It’s a Wonderful Night at Ss. Philip and James Parish, Baltimore

This Friday, December 19, Ss. Philip and James University Parish in Baltimore, MD, will play host for two special events. Beginning at 6:30pm, an evening of Lessons and Carols will commence in the main upper church. The service involves a juxtaposition of Advent and Christmas music (including Silent Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and others) with Scripture readings from the Old Testament and the Gospels, all in preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The nine Scripture readings are followed by song and a prayer offered by the celebrant. Following the service, in what has become something of a tradition at Ss. Philip and James Parish, everyone is invited to meet in the parish hall for a light reception and showing of the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” directed by Frank Capra and starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Fr. John Paul Walker, OP, Catholic chaplain to Johns Hopkins University, commented on the movie choice: “It is a movie that resonates with our Catholic faith in that it emphasizes the beauty, goodness, and irreplaceability of each and every human life.” The parish Pro-Life Group will also collect baby items for donations to one of the local crisis pregnancy centers in Baltimore. For more information about this special Advent evening, see the parish website, which also includes the Christmas schedule for the parish.

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Image: Ss. Philip and James University Parish, Baltimore