A beloved Greenwood Christmas tradition will be held at 7 p.m. Monday.
First Presbyterian Church will present its 38th annual Singing Christmas Tree.
The long-running event continues to bring out a crowd. Last year, all the bleachers were full and many stood to watch the Singing Christmas Tree.
“I think the community still views it as meaningful and a traditional kick off to the holiday season right after the parade,” said Ray Smithee, the church’s director of music and organist, referring to Friday’s Roy Martin Delta Band Festival and Christmas Parade.
The Singing Christmas Tree program is the church’s “Christmas gift to the Greenwood community,” he said.
About 100 singers — both children and adults — will adorn the 20-foot structure in the parking lot across from the church’s sanctuary, near the corner of Main and Washington streets.
The Singing Christmas Tree features about 1,500 lights, all individually controlled for color and sequencing. During the performance, the tree will glow brightly in shades of white, gold, blue, green and red. During a few songs, each bulb will even flash a different color.
This year’s event will feature a new script compiled by Smithee. The program is titled “The Glory of Christmas!”
“Approximately 85 percent of the music is new for this year as well,” said Smithee.
Although the songs will be different, they’ll be familiar Christmas carols. Some favorites will continue to be performed, such as “Night of Silence/Silent Night” by Daniel Kantor.
“‘Night of Silence’ is a favorite of this congregation,” said Smithee. “We do it for the tree, and we also sing it during Christmas Eve service, so we had to include that.”
Solos include Connie Black singing “O Holy Night” from the top of the tree and Shannon Melton singing “Mary, Did You Know?” by Mark Lowry.
At the base of the tree, the Children’s Choir of First Presbyterian Church will perform “Praise to the Infant King” by Dennis Allen.
Returning from years past is “The Little Drummer Boy.”
Handbells will also be incorporated in the program.
Clint Guenther and his daughter, Eleanor Braswell, will serve as the narrators.
The program also features a living Nativity scene with a biblical retelling of the birth of Jesus.
Josh Beattie will play the drums, and Smithee will be at the keyboard. Randy Clark will direct the tree.
The Singing Christmas Tree participants rehearse once the day before the production.
“It’s always a lot of fun in rehearsal,” said Smithee. “People sit and visit. We laugh. Funny things happen, and funny things are said.”
The tree is a way for new members to meet and get to know more of the church’s congregation. It’s also, for many, the continuation of a family tradition.
“A lot of the people who have young families now grew up in the church singing on the tree,” said Smithee. “So that tradition is continuing for them and their families. In a lot of instances, we have grandparents, children and grandchildren singing.”
In the event of rain, the performance will be rescheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 10.
•Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
What: Singing Christmas Tree
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: The parking lot across from First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and Washington streets
Details: In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 10.
