The annual Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Williams College will be held in Thompson Memorial Chapel on Saturday, December 3 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The 7 pm service will be live streamed and available on WilliNet. Here is the link to the LIVE STREAM of the 7 pm service. The service program may be found here.
Please come for a quiet and reflective evening of Christmas and seasonal music performed by students from the Williams Concert and Chamber Choirs under the direction of Anna Lenti, Lyell B. Clay Artist in Residence and Director of Choral/Vocal Activities and Lecturer in Music.
Students, faculty, and staff from the College, and members of the local community will read traditional “lessons” from the Bible interspersed with Christmas carols and seasonal music. Students from Williams Catholic will offer A Prayer for the World and Chaplain to the College, the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer will offer a meditation on Luke 2.
A free-will offering of money is received at the conclusion of the service. This offering will support the Berkshire Immigrant Center and Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts in support of their efforts to resettle refugees. Please bring a canned/non-perishable food item for a donation to local food pantries! Reception of Cookies and Tea following both services in Griffin 3.
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 ambiance of mystery, splendor, hope and joy.” The Service of Lessons and Carols has been a beloved holiday tradition at Williams since the 1960’s.
There is no admission charge for the service but all are encouraged to bring an item of non-perishable canned or packaged food for local emergency food pantries. Collection boxes will be in the rear of Thompson and in Griffin 3.
Megamenu Social