On Sunday, St. John the Baptist (Episcopal) Church will celebrate the first Sunday in Advent and the start of the Christian year.
This four-week season preceding Christmas is a season of hope with the anticipation of the coming of the Lord and Savior.
Just as resolutions are often made at the start of the secular New Year, members of the parish family will be invited to make their spiritual resolutions.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo
The altar at St. John the Baptist (Episcopal) Church — handiwork of Rodney Geiben. Shown, from left, are the Rev. Helen Sam, the Rev. Yvonne Fancher and Geiben.
Also, on this Sunday, new needlepoint altar appointments will be used for the first time. Recently dedicated by the Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Episcopal bishop of Western New York, the appointments are the handiwork of Rodney Geiben.
Including a frontal, stole, veil, pulpit hang and bookmark, all were given in memory of John J. Skahill Jr., a friend of Geiben, and the former superintendent of the Brocton School district.
The appointments are predominantly blue, an Advent color. The blue represents the hope of the expected arrival of Christ.
Geiben has put 2,299 hours into the preparation of the altar appointments. Accomplished in the art of needlepoint, Geiben has made other liturgical artifacts - including a banner with the Episcopal Diocesan seal which is displayed at St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo.
The public is invited to attend the service at St. John's.
