Christmas at The Valley Set for Sunday, December 4

Lebanon Valley College invites you to attend the annual Christmas at The Valley holiday music program Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Handbell preludes will begin 45 minutes before the start of the event, followed by a series of organ preludes in anticipation of the “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” performance. 

This performance features musical selections from the College’s choirs and student musicians, along with dramatic readings of the Christmas story by LVC students, faculty, and staff.

Attendees can anticipate hearing a number of traditional favorites, such as “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Once in Royal David’s City,” and newer selections, such as “Hope for Resolution.” 

Organ students and the handbell choir, conducted by Dr. Shelly Moorman-Stahlman, College organist and professor of music, will play musical interludes throughout the evening. 

Dr. Michael Wojdylak, adjunct instructor of music, and Dr. Matthew Erpelding, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, will lead the choirs for the event. 

As the final selection of the evening, alumni from the choirs will be invited to join in the singing of the traditional English carol, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Admission is free and open to the public, but a free will offering will be collected to benefit Mission Central, an affiliate ministry of the United Methodist Church. Donations to this ministry are used to provide disaster relief for people in need in central Pennsylvania and beyond. Find out more at missioncentral.org. A portion of the donations is designated for the advancement of the service and volunteerism of Lebanon Valley College students. 

In the past, more than $50,000 has been raised in support of organizations such as Operation Santa Claus, which provides food, clothing, and toys for less fortunate families in Lebanon County during the holidays.

Viewers out of the area are invited to watch the 3 p.m. candlelight service live via LVCtv: www.lvc.edu/LVCtv. The 3 p.m. service is typically a standing room only event; please consider attending the evening service.

Christmas at The Valley first took place in 1954 under the leadership of Bishop Maynard W. Sparks ’27, Ed.M., the first to hold the title Chaplain of the College. That first service provided prayers and scripture reading prior to the LVC Concert Choir presentation of Camille Saint-Saëns’s “Christmas Oratorio” directed by Reynaldo Rovers, longtime professor of voice. Professor Robert Smith led the combined choirs and congregation in the singing of Christmas carols, beginning what is now a holiday tradition at The Valley.