Mount Holly Newsflash - Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - Morning edition The weather today in Mount Holly - Partly sunny, with a high near 17. Northeast wind 2 to 8 mph. WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST THURSDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches. * WHERE...Rutland and Windsor Counties. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 4 PM EST Thursday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will develop this evening and become heavy at times overnight before tapering off to scattered snow showers Thursday afternoon. Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com
The Grinch Did Not Steal Christmas Eve
For many churches, attendance at their Christmas Eve service is historically one of the highest of the year. This year many houses of worship are not able to have their usual Christmas Eve services due to the restrictions set forth by the Governor. The Pandemic Grinch, however, has not stolen the Christmas Eve service entirely.
A Virtual Christmas Eve service is the result of collaboration of members of five area churches. They all belong to a loosely formed group called ECCO, Experimental Covenantal Community Outreach. Members from the United Church of Ludlow, the First Congregational Church -UCC, Springfield, the United Church of Bellows Falls -UCC, the Grafton Community Church and the Acworth Congregational Church (NH) are all contributing to this unique virtual service. Each group is responsible for a segment of the worship service which includes scripture readings and music. There is traditional Christmas music that you can sing to and special music that you can listen to. Patrick Cody of Okemo Valley Television has generously overseen the production of this virtual service.
There are many options for attending this Christmas Eve service safely from the comfort of your own homes. It will be broadcast on three public access television stations serving the area at 7 PM on Christmas Eve. Okemo Valley Television (channel Comcast 1076 and VTel 166), Springfield Area Public Access Television- SAPA (channel Comcast 1077 and VTel 160), and the Falls Area Community Television FACT (channel Comcast 1076 and VTel 172) have all agreed to broadcast it simultaneously for which the participants are grateful. If more flexibility in time is needed or if viewers do not have access to cable, it will also be available for viewing anytime on Christmas Eve from the websites of each of the stations, on Facebook and on You Tube and from each of the church's websites. While it will not be the same as an in person Christmas Eve service the members of ECCO wish you a safe and happy Christmas and hope this option will be uplifting during this unprecedented year of the Pandemic Grinch.
