Traditional Christmas services are back at Palm Beach churches

Kristina Webb
·5 min read

Two Palm Beach churches are celebrating their first Christmas with new leaders, as houses of worship head into their first major holiday with a full easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea welcomed the Rev. Tim Schenck as its new rector about a month a half ago, and St. Edward Catholic Church installed the Rev. Glen Pothier as pastor in April. At the island’s third church, the Royal Poinciana Chapel, the Rev. Robert Norris has been in his position for about 19 years.

While the bodies in the seats have changed, the positions are the same and the bond between the three churches as well as the temples in town remains strong, Norris said.

“We have historically been very close and connected through the fellowship, both Christians and Jews,” Norris said.

For Schenck, who is still settling into a new home and role in Palm Beach, the biggest change this Christmas is the lack of snow. Schenck moved in November from his home and parish near Boston.

More:After yearlong search, The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach names new rector

A nativity scene at Royal Poinciana Chapel features a variety of characters from the Christmas story, including Joseph.
A nativity scene at Royal Poinciana Chapel features a variety of characters from the Christmas story, including Joseph.

“This being my very first Florida Christmas, I’m kind of getting used to the fact that I’m still walking around in shorts in late December,” he said.

Schenck looks forward to being part of the magnificent holiday celebration about which he’s heard so much. “One of the things I love about Christmas is just being able to fling open our doors and welcome parishioners and visitors and people who are just longing to hear a message of hope,” Schenck said.

Rev. Tim Schenck is the new rector of The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea
Rev. Tim Schenck is the new rector of The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea

Pothier has helped at St. Edward since 2003 and still maintains a full-time job with the Palm Beach Diocese. His favorite part of the Midnight Mass is a traditional Latin chant about the birth of Jesus between the pre-Mass carols and the liturgy that begins the service.

More:St. Edward Catholic Church in Palm Beach welcomes Canada native as new pastor

“It traces the history of people who have been waiting for century after century after century,” Pothier said. “It describes all of history culminating in a moment. I love the idea, because it situates us in time. We’re not divorced from the past.”

Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier took over leadership of St. Edward Catholic church in April.
Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier took over leadership of St. Edward Catholic church in April.

With his first Christmas service at St. Edward, and the first back with no COVID-19 precautions required, Pothier said he looks forward to incorporating more traditions, such as the chant, that are being forgotten by churches.

“We can recover the past so we cannot forget who we are,” he said. “It’s a moment in time, and we can’t forget who we are.”

While each church is approaching the holiday in its own way, all three are returning to Christmas services as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It just reminds me how beautiful it was and continues to be,” Norris said.

This year’s services are notable because Christmas Day falls on Sunday. Traditionally, the Royal Poinciana Chapel has Christmas Eve services, but does not hold a Christmas Day service unless Dec. 25 is a Sunday. This will be the first time a Christmas Day service has been held at the chapel since 2016, Norris said.

“In the 19 years I’ve been here, we’ve only had one,” he said, adding that the next Christmas Day service will be in 2033.

The chapel has two Christmas Eve services. The first at 4 p.m. is geared more toward families with children, and includes pageantry and a living nativity, Norris said. The 9 p.m. offering also includes the service of lessons, lights and carols, but without the children’s involvement.

Rev. Norris
Rev. Norris

Norris said he loves the “organized bedlam” of the earlier service and the children’s pageantry. At the later service, he looks forward to the candlelight.

“My favorite part of the traditional service would be the silent moments at the conclusion of worship, where together we hold the candles high and illuminate the sanctuary chapel, singing ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Fairest Lord Jesus,’” Norris said.

The moment is very warm and engaging, and provides a space for quiet contemplation after the preparation for Christmas is completed, he said.

“That really focuses on the story, and the meaning and the message is really about the story as it’s sung and spoken and visually enacted through the candlelight,” Norris said.

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Christmas Events

The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea

Christmas Eve: Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist at 4 p.m.; Festal Holy Eucharist and homily with music by the Bethesda Choir and instrumental ensemble at 6:30 and 10 p.m. Incense will be used at the 10 p.m. service. Overflow seating with video simulcast is available in the Parish Hall for the 4 and 10 p.m. services. Each service will be livestreamed on the church’s website, www.bbts.org.

Christmas Day: Festal Holy Eucharist with music by the Bethesda Choir and a sermon at 11 a.m. The service will be livestreamed.

Dec. 26-27: The church will be closed.

New Year’s Day: Feast of the Holy Name. Holy Eucharist with sermon at 8 a.m. Congregational lessons and carols with Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. Wassail in the Parish Hall at 10 a.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 11 a.m., livestreamed.

The Royal Poinciana Chapel

Christmas Eve: At 4 p.m.: Krescendo string ensemble, flute, trumpet and organ; chapel chorale members; services of lessons, carols and candlelight including children’s participation with song and nativity. At 9 p.m.: Traditional service with Krescendo string ensemble, flute, trumpet and organ; chapel chorale members; and service of lessons, carols and candlelight. Christmas Eve services will not be livestreamed.

Christmas Morning Service: At 10:30 a.m., traditional worship in the sanctuary. This service will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel, a link for which is available on the main page of the church’s website at www.royalpoincianachapel.org.

St. Edward Catholic Church

Christmas Eve: Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 4 and 6 p.m. Midnight Mass is at 12 a.m.

Christmas Day: Mass will be celebrated at 7, 9 and 10:30 a.m. and noon.

New Year’s Eve: Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m.

New Year’s Day: Mass will be celebrated at 7, 9 and 10:30 a.m. and noon.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach churches welcome return to traditional Christmas services