There was a beautiful Christmas Eve service at our church last night. One of the highlights was my first opportunity to hear Margaret and our recently formed church choir.
l to r back row: Sharon Daniels; Estelle Zane; Joyce Collier; and Billy Kinsey
front row: Genevieve Yost; Margaret; and Marnie Kinsey
Sharon Cahall, choir director. David Kinsey on piano in the background.
In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins
Friday afternoon, 12/18/09, we drove to Lansdale, PA to spend the night with our friends Sam & Alice Rittenhouse. We did that so we would already be in the area to attend the TFC Bucks-Montgomery Chapter 2009 Christmas Buffet the following morning.
At the lower left is Alice Rittenhouse, next to her is her sister May, and then Margaret.
The buffet is held on the mezzanine of Henning’s Market.
The view from the other end of the room.
Folks queued up for the buffet
Christmas music was provided by the praise band from a local church.
After the entertainment Bunny O’Hare and Dwayne Johnson gave TFC ministry updates.
In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins
We went on another date this afternoon. This time it was to the Center Ice Rink at the Delaware State Fair grounds in Harrington, DE to see the 2009 Christmas Ice Show.
The main entrance brings you into this area which includes a store and snack bar
It is a full-size rink that is also used for ice hockey
Just a few of the people who were there. Margaret is seated in the middle front behind the man with the yellow sleeve jacket. We were only about 10 ft from the edge of the rink.
Santa riding on the Zamboni. During the show’s intermission he was rink-side giving candy canes to the kids.
Sitting in a room with a lot of ice means it is COLD.
Margaret also brought two throws to fold up and make seat cushions for us
The show was based on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This is a brief clip of the scene with Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim
Before the intermission there were performances by singles and pairs skaters who had competed at the national and international level. Shown here is an excerpt of Cassandra Jeandell and Damian Dodge. They are alternates to the 2010 US Nationals competition.
Margaret loves figure skating and we go to events whenever we can. Both of us enjoy watching the youngsters in these local shows. The little ones are so precious! There are also two rinks in Newark, DE plus another in Wilmington, DE. Now that we are retired we can attend more of the shows.
In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins
Margaret and I went on a date tonight to see the 25th Annual Christmas Production at Calvary Assembly of God Church in Dover, DE. This year’s play was A Time for Christmas.
The picture quality is not great as we were sitting back quite a way from the stage. We arrived a half-hour before the curtain and the place was already mostly full. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance. In all the years we have lived in the area this is the first year we were able to attend because we are not on the chapel.
The play continues through this week. You can get the times at the church’s website. If you live in the area, I encourage you to go to one of the performances. There is no charge to attend. The production is a gift from the church to the community. Plan on arriving early!
The cast received a standing ovation at the end.
What a wonderful evening out with my best girl!
In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins
This morning Margaret and I left early on a date. We drove to Newark, DE and boarded a train to downtown Philadelphia to visit Macy’s store and see their Christmas displays.
Riding the train to/from is so much nicer than driving and paying to park. We did not have to change trains and there is a train station only a block from the store.
We first checked out some of the window displays
This large display was just inside one of the store entrances
This picture is for our daughter Sheri, who loves all things purple
There is a light show every hour followed by a selection played on their pipe organ. This is a brief excerpt.
One of the nicest Christmas displays was a tour of “Dickens’ London”, a series of animated figures and recordings in various scenes from the story A Christmas Carol. This is the first scene which depicts Dickens introducing the tour. Below are pictures of just a few of the scenes.
The young girl on the right was one of the visitors taking the tour. These were large displays, not small dioramas.
The poulterer’s shop.
Tiny Tim
Margaret checking out Scrooge’s office
Marley’s ghost visiting Scrooge. Other ghosts and chains are suspended from the ceiling above where I am standing.
The entrance to Fezziwig’s. Note Mr. Fezziwig on the right ringing the bell to begin the festivities.
Young Scrooge and Belle
Dinner at the Cratchit home
Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas future.
We had a great date. It was nice to relax riding the train home, especially when it began to rain during the ride.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV)
Margaret and I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas!
Here is a classic illustration of the reason for the season, Paul Harvey's modern day parable of the incarnation of Christ. (Make sure your sound is on)
In His name,
Chaplain Sam Houchins
