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A Christmas Service of Lessons & Carols, Thompson Memorial Chapel

Sat, December 7th, 2019
4:00 pm

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The annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Williams College will be held in Thompson Memorial Chapel. The identical services features choral music by the Williams Concert and Chamber Choirs, congregational singing of familiar carols, and the traditional reading of the biblical Christmas story.

There is no admission charge for either service – but all are encouraged to bring an item of non-perishable canned or packaged food for local emergency food pantries.

The Williams Concert and Chamber Choirs perform an array of traditional arrangements under the direction of Lindsay Pope Director of Choral/Vocal Activities.

Students, faculty and staff from the College and members of the local community read the traditional “lessons” derived from the biblical Christmas story.  As always, a free-will offering of money is received at the conclusion of each service.

The service, modeled on the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols first held on Christmas Eve in 1918 at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, has been described as one that “presents the Christmas story in an ambiance of mystery, splendor, hope and joy.”  The Service of Lessons and Carols has been a beloved holiday tradition at Williams since the 1960’s.

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