Music and Art

Music at Nativity

Music is an integral part of worship in the Episcopal tradition and we express our faith through the celebration of singing. At Nativity, our music is grounded in the heritage of the Anglican choral tradition, but we embrace a wide range of styles and genres in our hymns and anthems. Within the same service you might hear or sing plainsong psalms, Lutheran hymns, a Howells anthem, and a spiritual from the Episcopal Hymnal supplement, Lift Every Voice and Sing II.

The Nativity music program is welcoming to both those who enjoy music but are new to choral singing, and highly skilled musicians. The central mission of the music program is to support the regular liturgy of the parish.

Choir

Nativity’s Adult choir sings at the 10:30 am service and on special occasions during the year.  We welcome everyone who likes to sing. During the year the choir rehearses at 7 pm on Thursday evening and 9:15 am Sunday morning. Please Email Bradley Burgess, our Organist and Choirmaster, if you are interested in singing in the choir.

Handbells

The Nativity Ringers meet on Wednesday evenings during the year to practice the art of English handbell ringing. The Nativity Ringers play in worship services for special occasions, such as Christmas Eve and Easter. Nativity has five octaves of Malmark handbells and three octaves of chimes. Please Email Ruth Brown, director, if you are interested in ringing handbells.

Our Organ

The organ at Church of the Nativity is the Opus 115  of the Andover Organ Company, Methuen, Massachusetts.  The organ was designed with characteristics of instruments typical of small New England parishes of the 19thcentury. It is delightfully voiced for the acoustic intimacy of our modest-sized nave. Since its installation in 2007, the organ’s rich sounds have enhanced the singing at Church of the Nativity as we worship the glory of God.

Read more about Nativity’s Organ.

Other Instruments

Other Instruments

We are glad to use  a variety of instruments to enhance the music in our worship services. On several occasions throughout the year, we assemble a band to accompany the singing.  If you play an instrument and would like to play, please Email Bradley Burgess, our Lay Associate for Music, Communications and Administration.

We are also blessed to have parishioners who are professionally trained instrumentalists, including members of the North Carolina Symphony. From time to time they share their talents with us.

Art Around Nativity

Look around Nativity and you will see the work of many gifted artists, some of whom are parishioners here.

The Altar

Nativity Altar

The altar is the work of late parishioner Doug Smith, who also built the pulpit, the altar rail, and the stations of the cross. The front of the altar uses marquetry, an art form using wood veneers, to suggest the Last Supper. The marquetry in the front of the pulpit is the Nativity logo.

You may also note the logo is carved into the ends of each pew.

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

Placed at intervals on the walls of the Nave is a series of 14 panels depicting Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion in the final hours (or Passion) before he died. They were created by late parishioner Doug Smith, who also designed and built the altar.

Stained Glass

Stained Glass

While Nativity is not an old church, we do have stained glass. Bob Renfrew, a now- deceased spouse of a Nativity parishioner and an expert in the art of stained glass, created the Nativity logo that hangs over the door to the Narthex.

Processional Banners

Processional Banner

A banner appropriate to the season is carried in the processional. All of the current banners were created by parishioner Evelyn Judson.

During the pandemic 2020, Evelyn Judson created new liturgical vestments and altar accessories for Church of the Nativity.

Chasuble
Altar Hangings

To see more of Evelyn Jusdon’s artwork she has made for Nativity, go to Evelyn Judson’s quilt website.

The Angel at Nativity

This 8- by 4-foot triptych is the work of sculptor Joel Haas. It was cast in polyurethane resin, coated with marble dust and a sepia tone stain. The angel’s features reflect the racial diversity of our parish.

The artist began with the premise that angels are messages, not messengers, from God. Therefore, the angel addresses us as modern viewers, as well as people of the future and the shepherds of the past. The shepherds in the two side panels are small and de-emphasized, since they are both metaphorically and historically in the past.

The angel says to us all, “Fear not, for I bring glad tidings that shall be for all people.”

The Altar Cross

The cross that hangs over the altar in the nave was donated in 2011 by parishioner Peggy Wade in memory of her brother, Robert B. Sutton, Jr. It is made of cherry wood from a tree in Traphill, NC, that Peggy’s aunt used to climb when she was a child. The wood was beautifully crafted by Peggy’s relative, John Morgan Freas.

The Curry Hall Cross

The cross over the door to Curry Hall, the Education Building, is a “Mission Cross.” It is made from four traditional Latin crosses, a symbol for world evangelism of the Gospels.

Like a compass, the tops of the four crosses point north, south, east and west. The crosses also represent the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

It is a fitting symbol for the building, where we teach our youth the word of God in preparation for their lifelong mission as followers of Christ.

The Corlett Hall Cross

The cross in Corlett Hall has been there since the Parish Hall was used for worship services, before the current nave was built. It is a Celtic cross,  the cross being surrounded with a ring called  a “nimbus.”

It was designed by a former intern, the Rev. Melanie Mudge.

Paintings

Painting by Tom DuBois

A series of seven framed prints by artist Tom DuBois, donated to Church of the Nativity by our deacon at the time, The Rev. Chuck Oglesby, hangs in Estill House.

Four of the prints depict a different scene in the story of Noah’s Ark, showing the ark’s progress in The Promise, The Invitation, The Commission, and The Celebration. These are in the conference room of Estill House.

Three others are about the Nativity, including the birth of Jesus, the angel announcing the birth to the shepherds, and the three wise men on their way to Bethlehem.

The Church Mouse

The Church Mouse

Can you find the church mouse painted by Carlie Sigel, who grew up in this church? It is hidden somewhere in the nave.