La Canada Presbyterian Church to Present Christmas Concert

Familiar Christmas carols will be performed by a cast of more than 100 singers and musicians, with opportunities for audience sing-along, as the La Canada Presbyterian Church presents “What Shall We Give Him?” on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2:00 p.m. in the LCPC Sanctuary.

The free concert will be a multimedia event, featuring movie excerpts, video clips and pictures of favorite Christmas images. It will be narrated by actor Courtney B. Vance, a La Canada Flintridge resident.

“It’s a program that tells the Christmas story in songs and words that will touch adults and children of all ages,” said Jack Lantz, LCPC’s Director of Music and Worship Arts, who will direct the Chancel Choir, LCPC Orchestra and Exultate Ringers handbell choir.

The program “will cross stylistic, ethno-musical and cultural boundaries to present all facets of the Christmas story,” Lantz promised. It will include, for example, the traditional English carol “Christmas Is Coming,” the American carol “Away in a Manger,” the Catalonian carol “How Far Is It to Bethlehem?” and the Caribbean carol “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.” For added spice, the orchestra will perform a new, high-octane medley of English, French, German and American carols from British composer Nigel Hess.

To underscore the family-friendly nature of the concert, the Worship Arts Center, adjacent to the Sanctuary, will be set up for young children to watch the concert on a big screen and engage in Christmas activities. Separately, child care will be provided for infants and very small children.

Popular carols in the concert will include “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night.”

Through the generosity of the Mae Douglas Memorial Fund, the concert is free. However, a free-will offering will be received to defray the expenses of LCPC’s Ovations Arts concert series.

La Canada Presbyterian Church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd. For additional information, visit lacanadapc.org or call the church office at (818) 790-6708.