Oysterponds: Christmas Eve services planned

There are three special Christmas Eve services tomorrow in Oysterponds. At 11 p.m. Orient United Methodist Church on Village Lane, will present a “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” read by members of the congregation, with soloist Deserie Freeman and organist Jason Cockerill. At 4 p.m. Orient Congregational Church will hold its annual Christmas pageant — an amazing way to experience Christmas. And at 7 p.m. there will be a candlelight service at East Marion Community Church. The whole community is invited to be part of any and all of these.

Speaking of Christmas, if anyone knows who pilfered the really nice toy that was placed in the Toys for Tots box at the Orient post office last week, make sure you pass along that he/she is a grinch.

Bob and Marge Reeves are tucked back in Orient after their recent adventure to Fort Worth, Texas, to attend the graduation of their grandson Jacob Fowler (son of Deb Erlanson) from Texas Christian University. The key to keeping busy for this family seems to be attending all the activities (wedding, military honor and graduation ceremonies) of their grandchildren. Congratulations to all.

If you get an early case of cabin fever you can cure it by attending the Congregational Church Fellowship Supper on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share. All are welcome.

A reminder about the Jan. 8 concert by world-renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas at Poquatuck Hall. Call OHS for details at 323-2480.

Mary ‘Sis’ Dorman got in touch to remind everyone that the Cross Sound Ferry does not run on Christmas Day — the only day of the year that “Kings Highway” is void of ferry traffic — providing a wonderful opportunity to work off Christmas dinner with a hike from the Village to the Point. She also shared a passage from a letter written in the mid-1800s by her great-grand uncle Franklin Dorman, who lived in Orient, to a friend in New England. He wrote that the task for that day was to walk to Orient Point to get butter. How fun is that! If any of you are participating in that ritual, please stop by Dick Frank’s and pick up a stick for me.

Speaking of the ‘Point,’ we all extend our sympathy to Three Waters Lane’s Jeannette Vera on the death of her father. If you opened the dictionary to the phrase “devoted daughter,” Jeanette’s picture would be there. May he rest in peace.
Healing wishes to Anne MacKay, who got some unexpected rest and hospitality at ELIH this week. She’s most likely worn out from all her hard work running OCA and overseeing all the Poquatuck Hall renovations. Thanks to Anne and to all the devoted volunteers who make our community run smoothly.

On a high note, days start getting longer on Saturday and record temperatures for today were 58 in 1998 and 7 in 1989.
Wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011! See you back here Jan. 13.