Father Brian Dowd reads a prayer to 200 attendees outside Queen of Angels Church (Photo Source: Walt Storck)
Dec. 10, 2012 By Jennifer Storck
Almost 200 people gathered at the Sunnyside Reformed Church on Skillman Avenue to celebrate the Nativity story as well as to light the Christmas tree.
The event included the leaders– and their parishioners—from five different Christian denominations who worship in the Sunnyside & Woodside neighborhoods.
“ There might be differences in practice among our congregations but we share a common belief in Jesus,” said Rev. Jon Storck, who is the leader of Grace Fellowship Church.
At Sunnyside Reformed Church, Rev. Neil Margetson recited the biblical account of the Christmas story and spoke about the history of the Christmas tree.
With a police escort, the participants walked from Sunnyside Reformed Church down Skillman Avenue to the nativity crèche at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church. The attendees carried candles and sang traditional Christmas carols, such as O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy to the World and Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
At Queen of Angels, Father Brian Dowd provided further explanation about the birth of Christ, as he stood next to the illuminated Nativity Scene above the rectory.
The evening concluded with hot chocolate, cookies, and a visit from Santa Claus. Santa patiently stayed to the very end– until every last child had a chance to share his or her Christmas wish.
“Tonight is a great opportunity to celebrate the birth of the One of whom the herald angels sang, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’” said Rev. Stork.
The event was sponsored by Rev. Joseph Jerome of All Saints Episcopal Church; Rev. Joshua Hollman of Christ Church; Rev. Jon Storck of Grace Fellowship Church; Rev. Brian Dowd of Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church; and Rev. Neil Margetson of Sunnyside Reformed Church.
“Events like these demonstrate how great it is to live in a neighborhood that is so tolerant of diversity,” Rev. Storck said.
“Many Sunnysiders don’t even consider themselves to be religious at all. And yet, we can all share life together and celebrate the things that are most precious to each of us.”
34 Comments
@Sunnysider4life
Have you never had a conversation before? Topics sometimes change and evolve during the course of a discussion.
@Smitty An article reporting on 200 members of the community coming together with the local leaders of several different churches to sing Christmas carols and walk from one church to another conjures up thoughts of abortion? I feel sad for you.
There is a pretty direct connection between Christianity and birth control, and articles that feature and highlight conventions of faith will inevitably go to the core issues that are divisive. Both sides have managed to keep birth control on the front burner, so don’t be surprised when it continues to dominate the conversation.
@Sunnysidet4Life – my point exactly
How did this string go from responding to the article on the lighting of a Christmas tree to a debate about abortion?
Moneyside, you sound very intolerant! Many women do not know that abortion is harmful and that they may come to regret it later. If you are “pro choice” you should support women who choose life. And it is a child – not a choice! Please stop insulting Christians. They turn the other cheek and tolerate your nonsense! Typical liberal hypocrisy.
@Disgusted
PS. I love the way you call others intolerant then tell them to shut up.
Classic hypocrisy.
@Disgusted
You’re right it’s a free country. And although the irony of your comment probably escapes you, one of the characteristics of a free country is that people tend to bicker. It’s only in totalitarian states where everyone has the same opinion.
You all sound like bickering children…it’s a free country. The Christians can parade down Skillman in December, and the LGBTs in March, and the BOTH use police escorts. Everyone just shut up because you sound so closed minded, BOTH sides. This isn’t a political issue, it’s one of many community events in our small neighborhood, and you’re only harming our little community by biting each others’ heads off and being intolerant.
@Moneyside
First of all the police aren’t for hire. Police need to be wherever public gatherings take place whether it’s New Year’s on Times Square, Yankee Stadium on game day, a political protest, a presidential visit or a humble neighborhood church event.
Second, the government does indeed now require that the Catholic church provide birth control for its employees and yes, 300 million tax dollars a year go to the country’s largest abortion provider.
Thirdly, the unborn are unique human individuals and should not be killed any more than a day old infant or a five year old child. If a new life doesn’t begin at conception, when does it begin? Even science tells us that at conception, a genetically distinct person whose DNA and individual traits such as gender, eye color etc. have already been determined is created and is starting to grow. Also, do you believe human beings have souls, and if you do, when do they have them? When is the magic moment?
LOL @86Mets I didn’t say no Police escort, I said pay for it yourself
No one is forcing you to pay for abortions or anything you don’t want, stop watching Fox News.
BUT Christians do want to force everyone else to abide by their wacky religion which outlaws abortion. I guess you don’t think a woman is intelligent enough to decide if she wants an abortion on her own.
The police were there to make sure that there were no accidents between the marchers and vehicular traffic, that’s all.
They were there for public safety, they weren’t there as the government’s stamp-of-approval for Christianity as some ludicrously seem to think.
Moneyside apparently feels that Christians deserve to be left to the physical dangers of automobile traffic for daring to practice their faith outside the confines of a church building. But then again, since he’s also apparently the one one who pays city taxes, he gets to make the decision.
@OM
As you can see, a simple amendment forbidding CONGRESS from making a law establishing an official nation religion has been completely twisted and perverted to the point where people believe it’s a mandate to airbrush religion from public life and even deny religious people basic public services such as in this case. BTW: the words “separation of church and state” are no where to be found in the Constitution.
Liberals want religion out of politics (Christianity in particular) but have no problem with politics sticking its nose into religion such as making churches and practicing Christians pay for birth control and publicly funded abortions.
Moneyside, which religious organization received a personal escort in the procession down Skillman Ave? If you attended the event , you would have seen that nothing like that took place. And, if you read the Constitution and judicial interptations of same, you would know that providing police services to maintain traffic control has nothing to do with the ban on government supported religion. Best Wishes for the Joys of the Christmas Season, OM.
@Bijan.
Talk about paranoid! And thanks for typing words on my keyboard I never typed. Where did I say anything about being an oppressed minority or discrimination? All I did was let you know how I prefer to greet people during the Christmas season. Knock off the hysterics, you’ll just get an ulcer.
“I refuse to use generic platitudes like Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays.”
That’s right! Fight the power! Did you know Christians only make up 91% of Congress? And only 100% of US Presidents have been Christian. Clearly, being in the oppressed minority, it is vital you fight back against this out and out discrimination in the silliest way possible.
@OP Nope I’m saying any religious organization should not be using the Police as their personal escort. If they want an escort let them pay the cops on their own.
You’re not suggesting we get rid of the separation of Church & State, are you?
Moneyside,
I’m sure those Christians marching the procession pay taxes too.
Newsflash – you’re not the only one.
Moneyside, there were no additional tax dollars spent on the Christmas procession. The cops who were present for approximately a half hour were 108 Pct officers working a regular work shift and performing a routine police function of traffic control, the same police work routinely performed in Manhattan every day of the week and we see in Sunnyside on several occasions during the year. You’re not suggesting that the police not perform traffic control activities routinely done for other events because this procession related to Christmas, are you?
“With a police escort, the participants walked from Sunnyside Reformed Church down Skillman Avenue to the nativity crèche at Queen of Angels Roman Catholic Church.”
Police escort? Seriously? I have no problem with people celebrating their faith EXCEPT when my tax dollars have to pay for it
I didn’t know Bill Maher liked girls! Why is there no public Mennorah in Sunnyside/Woodside when there are a couple of synagogues. Chanukah is a beautiful festival and has great food.
Agree with 86Mets…Merry Christmas! Bill Maher would be proud too but he is too busy at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion… 🙂
Tolerance, bitchezz!
Bill O’Reilly would be proud
Merry Christmas.
I refuse to use generic platitudes like Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays.
This was a very nice event and another example of what makes Sunnyside a great neighborhood.
If we are supposed to keep religion out of school then why is Christmas celebrated ?
More of the Same …. Jimmy Buffett would call you an altered boy (or girl)! Catholicism drove him away from “religion” too. 🙂
Ruben, why let common sense and science get in the way?
http://didyouknow.org/christmas/jesus/
A good explanation of when christ may have actually been born.
@ruben – and i don’t think there are any legitimate historical christian scholars who would disagree with you. i am guessing if you asked the pastor and priests mentioned in the article they will confirm what you have said.
Christ wasn’t born on the 25th. End of story bible thumpers.
There are also animals in the creche which is another myth debunked by the Pope in his new book. But at least the church didn’t come out and say everyone needs to stop including these traditions because the Pope says they didn’t have animals or angels singing. And I’m saying this as an atheist (I was catholic until I reached the age of reason) and think it is the right way for the church to handle the Pope’s latest book on the topic.
at least it didn’t rain this year!!
btw, @more of the same–i think there is an angel in fact in that creche in front of the catholic church.
I guess Rev. Storck didn’t get the memo from the Pope that said there were no angels singing at jesus’ birth…….