March 16, 2008 [LINK / comment]
As is the custom in Staunton, four of the downtown congregations held a joint Palm Sunday street procession this morning. Just like last year, the ecumenical march began at Trinity Episcopal Church and ended at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and a quintet of Dixieland-style musicians played "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Lord of the Dance." This year I took some photos (including four of the churches in the montage below), and a video, which I may post on YouTube in the next day or two.
Clockwise, from top left: Emmanuel Episcopal, Second Presbyterian, Trinity Episcopal, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic, Ebenezer Baptist, Augusta Street Methodist, and Central United Methodist. All of these churches are located in downtown Staunton.
After church, Jacqueline and I drove out to Highland County, where the 50th annual Maple Festival was being held. It was bright and sunny but very chilly, having snowed the night before. (But not as much as last year!) We bought the standard maple donuts, maple popcorn, and an assortment of arts and crafts. We took the long way back home, heading north into Pendleton County, West Virginia, which is sparsely settled but very scenic. All in all, it was a busy, rewarding day.
The town of Sugar Grove, West Virginia, lies just beyond the gap. The mountain ridge in the background is the Virginia state line, and that white stuff around the top is snow!