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Special Clay Ornament Commissioned to Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Village Christmas Pageant Now on Sale

Written by Susanne Shoemaker, Co-Chair, Bronxville Christmas Pageant Committee

Oct. 22, 2014: This year marks the centennial of the Bronxville Village Christmas Pageant. Every year since 1914, villagers have assembled to behold and participate in this magnificent spectacle celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The live Nativity pageant was created by William Chauncy Langdon in 1914. Langdon was a well-known international pageanteer and a resident of Bronxville.

This year, the Bronxville Christmas Pageant Committee wanted to do something special to commemorate the centennial. There are two special additions. One is the inclusion of a live camel in the pageant. The camel will accompany the kings as they proceed across the lawn.

The other is the commissioning of a special clay ornament based on a photo from the pageant archives. The stoneware medallion depicts a young woman playing the role of an angel, dressed in costume, in profile. It is approximately 5½" x 5" oval.

The ornament is currently available for purchase for $35.

To order the medallion, The Reformed Church of Bronxville will provide the Bronxville Christmas Pageant with a link on the church website, www.reformedchurch.org. The link will provide a description of the medallion along with information about how to order it. It is hoped that residents will purchase the medallion to help support the pageant.

Additionally, medallions may be purchased in the following places: The Edwards Room at The Reformed Church during coffee hour at 11:30 am on Sundays following the service, The Silk Road, 101 Pondfield Road, and Womrath Bookshop, 76 Pondfield Road.

Susanne Shoemaker, co-chair of the pageant committee, commissioned Jacques Schickel from Dryden, New York, to create the artwork for the ornament. You may visit his website at www.jacquesschickel.com. Jacques comes from a long line of artists, including his great-grandfather, Wilhelm Schickel, a leading architect in New York who designed over 150 buildings in New York City and throughout the Northeast, including the landmark Century Building and the Church of Saint Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan, the famous Mission Church in Boston, and Archabbey of St. Vincent's basilica in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

If you have questions, please direct your inquiries to Louanne Mitchell at The Reformed Church, 914-337-6776.

The pageant committee expresses gratitude to The Reformed Church for its support of the pageant.

We look forward to our yearly celebration on Christmas Eve. All are welcome. We hope to see you there on the 24th at 5:30 pm.

Pictured here: The stoneware medallion depicting a young woman playing the role of an angel.

Photo courtesy Susanne Shoemaker, Co-Chair, Bronxville Christmas Pageant Committee

Religion Directory

Houses of Worship 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."

The Rev. Dr. Kurt J. Gerhard, Rector
17 Sagamore Road
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

http://www.vlc-ny.org/

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

www.Westcenterchurch.org

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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