The Oyster Bay Historical Society and the Hood A.M.E. Zion Church in Oyster Bay partnered for their holiday celebration on Dec. 6. The Rev. Kenneth Nelson welcomed a filled church saying, "We wish to thank the members of the Oyster Bay Historical Society for their support of our church. This is our third year in bringing this program together, and we enjoy the fellowship with the society. We thank the OBHS for selecting our church for this program." It is the oldest existing building in the hamlet still used as a church, and Rev. Nelson is an OBHS board member.

Rev. Nelson said the next event for his choir will take place in the new year. Monday, Jan. 19 is Martin Luther King Day and they will be celebrating it on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Christ Episcopal Church where the combined choirs of Christ Church and Hood A.M.E. Zion Church will perform together.

Rev. Nelson said there is a lot planned for February, Black History month. There will be a concert of the Hempstead A Cappella Ensemble, whom he said do the kind of spirituals that were heard on plantations. It will take place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Christ Episcopal Church.

There will also be a night dedicated to serving soul food at the Hood A.M.E. Zion Church.

There will be a Power Point presentation at the Hood A.M.E. Zion Church on famous black leaders who lived on Long Island. He said for instance, Booker T. Washington who had a house in Huntington. He said they will advertise the dates and times of the events shortly.

The Rev. Nelson also told the guests the reason why the church is named "Hood." He said, "It's not because it's in the 'hood' but because an early bishop and educator of the A.M.E. Zion Church who was an advisor to Theodore Roosevelt was named James Hood, so it was appropriate to name the church after him."

The AME Hood Zion Church was packed with listeners at 4 p.m. Organist Anthony Teets played softly as people came in and the choir sang. The Hood Gospel Choir sang several gospel songs, Go Down Moses; The Storm Is Passing Over, and I Love the Lord. The Rev. Nelson sang A Child of Hope.

The Hood Choir sang Behold That Star and Go Tell It On The Mountain.

Together the congregation and Hood Gospel Choir sang O Come, All Ye Faithful; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; Silent Night, Holy Night; and Joy to The World. The gospel songs gave Mr. Teets a chance to "pull all the stops out" on the organ. He can make it sound like Radio City Music Hall's famous organ.

The Hood Choir sang We Shall Overcome and proceeded out of the sanctuary singing an Amen Chorus.

The Earle-Wightman House was inviting on the cool evening as the congregation and the choir members walked across Summit Street to the reception. Inside fried chicken, deviled eggs, hot canapés, cheeses, and salads were served, all prepared by members of the Hood A.M.E. Zion congregation.

To cap the evening off, there was a performance by the C.W. Post Alumnae singers arranged for by Isaac Kremer, Main Street Association executive director. Conductor Jeffrey Johnson said the singers had such a good time in the choir in college they wanted to stay together. Their singing added a Dickensian Christmas feeling to the gathering.