Advent 2020

Advent was a very special season this past year, especially at the end of a very challenging calendar year. We celebrated hope, peace, love and joy in new and creative ways. Please take some time to enjoy some of these photos from this Advent season, and be sure to enjoy the archived personal Advent Blessings, which made up our Virtual Advent Calendar Project.

Daily Advent Blessings

Every day during the season of Advent, RCHP community members and families recorded and released a short video, with messages of hope, peace, love and joy. It was such a tremendous gift to be invited into the houses of our friends, to experience together crafts, art projects, songs, meals, prayers, and more. Please take some time to watch (or re-watch) all 27 advent blessings, clicking on the button below. Note: the videos are listed on the page from last to first (December 25 to November 29).

Christmas Eve Service

The high school youth, under the facilitation of Pastor Terry, led a virtual worship service on Christmas Eve at 7:00pm over Zoom. Please click below to watch a few of the pre-recorded songs, readings, and the sermon delivered by high school senior, Joy Umutoni.

Advent 2020 Photo Album

Please enjoy a few of these photos, taken by RCHP church members, which help us remember the beauty and joy of Advent 2020 at RCHP.

Church sanctuary decorated for Advent.

Super-sized Advent Wreath outside church (built by Anthony DiGrigoli)

Loading shipping containers with donations for countries impacted by Hurricanes Eta and Iota.

Mourning the loss and celebrating the life of Delores Van Liew.

Making ornaments on the nature hike.

RCHP Christmas Pageant on December 13.

Providing Angel Tree gifts for over 300 local children.

Youth Group Christmas Party, gingerbread house competition.

Youth Group Christmas Party, gingerbread house competition.

A beautiful, snow-covered church.

Advent wreath

Global Grace Marketplace, selling fair-trade holiday gifts.

Loading shipping containers with donations for countries impacted by Hurricanes Eta and Iota.

Sanctuary adorned with poinsettias.

Exploring the woods on the nature hike.

Following the Star and bringing Angel Tree gifts to the manger at the Christmas Pageant.

Providing Angel Tree gifts for over 300 local children.

Youth Group Christmas Party, gingerbread house competition.

Recording the worship service for live-streaming.

Singing in the rain to welcome Christmas Morning!

Nativity display, with the Christmas books from the RCHP Children’s Library.

Collecting donations for countries devastated by Hurricanes Eta and Iota.

Packing and blessing the shipment of relief items to countries impacted by Hurricanes Eta & Iota.

Gathering for a story and a nature hike.

Exploring the woods and hanging ornaments on the nature hike.

Live sheep at the Christmas Pageant on December 13.

Youth Group Christmas Party, gingerbread house competition.

Youth Group Christmas Party, gingerbread house competition.

A snowy candle-lighting service.

Singing in the rain to welcome Christmas Morning!

Youth Group Christmas Party, Christmas sock exchange!