From the Rector – King’s College Festival of Lessons & Carols
I don’t remember exactly when I first heard the King’s College Festival of Lessons and Carols, but in the ensuing years it has become one of the holiday traditions I most look forward to every Christmas Eve morning.
The Festival was introduced in 1918 and began being broadcast in 1928. It is a quintessentially Anglican worship experience, held in King’s College Chapel, in Cambridge, England and featuring the boys’ and men’s choirs. The service includes carols and readings from the Bible, whose main theme is the ‘development of the loving purposes of God as seen through the windows and words of scripture.’ You can read more about the Festival and even download the Order of Service.
The opening carol is always Once in Royal David’s City, and for me, hearing the opening solo from that song is what makes it Christmas. I often listen to it as I’m finishing family Christmas tasks and doing final edits to my Christmas Eve homily. It is a breathtaking piece of calm and beauty that prepares me for the joy of celebrating Christmas. If you’ve never listened, or it’s been a while since you caught it on the radio, I hope you will seek it out this year. In the US is it broadcast by around 450 radio stations, including American Public Media and its affiliates. You can also stream it online (here is one link) [https://www.yourclassical.org/listen/holiday].
And then I hope to see you at one of our Christmas Eve worship services, either the pageant service at 4:30 pm or the candlelight and carols Eucharist at 8:00. May the hope of this Advent season and the love born at Christmas be with us all in the coming year.
Yours in God’s peace, Kristin+
Nursery School
Hello winter!
The students have been busy cutting down Christmas trees, decorating, and learning about different holiday traditions. Look for the lovely trees, from Pine Valley Tree Farm, in the school’s vestibule and foyer areas. This past month, all classes also participated in music & movement sessions from the Center Stage Performing Arts Center.
A raffle will run December 6th through January 7th to raise donations for Mt. Airy Net. Pat & Sharon have tickets available in the office; $1 each or 6 for $5. A cast iron dutch oven and a leather tote from Charleston Wrap, both valued over $70, are the prizes! The money will be used to purchase toiletries to add to the pajamas collected on January 6th and 7th.
Several classes have openings for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. Contact Pat in the office for more details. Look for 2020-2021 registration info soon! Early registration for currently enrolled children of parents that are Church, Staff or Board Members begins January 16th & 17th.
Class visits for the 2’s, and evening events for the 3’s and Pre-K 4’s this past week were wonderful times for parents & families to spend with their students at the school.
The Nursery Board did not meet in December but has seasonal cheer coming for all the St. James’ staff. Thank you to all the teachers and staff for planning holiday memories for both students and their families!
A Merry Christmas to All!
Altar Flower Ministry
The 2020 sign-up sheet is posted in the narthex which allows you to pick any Sunday during the year. This will allow you to write your name on the calendar now instead of hoping to remember later. We just ask that you complete an Altar Flower Donation Form (also in the narthex) and drop it in the offering plate at least two weeks prior to your chosen Sunday.
Flowers may be given in thanksgiving for, honor of, memory of, or celebration of someone or something. Suggested donations of $30 are tax deductible and will be acknowledged in the corresponding Sunday bulletin.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Parish Administrator Hours for the week of December 22, Monday, 10-4. 
Prayer Rotation Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2018 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessing of:
David and Brittany Echeverria (Kellen, Daxton, Rowan), Bill and Lynda Ellis, Bob and Carolyn EtzlerA member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
This Week's Commemorations (A Great Cloud of Witnesses, 2019, Church Publishing Group)
