Peace be to you and grace from Him who freed us from our sins, who loved
us all and shed his blood that we might saved be. Sing Holy, Holy to our
Lord, the Lord, Almighty God, who was and is and is to come; sing Holy,
Holy, Lord! Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, rejoice on earth, ye
saints below, for Christ is coming, is coming soon, for Christ is coming soon!
E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, and night shall be no more; they need no
light nor lamp nor sun, for Christ will be their All!
Words: Revelation 22
Music: Paul Manz
Processional Hymn
324
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Picardy
Bidding Prayer
Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, let it be our care and delight to prepare
ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even
unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.
Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from
the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by his
holy Child; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth
with hymns and songs of praise.
But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all
the earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which he died, and especially
in this country and within this city.
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in
his name the poor and the helpless; the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those
who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all those
who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his
heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and all those who
rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which
no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with
whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the
words which Christ himself hath taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life;
and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all.
Amen.
Reading:
Zechariah 9:9-12
The prophet encourages the people to rejoice at the coming of the King, who is
triumphant, victorious and humble. This King will bring peace freedom and
restoration.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your
king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on
a colt the foal of an ass. I will cut off the chariot from E’phraim and the war horse
from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to
the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of
the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set
your captives free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of
hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Choir
I was glad when they said unto me
I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city
that is at unity in itself. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper
that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and plenteousness within thy
palaces. (text source)
Words: Psalm 122:1-3, 6-7
Music: C. Hubert H. Parry
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Antiphon:
O Sapientia (choir)
Peter Hallock
O Sapientia, O wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and
reach from one end of the earth to another mightily and sweetly ordering all things.
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Reading
Sabbaths: 1985 III - Wendell Berry
Reader: Richard Futch
Awakened from the persistent dream of human chaos come again, I walk in the
lamed woods, the light brought down by the felling of great trees, and in the rising
thicket where the shadow of old grace returns. Leaf shadows tremble on light leaves,
A lighter foliage of songs, among them, the wind’s thousand tongues, and songs of
birds. Beams reaching down into the shadow swirl and swarm with gleaming traffic
of the air, bright grains of generative dust and winged intelligences. Among high
maple leaves a spider’s wheel shines, work of finest making made touchingly in the
dark. The dark again has prayed the light to come down into it, to animate and move
it in its heaviness. So what was still and dark wakes up, becomes intelligent, moves,
names itself by hunger and by kind, walks, swims, flies, cries, speaks, or sings. We are
all praising, praying to the light we are, but cannot know.
Choir
Come thou Redeemer of the earth
Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,
and manifest thy virgin-birth:
let every age adoring fall;
such birth befits the God of all.
Begotten of no human will,
but of the Spirit, thou art still
the Word of God in flesh arrayed,
the promised fruit to man displayed.
Forth from his chamber goeth he,
that royal home of purity,
a giant in twofold substance one,
rejoicing now his course to run.
O equal to thy Father, thou!
Gird on thy fleshly mantle now;
the weakness of our mortal state
with deathless might invigorate.
All laud to God the Father be,
all praise, eternal Son, to thee:
all glory, as is ever meet,
to God the Holy Paraclete.
Words by St Ambrose, translated by J M Neale and others
Music:: adapted by M. Praetorius; arranged by Andrew Lumsden
Prayer
Open our eyes, our ears, our minds and our hearts: that in the depths of our being
we may know you, the God who comes. Amen.
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O Adonai (choir)
Peter Hallock
O Adonai, ruler of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the
Antiphon:
burning bush; on Mount Sinai you gave him your law: with outstretched arm come
and redeem us.
Reading
Jeremiah 23:1-6
God tells the leaders of the people that they are failing to give the people the
direction they need, and so he will be the shepherd of his people himself. A new
King will come who will rule the people with wisdom and justice.
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says the
Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds
who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock, and have driven them away,
and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil doings,
says the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries
where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be
fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they
shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, says the Lord.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a
righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice
and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell
securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our
righteousness.’
Behold, what manner of love
Choir
Behold, what manner of love bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew Him
not. Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what
we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for
we shall see him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Words: 1 John 3:1-3
Music: Peter Mathews
Prayer
Stir up your power, Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are
sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Antiphon:
Hallock
O Radix Jesse (choir)
O Radix Jesse, O Root of Jesse you stand as an ensign to the peoples; before you
kings shall keep silence, all nations bow in worship: come and save us, and do not
delay.
Reading
Lachrimae Amantis - Geoffrey Hill
Reader: Laura
Chapman
What is there in my heart that you should sue so fiercely for its love? What kind of
care brings you as though a stranger to my door through the long night and in the icy
dew seeking the heart that will not harbor you, that keeps itself religiously secure? At
this dark solstice filled with frost and fire your passion’s ancient wounds must bleed
anew. So many nights the angel of my house has fed such urgent comfort through a
dream, whispered “your lord is coming, he is close” that I have drowsed half-faithful
for a time bathed in pure tones of promise and remorse: “tomorrow I shall wake to
welcome him.”
Choir
Song of Peace
(St. Nicholas Choir)
There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall
grow out of his roots; and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the
spirit of wisdom, and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the
spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after
the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: and with
Peter
righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity the meek of
the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with
the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the
girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall
dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf
and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
They shall not hurt nor destroy, in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall
be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And in that
day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign unto the
people, and his rest shall be glorious.
Words: Isaiah XI
Music: C. V. Stanford (Op. 113, No. 4)
Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your
love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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Antiphon
Hallock
O Clavis David (choir)
O Clavis David, O Key of David, Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no
one closes; you close and no one opens: come and deliver us from the chains of
prison, we who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Reading
Isaiah 42:1-7
The prophet tells of the servant of the Lord who will bring glory to God in the form
of justice to the nations.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have
put my Spirit upon him, he wil bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or
lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a
dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will
not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth and what comes
from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I
am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and
kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open
the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison
those who sit in darkness.
Peter
Choir
Long ago, prophets knew
St. Nicholas Choir
Long ago, prophets knew
Christ would come, born Jew,
Come to make all things new;
Bear his People’s burden,
Freely love and pardon.
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring!
Sing, choir, sing, sing, sing!
When he comes, when he come,
Who will make him welcome?
God in time, God in man,
This is God’s timeless plan:
He will come, as a man,
Born himself of woman,
God divinely human.
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring!
Sing, choir, sing, sing, sing!
When he comes, when he come,
Who will make him welcome?
Mary, hail! Though afraid,
She believed, She obeyed.
In her womb God is laid;
Till the time expected,
Nurtured and protected,
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring!
Sing, choir, sing, sing, sing!
When he comes, when he come,
Who will make him welcome.
Journey ends! Where afar
Bethlehem shines, like a star,
Stable door stands ajar.
Unborn Son of Mary,
Savior, do not tarry!
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring!
Sing, choir, sing, sing, sing!
Jesus comes! Jesus comes!
We will make him welcome!
Words: Fred Pratt Green
Music: Piae Cantiones 1582; arranged by Malcolm Archer (b. 1952)
Meditation
There is the supreme truth that the glory of God lies in his compassion, and that
God never so fully reveals his glory as when he reveals his pity. (William Barclay)
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O Oriens (choir)
Peter Hallock
O Oriens, O Rising Dawn, Brightness of the light eternal, sun of righteousness:
Antiphon
come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Reading
Isaiah 9:2, 6 & 7
The prophet tells of the coming of a child who will be born to bring a new era in
human affairs. This child will rule from the throne of David.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a
land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son
is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the
increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of
David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with
righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will do this.
Holy is the true light
Choir
Holy is the true light, and passing wonderful, lending radiance to them that
endured in the heat of the conflict: from Christ they inherit a home of
unfailing splendour, wherein they rejoice with gladness evermore.
Words: Salisbury Diurnal
Music: Gerald Near (In memory of Herbert Howells)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, Light of light, you have come among us, help us to live by your light, to
shine as lights in your world. For your name’s sake. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Light of light, you have come among us, help us to live by your light, to
shine as lights in your world. For your name’s sake. Amen.
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O Rex Gentium (choir)
Peter Hallock
O Rex Gentium, O King of nations and their desire; you are the cornerstone that
Antiphon
binds two into one: come and save the creature whom you have fashioned from clay.
Reading
Glory Glory/Psalm 19 - Daniel Berrigan
Reader: Ann Stirling
The heavens bespeak the glory of God. The firmament ablaze, a text of his works.
Dawn whispers to sunset dark to dark the word passes; glory glory. All in a great
silence, no tongues clamor yet the web of the world trembles conscious, as of great
winds passing. The bridegroom’s tent is raised, a cry goes up: He comes! a radiant
sun rejoicing, presiding, his wedding day. From end to end of the universe his
progress-no creature, no least being but catches fire from him.
Hymn 66
Choir
Come, thou long-expected Jesus
Zion at thy shining gates
Stuttgart
Zion at thy shining gates, Lo, the King of glory waits, haste thy monarch's
pomp to greet, strew thy palms before his feet. Christ, for thee their triple
light, faith and hope and love unite; this the beacon we display to proclaim
thine advent day. Come and give us peace within, loose from the bands of
sin, take away the galling weight laid on us by Satan's hate. Give us grace thy
yoke to wear, give us strength thy cross to bear, make us thine indeed and
word, thine in heart and life, O Lord. So, when thou shalt come again, judge
of angels and of men. We with all thy saints shall sing Alleluias to our King.
Words: B. H. Kennedy (1804-1889)
Music: arranged by George Guest
Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By
your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father
and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
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O Emmanuel (choir)
Peter Hallock
O Emmanuel, our King and Law-giver, the desire of the Nations and their
Antiphon
salvation; come and save us, O Lord our God.
Reading
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus tells a parable about the arrival of the bridegroom who represents Jesus as King
and judge which helps us understand how we need to be ready for his return.
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their
lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were
wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise
took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all
slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And
the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather
to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the
door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to
us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you
know neither the day nor the hour.
Never weather-beaten sail
Choir
Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore, never tired pilgrim's limbs
affected slumber more; than my weary sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled
breast. O come quickly, come quickly sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest! Ever
blooming are the joys of Heav'n's high Paradise, cold age deafs not there our ears,
nor vapor dims our eyes; glory there the sun out-shines; whose beams the blessed
only see. O come quickly, come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my sprite to thee!
Words: Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
Music: Richard Shephard
Hymn 72
Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes
Richmond
Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus, our brother on our way. You came to seek that which was lost.
You have come to us and have found us. Take us with you on your way. We hope
for your kingdom as we hope for peace. Come, Lord Jesus, come soon. Amen.
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O Virgo Virginum
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like, nor shall there
be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a
divine mystery.
Choir
Magnificat (Mt. St. Alban)
My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour. For He hath regarded: the lowliness of His handmaiden. For
behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is
mighty hath magnified me: and holy is His Name. And His mercy is on them
that fear Him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with His
arm: He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath
put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich He hath sent empty
away. He rememb'ring His mercy hath holpen His servant Israel: as He
promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Words: Luke 1:46-55
Music: David Hogan
Please stand for
The Gospel of the Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named
Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of
David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O
favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and
considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to
him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How
shall this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore
the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your
kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth
month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to
your word.” And the angel departed from her.
(Please be seated.)
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Choir
O thou, the central orb
O thou, the central orb of righteous love, pure beam of the most high,
eternal light of this our wintry world, thy radiance bright awakes new joy in
faith, hope soars above. Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine, gilding
our darksome heaven with rays divine. Thy saints with holy lustre round
thee move, as stars about thy throne, set in the height of God's ordaining
counsel, as thy sight gives measur'd grace to each, thy power to prove. Let
thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, our nature all shall feel eternal
day, in
fellowship with thee, transforming day to souls erewhile unclean, now pure,
now pure within. Amen.
Words: H. R. Bramley
Music: Charles Wood
Advent Collect
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and
prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake
our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Christ the Sun of righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before
your path: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Hymn 57
Lo! He comes with clouds descending
Helmsley
Voluntary
Sonata III in A Major (Mvt. I)
Felix Mendelssohn
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ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR
Jodi Bennett, Choirmaster
Emma MacMillan
Heather Jones
Madeline Fennell
Clara MacMillan
Collins Rice
Henley Ball
Dorothy Behre
Noah Smith
Bailey Allen
Annie Bertrand
Emily Ball
Elizabeth Howell
Chandler Church
Kitty Rice
Allison Wendt
Clarissa Rider
Alex Moring
Beth Hankel
Virginia Herbert
Amelia Rider
Marjorie Herbert
Bethany Schroeder
Henry Behre
Marinesa Fabrizio
Elizabeth Anderson
Lilly Schweickhardt
Leila Miles
Susannah Smith
GRACE CHURCH CHOIR
Scott Bennett, Organist & Choirmaster
SOPRANO
Elizabeth Anderson
Lisa Belton
Jodi Bennett
Sarah Wade
Boatwright
Marsha Callahan
Sarah Christian
Sheila Christie
Pat Gould
Rachel Lindsay
Karen Rider
Mary Rudisill
Laura Schroeder
Jean Wade
Esther Williams
Sophia Zimmermann
TENOR
Wayne French
John Hethcox
Jason Luttrell
Phillip Powell
Brian Scholtens
Alex Schroeder
John White
ALTO
Mary Beth Berry
Karen Bostick
M.E. Canaday
Ruth Goldsmith
Kay Hunter
Karen Marrolli
Randy McPhail
Camille Reynolds
Martha Rudisill
Terry Ritchen
Carol Stanford
Char Stricklin
Anna Lee Turner
BASS
Bill Christian
Barry Goldsmith
Bob Ramella
Ed Ritchen
Steve Russell
Jason Roberson
John Schroeder
Ben Shelton
Richard Show
Steve Skardon
Roy Smith
Sam Stafford
Derek Wade
Hal Wade
Upcoming Concerts and Services
The Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 18,
9:00 a.m. St. Cecilia Choir, St. Nicholas Choir, and the Children of Grace
Church
Christmas Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 18,
5:00 p.m. Grace Church Choir & St. Nicholas Choir
Christmas Eve at Grace
Saturday, December 24
5:00 p.m. St. Cecilia Choir & St. Augustine Choir
8:00 p.m. St. Nicholas Choir
11:00 p.m. Grace Church Choir