The Christmas Shop Making a Welcome Comeback at Emmanuel

The Christmas Shop Making a Welcome Comeback at Emmanuel

By Leonard Shapiro

The Rector missed it. His parishioners missed it. Holiday shoppers missed it. And the vendors missed it. But not any more. After a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, Middleburg’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church will present the 74th version of The Christmas Shop, its popular holiday event that began in 1948 featuring a selection of mostly regional merchants bringing their special wares to town to allow people to shop for a good cause.

So while shoppers are selecting quality holiday gifts for their friends and family, a portion of the vendors’ profits will go to local charities and non-profits like A Place To Be, Seven Loaves, F.I.S.H., Windy Hill, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter and Blue Ridge Hospice, among others.

“People did miss it,” said The Rev. Eugene LeCouteur, Emmanuel’s rector. “It’s always been a fun social event as well as a fundraiser, with a portion of it going to our outreach.”

The in-person sale this year is particularly inviting because it hasn’t happened since the pandemic’s early days in 2020. It’s also returning to Emmanuel’s Parish House at 105 East Washington St., where it’s been held for most of its history.

The Christmas Shop, with Viviane Warren as the honorary chair and Anita Bown chairing the event, also will be held closer to Christmas—Friday, Dec. 9 through Saturday Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. There also will be a preview night on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. for sponsors and other guests.

Viviane Warren is Honorary Chairman of this year’s Christmas Shop in the Parish House at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg on December 9 and 10. A 74-year tradition, there will be gifts and goodies galore. And a tip of the hat to Viviane for her very generous contribution to Emmanuel Church to restore the 8.5 rank tracker organ, built and installed by Rieger Orgelbau in 1976. Mrs. Warren had the organ restored in memory of her beloved mother-in-law Hope Winchester Pratt who was a graduate of Foxcroft School. “There are few in this world who are as kind, gracious and generous as Viviane. We are so blessed that she calls Emmanuel Church her home” said The Rev. Eugene LeCouteur, rector of the parish.

Seventeen vendors, some old friends and a few new, will set up tables on the spacious first floor of the Parish House. Men’s and women’s clothing, health and beauty products, jewelry, decorative arts, kitchen wares, fine art, books and photography are among the many curated items shoppers can browse.

The church also still offers its online Middleburg Marketplace year-round at www.MiddleburgMarketplace. org. Participating merchants at both venues contribute 15% of sales to Emmanuel Church, which then shares the proceeds through grants with its local partners.

For details: www.emmanuelmiddleburg.org/christmas-shop.