Judson to ring in Christmas season

Published 4:47 am Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Judson College will usher in the Christmas season on Dec. 4 with two on-going traditions: Christmas Tea and Vespers.

The Tea, which begins at 4 p.m., will be held in the Gladys Hale Dunkin Parlors of Jewett Hall, and the Vespers service, produced by the music department, will be in the Alumnae Auditorium at 6 p.m.

The Vespers service will include some well known Christmas carols, such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Joy to the World,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and others. The music will be performed by FAITH, an auditioned voice ensemble, the Judson Choir and the Judson Ringers. Accompanists will be Dr. Jonathan Brown and Leah Washburn.

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Vesper is a Latin term meaning “evening.” This year the Judson model is based on a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College in Cambridge, England. The traditional service was started in 1918 and has been broadcast on Christmas Eve around the world.

The service features nine lessons taken from scripture readings that include Adam’s fall from the Garden of Eden, God’s promise to faithful Abraham, the prophesies of Isaiah and culminate with the birth of Christ from the Gospel of John.

Each reading is followed by a carol or anthem.

Judson choral director, Dr. Judy Ransom, has engaged Marion community leaders for participation as readers and others as singers with the college choir. The congregation will participate as well in the carol singing.

The public is invited to the day’s events. There is no charge for admission.