Oysterville Church in the Snow

About this time every year, we begin getting inquiries about a Christmas Eve (or Day) program at the church – as in, will there be one?  Don’t we wish!  But, as most people know, our church is historic (rather than active) in nature.  We don’t have a minister; we don’t have a congregation; we don’t have a denomination.

The church, like much of the open space in Oysterville, is owned by the Oysterville Restoration Foundation (ORF), a non-profit 501c3 organization.  The only regular services that ORF sponsors are the annual ecumenical summer vesper series.  They have taken place since 1978, usually from Father’s Day through Labor Day Sunday and are one of the major fund-raisers for maintenance of the church building.  Otherwise, the church is available for weddings, funerals and various religious, educational or musical functions — but sponsored or arranged by individuals or groups unrelated to ORF.

When Leigh Wilson still lived here, she sometimes organized a Christmas program at the church.  It usually involved Leigh and her sisters, all of whom are musical, and the date and time were circulated by word-of-mouth through the village.  The ‘program’ was informal – a reading of the Christmas story according to St. Luke, a few solos or duets by the Wilson sisters, and group singing of familiar Christmas carols.  Sometimes, the church was decorated with holly and evergreens; always it was illuminated only by candlelight.

Rose City Mixed Quartet Album Cover

Those Christmastime gatherings at the church were the closest I’ve ever been to the tradition of Christmas caroling.  In fact, I sometimes think that those idealistic pictures of Christmas carolers are total fantasy.  Not in a single one of the places where I’ve spent the Christmas season over the years have there ever been carolers. The best we’ve been able to do is to host the Rose City Mixed Quartet for a December House Concert in past years.  That was fabulous, but what I’m thinking of is Christmas carolers walking from house to house and singing in the snow.  You know… like on the Christmas cards!

We have had years here in Oysterville when it did actually snow during the Christmas holidays.  When that happens, the church looks picture perfect… almost.  A few carolers swaddled in scarves and stocking caps would make those times a picture perfect Christmas.  Maybe this year?… though that would be more in the line of miracles, not fantasies.  The prediction for Christmas is rain, not snow.  But, hey!  Carolers in the rain would still be great!  Don’t I wish!