Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach will present a service of Christmas Lessons & Carols at 3 p.m. Dec. 12. Featuring the Chancel Choir of St. Paul’s under the direction of Dr. David Macfarlane, the choral repertoire will include carol settings by John Rutter, David Willcocks, William Mathias, Stephen Paulus, Stephen Cleobury and Morton Lauridsen.
The service will also feature congregational Christmas Carols and lighting of candles. Organ voluntaries by Johann Sebastian Bach and Gerald Near will be played on the Moeller pipe organ.
“Since the early part of the 20th century, the Lessons & Carols Service broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge has been a cherished part of Christmas observations in the English-speaking world,” explains Macfarlane, the director of music ministries. ¨A series of readings leading from the Hebrew scripture prophesies to the New Testament birth story is combined with Christmas carols from a variety of traditions to create a beautiful, seasonal celebration.”
Music at St. Paul’s was founded by Dr. Stuart Gardner in 1988 and has presented concerts of classical and world music to Palm Beach County audiences continually since that time. Now in its 33rd Season, the series continues under the artistic direction of Dr. David Macfarlane.
A Festival of Lessons & Carols is open to the public. A freewill offering is encouraged to support the programming.
For more information, visit musicstpaula.org.