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First Baptist Church to light Chrismon tree this Sunday Sunday, November 26, will mark the fifteenth anniversary of welcoming the Christmas season at the First Baptist Church by the lighting of the Chrismon tree in the sanctuary of the church. The service will begin at 7:00 p.m. The public is invited. As the tree is decorated the participants and congregation are reminded of eternal life symbolized by the beautiful evergreen tree placed in the sanctuary to enhance the spirit of worship during the holy season. The tiny white lights are to remind that Christ is the "Light of the world." The program this year, titled The Christmas Lamb, centers around a beautiful narrative told by an aging shepherdess as she remembers the night. "I was just a girl of six when I first met the Lamb of God," she says. The narrative is interspersed with lovely musical numbers. A plaintive flute solo, I Wonder As I Wander played by Sarah Peacock, precedes the first narration. Vocal soloists for the evening are Patricia Burton singing The Little Road to Bethlehem and Tom Duggan, O What A Beautiful Name. Elizabeth Duggan is soloist with the youth choir as they sing Mary, Did You Know? Other familiar songs include Do You Hear What I Hear? by a ladies ensemble; Hurry, Hurry to Bethlehem by a men's ensemble; and The Friendly Beasts by a girls ensemble from the children's choir. The congregation will have an opportunity to sing several beloved carols. The Senior Choir will close the narrative with the moving Glory to the Lamb of Christmas. Frances K. Spencer of Danville, Va., originated the Chrismon ornaments which will be placed on the tree. The ornaments first appeared on a tree in the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville 50 years ago. "Chrismon" is a combination of two words, CHRISt and MONOgram. Since that time many new symbols have been developed by churches and families around the country. All of the ornaments tell who He is, what He is like, and still other designs by representation tell what he did. Chrismons are made of white and gold only. White reflects Christ's purity and perfection and gold refers to the majesty and glory of our Lord. The monograms, symbols and representations that are used, are not new. Their basic designs are centuries old, some as old as the Bible itself. They are the heritage of all Christians. The program will conclude with a reverent time of lighting candles and the singing of Joy to the World as the tree is lighted. Following the program, everyone is invited to a reception in the Mary Callaway Burton Fellowship Hall. A nursery will be provided.
Patricia B. Burton is director of music at First Baptist. Jane R. Newsome is organist; Mrs. Burton and Peyson Moss are piano accompanists.
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