The annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Williams College will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and 5 in Thompson Memorial Chapel. As always, the identical services will feature choral music by the College’s Concert and Chamber Choirs, congregational singing of familiar carols, and the traditional reading of the biblical Christmas story.

There is no admission charge for either service – but seating is limited. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

All are encouraged to bring an item of non-perishable canned or packaged food for local emergency food pantries. A free will offering will be received at the conclusion of each service for the benefit of several agencies doing the humanitarian work of compassion in the spirit of Christmas.

The Williams Concert and Chamber Choirs will perform an array of traditional arrangements as well as new settings of seasonal texts under the direction of Bradley Wells, Director of Choral/Vocal Activities and Lecturer in Music.  Student organists under the direction of Edwin I. Lawrence will play the Prelude (which begins at 3:40 p.m.) – and the Williams Handbell Choir will play a festive Postlude after each service.

College students, faculty and administrators and members of the local community will read the traditional Christmas lessons.  The Rev. Rick Spalding, Chaplain to the College, will deliver a meditation, and Fr. Gary Caster, Catholic Chaplain, will serve as liturgist.

The service, modeled on the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols first held on Christmas Eve in 1918 at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, has been described as one that “presents the Christmas story in an ambience of mystery, splendor, hope and joy.”  The Lessons and Carols service has been a beloved holiday tradition at Williams since the 1960’s.

Parking is available in the lot behind Thompson Memorial Chapel, on Hopkins Hall Drive.  For building locations on the Williams campus, please consult the on-line map at www.williams.edu/map/.