The Cazenovia Presbyterian Church will hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Saturday evening, December 24^th, at 8:00 pm.  Pastor Steve Thomas will light the traditional Christ Candle in the middle of the advent wreath.

The service begins with Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op.6, No.8 composed by Arcangelo Corelli in the late 1600’s.  Known commonly as his Christmas Concerto, the piece will be played by a String Trio comprised of Mary Coburn and Rae Tobey on violin with Allesandro Rinaldi on cello.  Coburn, a graduate of the Crane School of Music and Ithaca College, is the string instructor and orchestra conductor for the Cazenovia Central Schools.  Tobey and Rinaldi are students at the Cazenovia High School and members of the String Ensemble and Orchestra.

The Senior Choir will sing the anthems: “Bethlehem’s Gift”  by Besig/Price and “Sleep My Little One”  by Leavitt

A duet of O Holy Night will be sung by sopranos Kate Ball and Lesley Roberts.  This celebrated Christmas carol also known as Cantique de Noel was composed by Aldophe Adam in 1847 to the French poem Midnight, Christian by Placide Cappeaus.. The text reflects on the birth of Jesus and mankind’s redemption.  Kate Ball, a graduate of Cazenovia High School is now studying Visual and Performance Arts at Syracuse University.  Lesley Roberts is the lead vocalist in the local folk/rock band Route 66.

Pastor Steve Thomas will deliver the Christmas message: “The Grace of God Has Appeared.” The service will conclude with members of the congregation lighting individual candles while singing Silent Night.

If you are looking for an open and friendly place to celebrate Christmas Eve, the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church welcomes you.  Child Care is available during the Christmas Eve service.  For more information contact the church at 655-3191.

The First Presbyterian Church in Cazenovia will celebrate the Advent Season by lighting the Angel Candle, the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, at its morning worship service at 10:00 a.m. on December 18th.

The service will be the inaugural performance of “Christmas Tales: A New Look at An Old Tale.”  The pageant is written and performed by the youth of the church.  It is the amazing story of multitudes of angels singing praises, shepherds watching their flocks and wise men following a star.

Traditional and contemporary special music will include a guitar solo by Jimmy Perriello and a trio with Olivia McEntee, Rae Tobey, and Marie Perriello  The Children’s Choir will also sing.

Kate Ball, a graduate of Cazenovia High School and now studying Visual and Performance Arts at Syracuse University will be the featured soloist.

A special tribute will be given to those soldiers who have served our country in the armed forces.  The pageant will conclude with the song “Let There Be Peace On Earth” song by all the youth.

The public is invited to experience this new look of the Christmas story.

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.  Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing, of hope.

If you are looking for an open and friendly place to celebrate Sunday morning worship, the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church welcomes you.  Child Care is available during the service.  For more information contact the church at 655-3191.

The First Presbyterian Church in Cazenovia will celebrate the Advent Season by lighting the Angel Candle, the fourth candle on the Advent wreath at its morning worship service at 10:00am on December 19th.  

The service will be the inaugural performance of “Pageant of the Bells“.  The pageant is written and performed by the youth of the church.  The narrator is Alexis DeVeau.  Vocal solos by Kobe and Febe Oley.  It is the story of multitudes of angels singing praises, shepherds watching their flocks and wise men following a star as well as the Inn Keeper and his wife who reflect upon the birth of Jesus. 

Traditional and contemporary special music will include a guitar solo by Jimmy Periello; a flute solo by Olivia McEntee;  Alexandra Mooney playing an organ solo as well as a string duet by Rae Tobey and Marie Periello.  The Children’s Choir will sing Away in the Manger.  The Jubilate Choir will play several songs on the Handbells.

Kate Ball, a recent graduate of Cazenovia High School and now a freshman studying Visual and Performance Art at Syracuse University will be the featured soloist. 

The public is invited. 

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.  Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing, of hope. 

If you are looking for an open and friendly place to celebrate Sunday morning worship, the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church welcomes you.  Child Care is available during the service.  For more information contact the church at 655-3191 or www.cazpres.org.

The Season of Advent: Anticipation and Hope

The First Presbyterian Church in Cazenovia will celebrate the Advent Season by lighting the Shepherd Candle, the third candle on the Advent wreath at its morning worship service at 10:00am on December 12th.  The public is invited. 

The service will begin with an organ prelude of “Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her”

( Good News from heaven the angels bring )  by Johann Pachebel played by Catharine Wheat, Director of Music.  Familiar passages from the Bible foretelling the Christmas story will be read by members of the congregation.  Favorite Carols will be sung.  The Sounds of Chimes Hand Bell Choir will accompany some of the Carols.  The Children’s Choir, Jubilante Bell Choir will take part.  The Senior Choir will sing special anthems.

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.  Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing, of hope.

Advent devotional booklets are available at the church office at 27 Albany Street or pick one up during the Sunday service.

If you are looking for an open and friendly place to celebrate Sunday morning worship, the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church welcomes you.  Child Care is available during the service.  For more information contact the church at 655-3191 or www.cazpres.org.

      Christmas Eve Service 

        at a NEW time of  8:00 p.m.

            Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2:10b-14 (KJV)

  This angelic heralding of the birth of our Christ fills my heart with joy each time I hear or read the words, regardless of the translation being used.  No doubt the command to “fear not” references the human reaction to being confronted suddenly by an enthusiastic “heavenly host” in the middle of the night, but it also addresses much, much more.

  The first words heralding the coming of the Messiah speak directly to the fear we have as a constant companion throughout life.  Fear experienced by each man, woman and child down through the ages:  Will I eat today; how will I     survive; will the Romans put me into their prison or worse; will my life end some time today; am I loved; will I be remembered; will I ever find peace?

  All the anxiety generating questions of our lives are answered right at the beginning of the announcement of Christ’s birth.  The angelic  herald cries out, “Fear not, for behold I bring good tidings of great joy!”  For all of us!  The Christ is born!  We are saved!

Merry Christmas! 

 Steve