WILSON, N.C. — The Lighting of the Luminaries and the Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols, long-standing traditions for the Barton College community, will usher in the Christmas season on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The College family invites the surrounding community to join them for this festive celebration of events on campus.
The celebration will begin with a festive candlelight dinner served in the Hamlin Student Center Dining Hall at 5 p.m. Cost for the meal is $6 for adults and $3 for children and students not on the meal plan.
At 4 p.m., students will begin lighting 2,000 luminaries across 32 acres of the main campus, and at 6 p.m., students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the College, and members of the greater Wilson community will gather on center campus for the blessing and lighting of the Christmas tree. The outdoor program will include brief remarks by Dr. Norval C. Kneten, president of Barton College, and the Reverend Jamie Eubanks, chaplain of the College as well as musical selections performed by the Barton College Gospel Choir and the Sign Choir. There is no charge for the outdoor program.
Immediately following the blessing and lighting of the tree, participants will move to Howard Chapel for the annual Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols featuring the Barton College Choir led by music director Mark Peterson. The Choir will perform songs of the season by Rutter, Sjolund, Ord, and Dawson, among others. The musical selections will be interspersed with readings of scripture by members of the Department of Religion and Philosophy, with Rev. Eubanks presiding over the program. There is no charge for the choir program.
For additional information about the Lighting of the Luminaries program, please contact the Reverend Jamie Eubanks, chaplain of the college, at 252-399-6368. For additional information about the choir program, please contact Mark Peterson, director of music, at 252-399-6535.
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