Christmas Eve bulletin

Saint Philip’s commissioned parishioner and professional artist, Jeanine Colini, to create 26 paintings for the Christmas Eve bulletin. This will be a 32-page publication that provides the order of worship for five services on Christmas Eve. Each service is distinct in its own way and that will be reflected in the artwork throughout the bulletin.

Two Holy Eucharist services depict various elements of the Christmas Eve story—the Nativity, shepherds tending their flocks, the journey on the road to Bethlehem, the three kings, heavenly angels and the manger scene shown above. The artistic expression is traditional with a contemporary twist. 

The Lessons & Carols service at 7:00pm will include nine 3-inch square paintings (above) to highlight the numerals that guide worshipers through this service. These tiny abstracts are interpretations of stained glass and each is outlined in gold metallic paint.

Jeanine had the initial artistic inspiration for this project when she had the idea to create illuminated letters in the tradition of those rendered by monks and calligraphers during the Renaissance period.

The 3:00pm Children’s Pageant will feature pastel art created by several of Saint Philip’s younger members. During an Advent activity they enthusiastically drew Christmas Eve scenes, and their zeal shines through in their artwork.

All the artwork will be on display in Saint Philip’s Chapel of the Nativity—an intimate space that contains sacred artwork dating back to the 14th century.

Saint Philip’s is grateful to Jeanine for sharing her talent with the parish, and for helping with its environmental effort to save some trees.