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The final singing sermon?
Stafford pastor sings Christmas in
Date published: 12/26/2006
By EDIE GROSS
Paige Young had nothing against trees.
But he wasn't all that interested in singing about them for his junior high's Arbor Day assembly.
No matter. Young's seventh-grade teacher insisted he sing poet Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" in front of the whole school.
"I was mortified," he said.
Young, now 69, apparently got over his stage fright.
The pastor of Ferry Farm Baptist Church since 1963, Young has spent the past 40 years singing his Christmas Eve sermon for several hundred of the Stafford church's 1,300 members.
On Sunday, Young performed the service--which he alters every year--for the 41st and possibly last time.
He plans to retire in June, though he and wife Sibby intend to stay close by.
"It's always been a good way to close out the hustle and bustle before Christmas Day," Young said of the service, which also includes a candle-lighting ceremony.
While a student at the University of Richmond in the late '50s, Young was part of a rock 'n' roll singing group.
Later, during his studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., Young worked part time at a church in Henderson, where he served as a youth and music minister.
A few years after arriving at Ferry Farm Baptist, Young said, he decided to incorporate his love of music into his Christmas Eve sermon.
The 30-minute sermon usually includes about a half dozen holiday songs and some spoken-word commentary by Young.
He said he tries to change the songs each year so the service doesn't get repetitive.
"But after 40 years, you can't use but so many," he said.
Barbara Stanley, a charter member of the church, which was founded in 1959, said she still remembers the first time Young sang his Christmas Eve sermon.
"It was just awesome," she said.
She and neighbor Janice Justice come to the service each year.
"It's beautiful. It sort of sets the tone for Christmas," said Justice, a member of the church for 38 years. "It's something you look forward to the whole season."
This year, Young emphasized the power of forgiveness, love and faith in a sermon he titled "The Story of Christmas."
Backed by keyboardist Dawn Murphy and pianist Duane DeHart, Young soloed in a clear, strong voice on six Christmas songs, including "Do You Hear What I Hear?" "O Holy Night" and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
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Date published: 12/26/2006
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