"All is Calm, All is Bright"

On Christmas Eve of 1914, soldiers serving in Flanders were dug into their opposing trenches within shouting distance of their enemies. Spontaneously, in intermittent stretches along the line, the German soldiers began to raise small lighted trees atop their trenches and sing Christmas carols. English soldiers responded by singing carols of their own. The event lasted all through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There were accounts of gifts exchanged and an impromptu soccer match.

On Saturday, December 13 at 8pm, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Milton will host the Unicorn Singers and Broad Cove Chorus as they present “All is Calm, All is Bright.” Under the direction Margo Euler of Hingham,, the choruses will present musical selections highlighting the poignant and fleeting moments of the Truce which resonated for many and served as a powerful beacon of light and human kindness in an otherwise horrific conflict. Michael Theobald of Milton will deliver the narration and the audience is invited to sing the same carols soldiers exchanged 100 years ago.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased on St. Michael’s website at:

http://stmichaelsmilton.org/calendar/all-is-calm-all-is-bright/

or by calling the church office at 617-698-1813. St. Michael’s is located at 112 Randolph Ave. in Milton and is handicapped accessible.

The concert at St. Michael’s is one of three “All is Calm, All is Bright,” concerts to be performed in the Boston/South Shore area this holiday season. Proceeds from the concerts will benefit the Wellspring Multiservice Center in Hull, MA which provides support and skills to people facing challenges to their financial, physical or emotional well-being in order to help them achieve independence and self-sufficiency. For more information on Wellspring Multiservice Center visit www.wellspringhull.org. For tickets or information on the Hingham and Cohasset performances call Kathy Reardon at 781-749-0162 or e-mail kreardon111@comcast.net.