Lessons & Carols Set for Saturday in RVC

The Diocesan Choir of Rockville Centre will present a service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 7 at 3:30pm at the Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre. Bishop William Murphy will preside. The 50 minute service consists of scripture readings, choral anthems, and hymns taken from the Advent season, proclaiming hope to a world waiting in darkness.

This year’s service will feature choral music by Felix Mendelssohn, George Friedric Handel, as well as contemporary composers Elizabeth Poston and John Ferguson. The service also includes several classic Advent carols, all of which are tied to the scripture readings that are read. One highlight of the service will be a dramatic reading of the Annunciation story, when Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel, revealing that she was to be the mother of Jesus. The lector who reads the story is accompanied by organ, trumpet, and choir. Throughout the service, the choir will sing from several different locations around the cathedral, and even completely surround the congregation to sing “in the round”.

The 100 members of the Diocesan Choir come from many different parishes throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. This season, in addition to singing for all the major Diocesan celebrations at the Cathedral, the choir will present Missa Gaia:Earth Mass on April 24 in conjunction with a new encyclical on the environment being released by Pope Francis, and in honor of Earth Day on April 22. The choir plans to celebrate their 25th Anniversary by making a choir pilgrimage to England and Ireland in June of 2016.

Following the service, there will be a reception in the Msgr. James P. Kelly Parish Center, to which all are invited. The Cathedral is located right next to the LIRR Station at 29 Quealy Place in Rockville Centre, and is handicap accessible. For more information go to www.drvc.org/diochoir or contact the Diocesan Worship Office at 678-5800, ext. 504. All are welcome!

Submitted by the Diocesan Choir of Rockville Centre

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