Christmas Eve at The Church on the Cape

The Church on the Cape celebrated Christmas Eve with two services - a Family and Christmas Pageant at 5 p.m. and Carols by Candlelight with Holy Communion at 10 p.m. Our beloved church was filled with hundreds of worshippers and the overwhelming Spirit of Christmas. All "room at the inn" was taken.

The Family Service marked the return of a tradition - a Christmas Pageant performed by the children of the church. One parishioner, who had grown up in Cape Porpoise, thought the last time such a pageant had been performed was in the 1940s - 50 years ago!

The service began with the lighting of the Advent Candles - Peace, Hope, Joy and Love, as the congregation sang O Little Town of Bethlehem. The children then sang "Light One Candle" to celebrate the lighting of the Christ candle in the middle of the wreath - a symbol of Christ, who is the Light of the world and the Light of our lives.

Mary and Joseph (Abby Towne and Laura Hand) proceeded down the aisle on their journey to Bethlehem.

The angel Gabriel (Chris Connelly) came down from Heaven and announced to the shepherds (Kevin Connelly, Josh Brown, Harrison and Henry Schmidt) that the Christ Child was about to be born. The congregation joined in the singing of the carol While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shown around,
and glory shown around.

Then Jesus was born in a manger (baby Jesus was represented by Debbi Matthew's antique doll). The angels (Paige and Juliet Domine, Katheryn and Elizabeth Hand, and Helen Holway) praised his birth as the congregation sang the carols Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Away in a Manger and What Child is This? Mary (Abby Towne) and Joseph (Laura Hand) posed contentedly around the Child.

The Three Kings (Cassidy and Dylan Lovejoy, Hattie Brown) brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh as the congregation added the refrain:

O, star of wonder, star of light;
star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light

Other children gave gifts of their musical talents. Accompanied by organist Keith McClelland, they played the piano, a recorder, clarinets, a flute, a xylophone, a violin, a saxophone, and a trumpet.

Josh Brown played Mary Had a Little Lamb on the recorder.
Dorothy Boyer, clarinet and Hattie Brown, flute, played Silent Night.
Eric Dombrowski and Brendon Bartlett played Jolly Old Saint Nicholas on their clarinets.
Laura Hand played Joy to the World on the piano.
Nick Bartlett played Good King Wenceslas on a xylophone built by his father.
Julia Schmidt performed Bach's Minuet on the violin.
Hattie Brown played a Ukrainian Bell Carol on the piano.
Dakota Greene played When I Survey the Wondrous Cross on the saxophone.
And Cameron Whitehouse played the Trumpeter's Lullaby.

The Family Service was followed at 10 p.m. by Carols by Candlelight and Holy Communion. We have prepared well the way of the Lord!

The Church on the Cape
P O Box 7663
3 Langsford Road
Cape Porpoise, ME 04014-7663
207 967- 5787 or Email
Office