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White Gift Christmas Service at The Reformed Church Includes Many Bronxville High School Students

Written by Allison Roesser





Dec. 31, 2014: On Sunday, December 14, The Reformed Church of Bronxville celebrated the Christmas season with its 61st annual "White Gift" Christmas Service. 

The service is a musical re-enactment of the Christmas story, led entirely by the church's high school students. From the pulpit, narrators Tim Buttigieg and Zach Shively told the nativity story as its scenes were enacted before a congregation filled with wide-eyed and excited children. Abigail Roesser played the part of Mary, and Ross Hoch was Joseph. Playing the role of the angel Gabriel was Jane Torell

After the birth of the baby Jesus, the angel Gabriel was joined by a "multitude of angels," played by Celia Haims, Dryden Quigley, Ariel Sachtjen, Caroline Schetlick, and Isabelle Shinsato. Head shepherd Andrew Lemberger led the other shepherds, Chris Gay, Jonah Pfeiffer, Malcolm Roesser, and Will Langhoff, to see the baby in the manger. Hurrying after the shepherds were the villagers, Sam Arcano, Caroline Langhoff, Sabina Richter, Emily Spitz, and Christina Weiler

A highlight of the service for the children was the "March of the Kings," in which the three bearded and robed wise men carried their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Robby Westerfield was the page, leading the kings up the aisle as cymbals, tambourines, clavés, and drums resounded. The three kings were played by Graham Klimley, Preston Klimley, and Charlie Tarry

After the three kings presented their gifts, children at the service followed, carrying gifts wrapped in white paper. The "white gifts" were blessed by The Rev. Jonah Smith-Bartlett and collected by ninth-grade ushers for distribution to families in the Nodine Hill neighborhood of Yonkers. Ushers this year were Griffin Garbarini, Cece Hail, Nate Londal, Robby Schetlick, Alston Tarry, and Spencer Thomas. Special thanks go to Francesca Guglielmo for coordinating the distribution of the gifts.

The music director for the service was Laura Green, The Reformed Church's youth choir director, with support by the church's choir guild. Helga Bartus, James Ferguson, and Teddy Wardell provided musical accompaniment. Leading the opening choir processional was standard bearer Jack Haims. Overall direction and cast preparation were led by volunteer church member Nina Richter.

Pictured here: Abigail Roesser as Mary and Ross Hoch as Joseph.

Photo by Tracy Tarry

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