BETHLEHEM — Central Moravian Church will present a Festival of Carols on Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in a program featuring choral and instrumental music to welcome the holiday season.

The concert will include an organ prelude, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” by Rebecca Lepore, minister of music at Central Moravian Church; the church choir on anthems and choruses by Felix Mendelssohn, G.F. Handel, John Rutter and Dan Forrest; Mainstreet Brass on a new set of Roger Harvey arrangements for Advent; and congregational hymns, including “Morning Star,” a cherished Moravian Christmas tradition.

“Central Moravian Church is happy to open its doors and invite the Lehigh Valley and visitors to Bethlehem to enjoy carols and fellowship as we prepare for the busy Christmas season,” Lepore says. “We hope this gift to our community will help spread the message of God’s love through music and word.”

Admission: Free. Doors will open at 1 p.m.

Central Moravian Church, founded in 1742, is Bethlehem’s first congregation and the oldest Moravian Church in North America. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and traditions, the congregation today joins together to experience God’s love in a caring, respectful and inclusive atmosphere. Central Moravian Church emphasizes Christian faith, hope and love.

With a rich, living musical tradition, Central Moravian Church presents a full schedule of concerts annually. Early American Moravians had close connections to their European roots and sought and performed contemporary music being composed in Europe. Haydn’s “The Creation” was performed for the first time in the United States in the sanctuary of Central Moravian Church in 1811, and the first complete performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor was presented at Central in 1900, thus giving Central Moravian Church status as a National Landmark of Music.

Visit https://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/season/advent-christmas/ for a complete listing of Advent and Christmas activities at Central Moravian Church.

Information provided to TVL by:
Bryan Hay