WILSON, N.C. — November 20, 2023 — Crisscrossed walkways lined with luminaries, the magic of a towering Christmas tree twinkling with lights, familiar Christmas readings shared aloud, and memory-stirring melodies filling the night air — this awaits all who plan to join the Barton College community for the much anticipated 2023 Lighting of the Luminaries, the Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree, and An Evening of Lessons and Carols. Ushering in the annual Season of Light, this long-standing Barton tradition will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
This year’s Lighting of the Luminaries will be especially meaningful as Barton College continues its semester-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the College’s motto, Habebunt Lumen Vitae, translated “They Shall Have the Light of Life,” from the Gospel of John 8:12. The campus community looks forward to sharing its “light” with the surrounding Wilson community on this special evening.
Beginning at 6 p.m., the campus and surrounding Wilson communities will come together to begin the festive celebration on Barton’s campus with the annual Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree. With approximately 2,500 luminaries lining 32 acres of the main campus, students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, friends of the College, and members of the Wilson community will gather in front of the Aileen and Bill Parish Plaza, outside Howard Chapel on center campus, for the outdoor program. There will be brief remarks by Chaplain Alysun Skinner and Barton College President Douglas N. Searcy, as well as music by the Barton College Choir.
Immediately following the Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree, there will be “An Evening of Lessons and Carols” in Howard Chapel. The chapel service will feature the Barton College Choir led by Sherry Lee Allen, choir conductor, director of theatre, and artist-in-residence for musical theatre. Musical selections will be interspersed with readings of scripture by members of the Barton community.
This promises to be a very special event to open the 2023 Christmas season.
For additional information about the Blessing and Lighting of the Christmas Tree or An Evening of Lessons and Carols, please contact Chaplain Alysun Skinner at alskinner@barton.edu or 252-399-6372 or Sherry Lee Allen at slallen@barton.edu or 252-399-6492.
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