First Presbyterian Church will hold its 41st annual Singing Christmas Tree beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The event is open to the public at no charge. Usually 300 to 350 people gather for a night of Christmas music.
“The community still really supports it,” program director Ray Smithee said.
Smithee, now in his 18th year at First Presbyterian, is responsible for writing the program, picking the carols to be performed and playing the digital piano for the performance.
“This is the largest intergenerational event we do at the church,” he said. “We have people all the way from sixth grade into their 80s.”
The Christmas tree performance encourages mingling by people who might not be together as much from week to week, especially with the post-performance refreshments for those on the tree.
“It’s fun. It’s probably the only thing the church does where everybody of all ages participates, so that makes it special,” said Randy Clark, who is conducting the choir this year.
The tree, which stands in the parking lot across from the main church building on Washington, was built in 1983. The structure, which holds about 100 people, was originally made of wood and didn’t include a place for lights to be attached.
The program at one time had to be memorized but now requires only one night of rehearsal, Smithee said. “They’re old hats at it, and we try to make it accessible and easy.”
It helps, too, that the Christmas tree now has lights on it — which are multicolored and can be individually controlled for effect — and performers can hold their songbooks in their hands instead of carrying lights.
Smithee and Clark described the event as an advent performance, in anticipation of celebrating the coming of the Christ.
“I hope it reinforces the religious nature of Christmas and the original story, as opposed to what society these days would have us think Christmas is about,” Clark said “Society is tugging at us to let the go of the religious aspects.”
The performance is scheduled to be outdoors, in the same lot where the tree sits. Smithee said bleachers will be set up in a crescent facing the tree.
“It’s just fun to get together, put on costumes, sing carols and climb up on the stand. This is (the church’s) Christmas gift to the community,” Smithee said.
Clark added that the Singing Christmas Tree tends to kick off the Christmas season for the church.
“We’re there to tell a story in music, and hopefully we get the message across,” he said.
Smithee said in previous years, the weather has been as cold as the 20s or hot enough that performers wore shorts beneath their robes. He advised spectators to watch the weather forecasts.
In the event of bad weather, the event will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 12.
- Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
