Thank You & Merry Christmas
In the December 2025 issue of Our State, 12 stories inspired by familiar Christmas songs are the feature. The carol, O come, all ye faithful, is tied to a story about St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte. The author, Kathleen Purvis, relates the story of the 200-lb wrought-iron Advent wreath that hangs suspended from a roof truss, high above the altar, every Advent. During most of the year, the wreath is stored in the undercroft, but the Sunday before Advent 1, the wreath is brought out by a team of men and secured in place. The photographs of the church and the wreath tell the story.
These kinds of stories have always been an interest of mine and I like several things about this particular feature in Our State. First, any story that focuses on the recognition of Advent verses the commercialization of Christmas is a positive. Secondly, I love the massiveness of this wreath, made by Dance Foundry in Rome, Georgia and that everything about the wreath requires a team of volunteers – from the hanging, to the lighting, to the decorating for Christmas. The message is one of togetherness, mission, faithfulness, devotion, community, something that cannot be achieved alone.
Those are the qualities that are required for the beauty that was offered this Christmas at Emmanuel. Emily and Hannah led a team of volunteers, children and youth that presented a holy telling of the Christmas story at our 3 P.M. Children’s Pageant service. The choir spent many weeks learning and rehearsing the music for our 5:30 and 8:00 P.M. services, offering joyful music of our faith from Handel’s Messiah, and beloved anthems of the choral repertoire. The flower and altar guilds spent many hours formulating plans for the Christmas poinsettias and Chrismon tree, filling and preparing candles, orchestrating the Advent wreath, ensuring our altar hangings were perfect, preparing the communion elements, and all the other tasks that are required for our liturgies. Our ushers, readers, and acolytes used their skills of hospitality to ensure all were welcome and that our services went smoothly. The office staff answered phone calls, created bulletins, and did all the administrative duties required to run the parish. The clergy ministered to the people, preached the Gospel, celebrated the Eucharist, and shepherded the flock called Emmanuel. The congregation sang and prayed with joy and devotion.
On Christmas Eve, as the third verse of Silent Night is sung without accompaniment, a church bathed in candlelight and filled with song, I think about all those things. I scoot off the organ bench for a few brief moments to look out at the congregation and see it. I see the beauty of holiness. I see love. I hear something that is as close to the heavenly angels singing as is possible on this mortal plane. And in that moment, I feel God.
I want to extend a personal thanks to all who make Emmanuel such a special and beautiful place. Thank you for allowing me to serve here and trusting in my abilities and capabilities for 16 Christmases now. Thank you for your kindnesses and support throughout the year. Thank you for your gifts that allow our parish to offer music at the level and quality and beauty that we are able. Thank you to Mary Lee Schulte who plays the Christmas Day service for me so I can be home with my family on Christmas. Thank you to all the singers and ringers that so faithfully and lovingly serve this community.
I hope none of you ever underestimate your worth or importance in this place, whether this Christmas Eve was your first time worshipping at Emmanuel, or perhaps your 90th celebrating the birth of the Savior, Christ Our Lord. God has called us together, and for that, I offer my humble thanks.
Merry Christmas!
