PRESS RELEASE – CHRISTMAS comes early to the city of Castries tomorrow, Sunday, when the Men’s Christian Fellowship of the Methodist Church stages its annual presentation of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy is once again expected to grace the evening with her presence as she has done on several occasions ever since the concert was first presented at the Church in 1997.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols originated in England in 1918. It is a Christmas Eve service held in King’s College Chapel and was introduced to bring a more imaginative approach to worship. It was first broadcast in 1928 and is now broadcast to millions of people around the world every year.
Sunday’s concert at the Castries Methodist Church will begin at 7:00 p.m. The event will feature the reading of nine passages from the Bible relating to the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.
The concert will feature a number of groups and individuals rendering traditional Christmas music. These include the Holy Trinity Vibes from the Anglican Church, the Castries Methodist Youth Choir and a Festival Choir comprising members of the four congregations of the local Methodist community from Castries, Gros Islet, Forestiere and Ciceron, and the Men’s Christian Fellowship.
There will also be solo performances by ElvinaRaveneau, Linus Deterville, Marla Ragunanan and Deon Hutchinson with Diane Raveneau at the organ.
During the intermission, the congregation will have the opportunity to participate in the singing of some of the best-known Christmas carols like “Joy To The World”, “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” and “Away In A Manger”.
Admission to the Festival is $20 and can be paid at the door.
Contact: Leslie Burch Smith at 487-9260.