Carthage presents the annual Christmas Festival Dec. 2-4.10xmas_sj-274.jpg10xmas_PA_008.jpg10xmas_PA_029.jpg10xmas_PA_144.jpg10xmas_es-325-530.jpg10xmas_es-313-530.jpg10xmas_sj-012-530.jpg10xmas_sj-292-530.jpg10xmas_sj-041-530.jpg10xmas_sj-107-530.jpg10xmas_sj-048-530.jpg10xmas_sj-064-530.jpg10xmas_es-315-530.jpg10xmas_PA_150-530.jpg
A Carthage Christmas

A Carthage Christmas: Dawn of Grace

Christmas Festival filled A. F. Siebert Chapel with music and candlelight

Carthage held its annual Christmas Festival Dec. 3-5, 2010. "A Carthage Christmas: Dawn of Grace" featured the majestic sounds of the Fritsch Memorial Organ, performances by Carthage instrumental and choral ensembles, and the annual Service of Light.

Every December, the program follows an age-old tradition of sharing the celebration of the birth of Christ through readings and music. This year's festival took its theme from a line in the carol "Silent Night": "dawn of redeeming grace." The festival brought the message that the birth of Christ shows the way to moments of grace in our lives. 

The concert featured performances by the Carthage Choir, Carthage Women's Ensemble, Lincoln Chamber Singers, Gospel Messengers, A. F. Siebert Chapel Choir, and Carthage Wind Orchestra. Students from the Theatre Department also participated. Production was led by Carthage faculty members Peter Dennee and Charlotte Chell.

The Carthage Choir performed Lux arumque, by Eric Whitacre; Incantations, by Michael McGlynn; Bogoroditse Devo, by Arvo Part; Angels We Have Heard on High, a traditional French carol arranged by Drew Collins; Christ Child, by Mark Petering; and A Babe is Born, by William Mathias. 

The Carthage Women's Ensemble performed A Child is Born, by Mark Sirett; Laudate Dominum, by Javier Busto; and I Rise!, by Ola Gjeilo.

The Lincoln Chamber Singers performed The Glory of the Father, by Egil Hovland; Lost in the Night, a traditional Finnish carol arranged by F. Melius Christiansen; and E'en So Lord Jesus, Quickly Come, by Paul O. Manz.

The A.F. Siebert Chapel Choir performed Three Nativity Carols: The Holly and the Ivy, by Stephen Paulus; Bogoroditse Devo, by Arvo Part; and Gloria in excelsis Deo, by Daniel Pinkham.

The Gospel Messengers performed It Was the Dawn of Grace by Larry Drake, and Glory to the Newborn King, arranged by Larry Drake.

The program concluded with the annual Service of Light.