Grace Methodist Celebrates With Candlelight Festival（英文）

此内容暂无简体中文译文，以下为英文原文。

Historical December 1997 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

“Here we come a’caroling, among the leaves so green . . ..” Christmas carols! How we love to hear the familiar strains of these joyful melodies floating through every twinkling facet of our seasonal celebrations.

On Sunday, December 14, at 4:15 in the afternoon, there will be a special Candlelight Festival of Lessons and Carols at Grace Methodist Church at Waterman and Skinker. Many of the most traditional and beloved Christmas carols will be sung, accompanied by Paul Harris, guest organist, on the renowned Moller pipe organ in the Grace sanctuary.

As the majestic sounds of the organ lead the audience in Christmas song, the warmth of soft candlelight will illumine the exquisite interior of the sanctuary’s Gothic architecture and multitudes of lovely stained glass windows sparkle in a glory of colors and designs.

A yearly tradition since 1920, the Carol Service is free and open to the public, and child care is provided. Grace is pastored by Rev. Roger Wreath (the Christmas connection is pure coincidence, albeit a happy one). Neighborhood artist Gene Hoefel, who is retiring next year from Washington University, creates a different artwork each year as a print to be used for the flyer announcing the Carol Service. Copies of these prints will be available at the back of the sanctuary, or you may have already received one in the mail. Featured in this year’s Carol Service are selections performed by the Grace Chancel Choir, including pieces from Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, a 16th century motet by Heinrich Schutz, a triumphant 20th century work called “Antiphon” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and other selections.

The magical, silvery sound of handbells will be heard, as the Grace Chancel Singers perform a specialized version of “Away in a Manger.” Children’s voices will blend with the older youth in a wonderful piece entitled, “Let the People Praise,” a version of Psalm 150, which lists a great variety of musical instruments, most of which play throughout the piece. Soprano Dorothea Ryan and bass soloist Greg Roig will join their voices in a duet, accompanied by harpsichord and violin. One of the cherished traditions in Grace’s Carol Service is the “children’s carol,” in which all the children in the audience are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary and join in singing “Away in a Manger.” The service begins promptly at 4:30 pm when all of the choirs enter the back of the candlelit sanctuary.

They are led by two torchbearers in the processional carol, “0 Come, All Ye Faithful.” Each member of the various choirs carries a small candle as the procession weaves through the sanctuary.

It is a stirring experience.

The service of Nine Lessons and Carols was first drawn up by Archbishop Benson while he was Bishop of Truro for use in the Truro Cathedral.

The service became so popular that it was simplified and modified for use in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge in 1918. Two years later, Churches in the United States had begun to incorporate it into their own Christmas traditions. One of those churches was Grace United Method- 1st. Grace was established in 1892 and already enjoyed a strong musical heritage.

The service of Lessons and Carols easily became part of that heritage under the direction of George A. Bluthardt, organist and choir master from 1913 to 1930.

In 1930, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery Lynch became choir master and organist respectively and built a larger choir. Members of the Grace Chancel Choir take this Carol Service so seriously that they attend a yearly weekend retreat in order to focus entirely on preparing music for this service.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols used at Grace is exactly the same as the original service of 1918.

It is a time of getting away from the Christ mas crush, a place for peaceful reflection among beauty and harmony; a special Christmas event for children, a reminder of the magic that lies not in glitz and frenzy but in the warm glow and majestic harmonies of this grand musical tradition. It’s a place to bring a friend or to come alone. Grace Methodist welcomes you to celebrate with us this lovely tradition, now in its 78th year, which will bring you the deepest joy and warmth of the Christmas season. “0 tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!”

Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1997.

Read this article in the original newspaper issue.

Archival transcription note: Opening specifies4:15p.m.,later says service begins4:30p.m.; both printed times retained.

Original source: SD_Times1997_12.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 7; PDF page(s) 1, 7.