DECEMBER 2021
the phi lipian
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F S T . P H I L I P N E R I C AT H O L I C C H U R C H
Advent Lessons and Carols:
Offering a Valuable Opportunity for Preparation
A
lthough last year’s event was scaled down due to pandemic restrictions, this year St. Philip Neri Church will hold our eighth Advent Lessons and Carols at 2 p.m. on Dec. 12. Not only will our adult choir, handbell choir, and brass quintet be taking part, but there also will be elements incorporated for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “There will be Spanish readings and several songs that will be presented in Spanish by the choir and a soloist,” says Linda Liberty, Director of Music. “It will be something a little different.” Last year there were readings, and there was a small group of choir members and handbell players. The event was livestreamed, and only 40
were in attendance. “Even with COVID restrictions, I was determined that we’d do something,” Linda says. “People were very appreciative of what was done as we tried to maintain a normalcy, especially with the liturgy and music.” Our Advent Lessons and Carols service, while modeled after the traditional Episcopalian and Anglican service, will have no readings or songs about the birth of Christ. “We will be doing only readings from the New Testament regarding the Annunciation and the Magnificat,” Linda says. “We also will do the readings from John 1, ‘In the beginning was the word...’ but nothing about the birth of Jesus or any continued on page 5
