Free community Christmas concert brings area musicians together to benefit local food pantries

MT. MORRIS , Ill. (November 14, 2013) — For the ninth year, a free community Christmas concert, sponsored by three churches in Mt. Morris, is drawing musicians from this region to celebrate the holidays and support local food pantries. A Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented Sunday, December 8, at 3:00 pm, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church , 308 East Brayton Road in Mt. Morris . The concert is presented free of charge to the public, although a freewill offering will be taken to support local food pantries Loaves and Fish Food Pantry in Mount Morris and Lifeline in Oregon.

The concert will feature more than 40 singers from communities throughout Ogle and Lee counties. The orchestra is comprised of six wind instruments, percussion, piano, organ, harpsichord and hand bells. Thirty minutes before the concert begins, there will be prelude music by Karen Larson, Lisa Suttman, Joanne Miller, Dr. Matt Guschl, a chime choir, directed by Melanie Clements and Dr. Matt Guschl, The Blackhawk Brass quintet, directed by Andy Eckardt, and Prairie Strings Orchestra, directed by Jennifer Peterson. During the offertory, the Community Youth Choir will sing, directed by Karen Larson.

This year’s concert will be an arrangement of many beloved and some less-known Christmas carols directed by Carol Reckmeyer and Nellie Winters. Karen Larson and Joanne Miller will accompany on piano, organ and technics. Nelson Miller, who originated the community Christmas cantata in 2004, is again serving as music director and producer.

The concert will conclude with the congregation invited to join the choir to perform Handel's Hallelujah chorus, a tradition begun in 2004 that remains an annual highlight.

The free community concert is sponsored by the Disciples United Methodist Church (815-734-4853), Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren (815-734-4573) and Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Morris (815-734-6354). For more information go to www.disciplesumc.org, www.mtmcob.com or www.trinitymm.net.