The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chattanooga invites everyone to a Christmas Musical Devotional on Saturday at 6 p.m. at 3067 Ooltewah Ringgold Road. The devotional will celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ through music.
Chattanooga Stake President John Griffey will preside, with opening remarks by 1st counselor Brian Silvenis. The Chattanooga Stake Choir and Guests will perform. The choir will be conducted by Kathy Wolfe, with accompaniment by Florence Ashby, Claude Walker, Susan Ward, and Galen Bell. The musical will include the use of bells, guitar, violins, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, organ and piano.
The choir will open with Carol of the Bells. The choir, small ensembles and soloists will favor the audience with such numbers as O Come, O Come Emmanuel, For Unto Us a Child is Born, Silent Night, The Night that Christ was Born, Mary’s Boy Child, Away in a Manger, Gesu Bambino, What Child is This?, Peace, Peace, Peace, Canto de Navidad, O Holy Night, The First Noel, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Joy to the World, and an original composition by Mary Bess Young, Sing to Our Savior King! The choir will also perform The Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.
The Hallelujah Chorus, taken from Revelation 19:16 and 11:15, is one of the world’s most glorious compositions. It is a sacred exclamation of joy and praise for Jesus Christ – the Lord God omnipotent – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – who triumphed over death and sin that we might be saved. Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal and only Begotten Son of God, the Redeemer and Savior of the human race. And He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah, praise ye The Lord.
When Handel completed this powerful song of worship, he reportedly said, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.” In 2016, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square and over 2,500 singers joined together for the world’s largest virtual collaboration of the Hallelujah Chorus. Kathy Wolfe said, “This epic video can still be accessed at https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/history-of-handels-hallelujah-chorus.html. We invite everyone to view it prior to our performance on December 14, 2019. We also invite everyone in the greater Chattanooga area to join with us this Saturday night in singing Joy to the World, the Savior reigns – as we prepare Him room in our hearts especially during this Christmas season.”
Narration for the musical devotional will be provided by Eric Ashby; visuals by Jaren and Brandi Fink; sound by David Ashby; posters and programs by Rebekah Seely; decorations by Marliese Montgomery, Gloria Neel and Christy Schuch.