Lessons and carols coming to St. Mark’s this weekend

Atraditional sign of the holiday season in Lennoxville, the annual service of lessons and carols at Saint Mark’s Chapel is coming up this weekend on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.

“It’s modeled after the lessons and carols service at Kings College Cambridge that has been going on since the early 1900s,” said chapel choir director Sarah Heath. “We do it every single year.”

Heath explained that the special, candlelit service features traditional anthems sung by the choir as well as carols sung by all those in attendance, interspersed between nine different readings. This year the choir of students, community, and faculty has 18 members who will also be joined on certain songs by Nicolas Leblanc on trumpet and Stephen Sheeran on soprano saxophone.

As in past years, a freewill offering will be taken up during the service to support local charities. According to Heath, this year’s chosen causes are the Dixville Home Foundation, the Alexander Galt High School breakfast program, and the Lennoxville Elementary Christmas basket campaign. “All are welcome,” the choir director said, emphasizing the fact that parking on campus is free on the weekends. Heath also noted that this will be the first service of Lessons and Carols for the new campus minister, the Reverend Jesse Dymond. Saturday’s service will begin at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday’s will take place at 4:00 p.m.