Christ Church Cathedral is giving back to the city through song.
The church is hosting its nine lessons and carols for Christmas, featuring the premier performance of a new carol commissioned by the cathedral for the occasion.
The Sunday afternoon event will include readings by local personalities Tony Parsons, Jack Knox, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Erin Cardone, Hudson Mack, Jody Paterson, Meribeth Burton and Jen Muranetz.
“It’s an old service that goes back a number of years. It’s a tradition and we put a different kind of a coating on it,” said Christ Church Cathedral Dean Logan McMenamie.
“Originally it was to reach out into the community, the world, to get people to come to church who would not normally come to church.”
Now though, the event includes local members of the media who take part in readings and includes a new carol written especially for the occasion.
This year’s carol is a collaboration by internationally acclaimed preacher, teacher and writer Herbert O’Driscoll, who wrote the words to the carol •••••A Poor Place This, and organist, conductor, composer Patrick Wedd, director of music at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal.
“The performance of the newly commissioned carol is always an exciting moment in this beautiful service,” McMenamie said.
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the readings and music of this annual tradition.
“We’re trying to do a lot,” said McMenamie. “Everyone, whoever they are, can come into the church and experience the beauty of the church, experience the beauty of the singing and the reading and financially support social justice.”
The event is Sunday (Dec. 18) at 4:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. All proceeds go to the Umbrella Society.
Christ Church Cathedral is located at the corner of Quadra and Rockland streets. For more information go to www.Christ Church Cathedral.bc.ca.