Queen of Angels Church Nativity (photo: Luke Adams)
Dec. 9, 2011 Staff Report
Clergy from Sunnyside Reformed, Queen of Angels, All Saints, Christ Lutheran and Grace Fellowship spearheaded a festive tree-trimming and creche viewing down Skillman Avenue Dec. 6 — bringing out over 250 celebrants who braved the downpour.
The carolers and prayerful spilled out over the sidewalk as they made their way down from the Sunnyside Reformed Church tree at 48th Street and were escorted by officers from the 108 Precinct to the lighted nativity sculptures above the rectory entrance of Queen of Angels at 44th Street.
The neighborhood has been busy with secular holiday lightings in recent weeks, which have all been attended and assisted by religious leaders. However, attendee Luke Adams said, “This one was the first in my memory from the churches, and the best attended.”
The singing was heard as far as a block away. The event was held in honor of St. Nicholas.
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12 Comments
Merry Christmas!!!
@pomme So when the gay pride parade takes place, will you tell them to do it inside their nightclubs and bath houses?
I could hear the music from my apartment. It was wonderful! I opened my window to hear it better.
I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the event! A neighbor, who said that she heard the singing in her apartment, left her apartment to join the carolers and made it a point to tell me-a stranger-how glad she was to be there. Evidently, this expression of Christmas cheer also had some positive effects in our neighborhood. Made me feel glad to live in Sunnyside! Great job, pastors.
I would have shown up if I knew about it. I’ll have to remember it for next year.
I am not at all religious, but I think this was a nice event and I can’t imagine complaining about it. How long did anyone have to endure the “racket” of happy, caroling neighbors? Was it a carol-a-thon? Did it last for hours?
I’m delighted the Christians in the community have taken back the holiday. Public demonstrations of religious faith are permitted in America and I’m glad for this one. The other lightings, while cheerful, are meant to promote businesses, not religion, and represent the commercialization of a holy day. While I like lights as much as anyone, I don’t like financial emphasis. Christmas is, after all, about love, not money.
I don’t understand the implications of QistheB…’s quotes.
I appreciate everyone’s point of view. Thank you for expressing them.
“And when thou pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret…” [Matthew 6:6 & 7]
I am puzzled why congregants who between them attend FOUR churches find it sensible to stand outside on the sidewalk broadcasting their amplified volume to everyone who lives nearby. We had no choice in listening to the racket. And we also had to pay for a police car double-parked with lights flashing to ‘protect’ people standing on a sidewalk. What a total waste of taxpayers’ money. Do it inside your churches.
Leviticus 25:44-45
Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.
Merry Christmas !
Exodus 21:20-21 If a man beats his male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies as a direct result, he must be punished, but he is not to be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two, since the slave is his property.