Students Reenact Christmas Story at 60th White Gift Service December 15
Dec. 24, 2013: On Sunday, December 15, the 60th annual White Gift Christmas Service was celebrated at The Reformed Church of Bronxville.
The service is a reenactment of the Christmas story, led entirely by the church's high school students, with high school seniors in the principal roles. From the pulpit, narrators Page Marshall and Katie Monaco guided the congregation through the nativity story as its scenes were enacted before a full house. Kim Walters played the part of Mary, singing "Joseph Tender, Joseph Mine." Parker Lapins served as Joseph. Playing the role of the angel Gabriel was Gretchen Richter, who sang "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came," with accompaniment by the Reformed Church's youth choirs.
After the birth of the baby Jesus, the angel Gabriel was joined by a "multitude of angels," played by Caroline Cory, Ellie Hanrahan, Lily O’Neill, and Jane Torell. Gabriel then spread the glad tidings to shepherds Ross Hoch, Andrew Lemberger, Graham Klimley, Preston Klimley, Zach Shively, Charlie Tarry, and Robby Westerfield, who hurried to see the baby in the manger. Villagers, who followed the shepherds to pay homage to the Christ child, were played by Sam Aherne, Cece Haims, Ryan Hanrahan, Andrew Harwood, Alex Londal, and Caroline Schetlick.
The climax of the service was the awe-inspiring "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. The highly coveted roles of wise men were played by Liam Aherne, Liz Cory, and Tim Donohue. Tim Buttigieg was the page, leading them up the church's aisle as cymbals, tambourines, clavés, and drums resounded.
After the wise men brought their gifts, all of the children at the service followed them up the center aisle, carrying gifts wrapped in white paper. The white-wrapped gifts were collected by ninth grade ushers for distribution to families in the Nodine Hill neighborhood of Yonkers, as part of the Reformed Church's "Opening Doors" project. Ushers this year were Lucy Hanrahan, Sabina Richter, Joe Shively, Emily Spitz, and Christina Weiler. Special thanks go to Francesca Guglielmo for coordinating the distribution of the gifts.
The high school seniors rehearsed and memorized for weeks in preparation for the White Gift Service. All five youth choirs performed alongside the thirty or more high school students in one of the most heavily attended events of the year. In many ways, the service is a culmination of over a decade of choir participation, and seniors regard it as a key celebration of their high school years. Parents and grandparents watched with mixed emotions, as their now grown-up "babies" recited and sang, just months before they will head off to college.
All the leads and choirs were prepared and conducted by Laura Green, the Reformed Church's youth choir director, with great support from the choir guild. Music directors were Laura Green and Dr. Sándor Szabó. James Ferguson, Ross Hoch, Quinn Pfeiffer, Teddy Wardell, and Andrew Wetty were musicians. Robby Schetlick was the banner carrier, leading the opening choir processional. Overall direction and cast preparation was led by volunteer Nina Richter, with the assistance of church members Melinda Burge, Charlotte Haims, Fran Harris, Susan Moore, Jennifer Spitz, Tracy Tarry, and Mary Ann Weiler.
Pictured here: Nativity scene in the White Gift Service at The Reformed Church of Bronxville.
Photo courtesy Tracy Tarry
Religion Directory
Christ Church Bronxville
Christ Church Bronxville, or "CCBNY" as it's known in the community, is the village's Episcopal church, whose beginnings date back to 1898. The current church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1926 and was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who also designed St. Bartholomew's in New York City and the Chapel at West Point.
CCBNY offers a wide array of programs to its parishioners, who live throughout southern Westchester. The acclaimed music program boasts five choirs; international outreach efforts to Cuba; and education and service programs for family members of all ages. CCBNY is also home to the renowned children's music program Young at Arts (http://www.youngatartsny.org), and Eliza Corwin Frost (www.elizafrostschool.org), a nursery school for children ages 1 to 5.
Our services are as follows:
8:00AM Rite I Spoken Eucharist
10:00AM Family Choral Eucharist, with 11:00 AM Coffee Hour
5:00PM Informal Eucharist or Choral Evensong
"No matter where you are on your spiritual journey there is a home for you at Christ Church. Our worship, music, education and outreach challenge us to embrace holiness and fearlessly share Christ's love."
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3544
First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1854. Its mission is “to reach out as a caring and Christ centered Church to people of all culture and races, helping them to know God and find fellowship with each other through Jesus Christ to the glory of God.”
407 New Rochelle Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-2560
http://www.firstbaptistchurchbronxville.com/
Reformed Church of Bronxville
The Reformed Church of Bronxville is the community church in the heart of the village. We welcome people of all faiths and persuasions to be a part of our church family. We have exciting programs to meet your interests including music and the arts, service and outreach, children's ministry and a wonderful Nursery School.
Starting Sept. 7th, we have three Sunday services held at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:00 pm. A Fellowship Coffee Hour is offered after the 10:30 am service. Childcare is available during our 10:30 am service along with Church School classes for children from 2 years old through the 8th grade.
The Reformed Church
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-6776
www.reformedchurch.org
St. Joseph’s Church
St. Joseph Church, which opened its doors in 1925, is the Catholic Church in Bronxville. It offers services on Saturday, Sunday, weekdays and Holy Days. It offers a religious education program for K - 8th grade which takes place on Wednesday during the school year. It also offers a myriad of opportunities for parishioners to meet, share ideas and experiences and help others. The St. Joseph’s School offers classes for K – 8th grade.
15 Cedar Street
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1660
http://www.saintjosephsbronxville.org/
Village Lutheran Church
The Village Lutheran Church “is a ministry of word and sacraments. This ministry gives opportunities for witness, nurture, fellowship, stewardship and service.” The Chapel School, which goes from pre-school three-year olds through 8th grade, is an integral part of the Church’s ministry for children.
172 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0207
West Center Congregational Church
West Center Congregational Church is a member of The United Church of Christ. It welcomes “all who seek to find, know and serve the living God better in all they are and do.”
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3829
Sinai Free Synagogue
Sinai Free Synagogue is Westchester`s "newest" Reform congregation but its roots go back almost 100 years. Formed in 1999 by a merger of Mount Vernon`s Sinai Temple (founded in 1906 and the first Reform congregation in Westchester County) and the Free Synagogue of Westchester (founded in 1927), the 250-member congregation has a long, distinguished history.
Please check the Calendar for dates and times.
550 North Columbus Avenue
914-664-1727
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