The Magic of Lessons and Carols
by Bailey Basham, Messenger Staff Writer
The 62nd anniversary of the annual Christmas Lessons and Carols service will be celebrated this weekend in All Saints’ Chapel.
For over 60 years, Sewanee has hosted its service in honor of a Cornish Christmas tradition, weaving together nine short biblical readings from Genesis and the Gospels with holiday music to tell the story of the promise of a savior and the birth of Jesus. The service is open to the greater community, in Sewanee and beyond.
“The Sewanee service takes us through the liturgical season of Advent and into Christmas. Lessons are read by students, staff, faculty, and community members as part of the service, and there are seasonal anthems and hymns performed by the choir and congregation throughout,” said Geoffrey Ward, University organist and choirmaster. “The University Choir, 60 undergraduates from the college, assume the musical leadership for the service and are accompanied by brass, harp and organ.”
Due to COVID-19, the traditional in-person service in 2020 was cancelled in favor of a socially-distanced format. In addition to welcoming the community for in-person services this year, the University has expanded its seating capacity and is now able to accommodate 1,100 people at each service.
This year, 3,000 people are expected among the three services.
Ward said the spirit of the season is palpable throughout the service, present both in moments of quiet, like at the beginning of the service when the chapel is cloaked in darkness and the choir appears holding lit candles, and in the beauty and sacredness of the chapel itself.
“Just being within the space of All Saints’ Chapel is magic in itself. The spoken word heard from many voices that make up the broader Sewanee community inspires the music that is performed throughout the service. And of course, after hours of rehearsal and months of service time together during the length of the Advent term, the students in the choir are able to share this perfected craft within the context of this most precious service.”
Special offerings this year will include organ music from Robbe Delcamp, who led the Lessons and Carols service from the conducting podium for 38 years.
“I am tremendously excited that he has agreed to be part of the 2021 Lessons and Carols services,” Ward said. “This year is also special as we are able to once again celebrate the service together in person at All Saints’ Chapel. Though we were able to make music and worship through a pre-recorded service during the pandemic that was released in December of 2020, let’s hope we never take our opportunities for live worship or performance for granted again.”
Two services, one at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 and another at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, will feature walk-up seating, and doors will open an hour in advance of the service. The Saturday evening service will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person. Masks are required and large bags or backpacks will not be allowed in All Saints’ Chapel.
There will be CDs available of the 60th annual service of Lessons and Carols for sale to support the choir in their preparation for a tour of England scheduled for May 2022. CDs are being sold through All Saints’ Chapel and the University Bookstore for $20. Please contact Ward for more information at <ghward@sewanee.edu>.