The Joys of Caroling in Cape Porpoise
Voices of the Carolers - December 16, 2001

Jim Lennon: "The Christmas hymn, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," was expressed this afternoon by a crowd of carolers, 35 strong, not on a mountain but close to the ocean in Cape Porpoise.

Familiar carols brought home the message that Jesus Christ is born. Opened doors and smiling faces joined in song greeted the carolers from The Church on the Cape.

Included among the number were members of the Girl Scouts and their leaders. For their participation in service to the community they are to be thanked.

A good time was had by all of us and made even more special by the warmth of the church and the treat of hot chocolate and refreshments upon our return from this special holiday event--a joyful witness to God's special gift to us all.

From Pastor Bill Gardei: "Christmas has the magic of promise made ever so rich with the sound of song. Since it is a time celebrated by so many in our country (not only religiously, but, I believe, lovingly as one of our culture's gifts), it seems so right to gather as people of our faith community to sing to our greater community the story of our hope. It was a grand time."

From Keith McClelland, Choir Director: When the first organized carol group covered the neighborhood several years ago, the rewards seemed all out of proportion to the effort involved. We came back to a pot-luck supper, each one suffused with a kind of new life and a feeling of...'Why the heck haven't we been doing this forever?' (Carolling, 1999)

The next year was the same only more so. The proof of the rewards emerged the following year: we had to abandon it because of the weather, and not doing it was a palpable ache.

Now, this year, we were back on the track. The nature of the rewards seems threefold:

1. What's the effect on those who were serenaded? The answer came from pleased faces, from grateful comments and from folks standing shivering in open doorways but seemingly unaffected.
2. We're fulfilling something church should do. But more important,
3. What' the effect on me individually?

The lifelong love of the carols themselves, the content of those wonderful words, all redound to become a closer and closer bond with whatever rules our lives, or rather, Whoever rules our lives.

Why shouldn't we institute Easter caroling? We'll appoint a committee to look into it.

From Elaine Triplett: "I had a wonderful time. I think visiting everyone put me in the true Christmas Spirit. Just walking around with everyone, skipping from one person to another and sharing thoughts was great. We all got a little crazy towards the end having to sing Deck the Halls for the 20th time. However, it was great fun. I don't know who was happier, the people we sang to or us. Jean Engborg sang her heart out and so did Hal Wright. Drucilla invited us in for cookies but we had treats back at the church. What a wonderful church we have!"

From Alice and Roy Bruton: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! And that is what we did as we visited friends and members of the Church on the Cape and raised our voices in caroling. I think the carolers received more than they gave. There were the Girl Scouts, parents, friends and church members of all ages walking around Cape Porpoise having such a good time while bringing a feeling of the season to our shut-ins and others letting them know that we care about them."

From Ann Hand: "I would like to let you know that our family enjoyed the caroling very much. The girls enjoyed being able to bring a little holiday cheer to the people we visited. It is nice to be a part of this church community of caring people. Happy Holidays to you!"