SK
Shannon Kelly
  • Class of 2013
  • Roselle, IL

Shannon Kelly Contributes to the Meaning of Christmas that shines through Lessons and Carols

2009 Dec 10

The Augustana Chamber Singers and Office of Campus Ministries will present the beautiful Christmas service Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 17, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Ascension Chapel (820 38th St.). The Quad-City community is invited to share in this free gathering, which honors Christ's birth through songs and Scripture readings.

Lessons and Carols is a tradition that began over 25 years ago. This year's service will include music by the Augustana Chamber Singers, the Augustana Handbell Choir and a small number of percussionists. The music will be interspersed with Bible readings by senior students in the campus ministries program. At the end of the service, the audience will be invited to sing "Silent Night" by candlelight, an annual part of Lessons and Carols and a long-standing tradition throughout the Christian world.

Shannon Kelly, is a first year from Roselle, IL majoring in general studies. Kelly will contribute to the service as a musician.

Pastor Richard Priggie, chaplain and director of campus ministries and one of the coordinators of Lessons and Carols, describes the atmosphere at Lessons and Carols as both simple and profound. "Withdrawing from the frenzy of the holiday season into the oasis of Ascension Chapel draws us back into the true meaning of Christmas- that God became human for our sake and continues to be born even into our world."

The Handbell Choir, which is open to all students, will perform the prelude music for the service and accompany the final hymn, "Silent Night." The Handbell Choir is open to all students and is directed by Larry Peterson, campus ministries' director of music.

The Chamber Singers is a highly selective choral ensemble, which performs under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty. The ensemble includes only 16 members, who will sing acapella, or without accompaniment. They will perform an assortment of traditional and lesser known Christmas hymns, including a few with audience participation.

Lessons and Carols does not require tickets or reservations. However, community members are advised to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the start of the service, since spacing can be limited.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.