Office of Communications

Contact: Laura Hanna

Director of Communications

Office: (817) 531-4498

lhanna@txwes.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WESLEYAN MUSIC TELLS THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS

The Department of Music at Texas Wesleyan University presents a Christmas service of “Lessons and Carols” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Polytechnic United Methodist Church, 1310 S. Collard St. The performance is free and open to the public.

Putting a fresh spin on this year's service will be a new set of readings, chosen by Chaplain Gladys Childs, and the presence of the Wesleyan Singers under conductor Mark Stamper. The Wesleyan Singers will perform repertoire from their upcoming seasonal concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, in Martin Hall. The Wesleyan Singers will at times also join with members of the Chancel Choir of Polytechnic United Methodist Church in this liturgical, musical retelling of the Christmas story.

Lessons and Carols originated at Truro Cathedral (England) on Christmas Eve 1880, when Bishop F. W. Benson Truro developed a service of scripture and supporting carols. Some 38 years later in 1918, this format was adapted for Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England. The BBC’s broadcast from King’s College helped to popularize the service of Lessons and Carols which was quickly duplicated by cathedrals throughout the world. The heart of the service continues to this day: the retelling of the Christian’s story of faith from the fall of Adam to the coming of the Word Incarnate.

To learn more, contact the Department of Music at (817) 531-4992 or visit us on the Web at http://music.txwes.edu/music/