Allamakee Ecumenical Choir to present 45th annual “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at St. John's Lutheran Church
To perform this Sunday at annual Ecumenical Choir Concert ... Pictured above are the members of the Heartland Barbershop and Gospel Singers, a group that regularly sings at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon and that will be featured at the Ecumenical Choir Concert this Sunday, December 12 at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church. This men’s group has sung at a variety of community functions and the group’s repertoire consists of a variety of selections ranging from “The Star Spangled Banner” to “The Lord’s Prayer” to “Sweet Caroline”. The group’s music has been heard as far away as the Virgin Islands. Left to right are: Front row - Jeff Goettel, Jon Payne, Cameron Berges, James Bieber, Brian Bieber; Back row: Randy Johnsen, Josh Grau, Jonathan Buhl, Gregory Hagensick. Submitted photo.
Live-stream viewing option also available Sunday
The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir will present its 45th Annual Candlelight Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols Service this Sunday, December 12 at 7 p.m. The service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church located at 8 Fifth Street SW in Waukon.
Local clergy will be reading the lessons. Christmas carols will be sung by the congregation. Choral numbers will be presented by the Ecumenical Men’s Choir (also known as the Heartland Barbershop and Gospel Singers) and a Women’s Ensemble. Music will also be provided by the St. John’s Handbell Choirs, Waukon High School Brass Quintet, and Baritone Horn Soloist Shauna Johnsen. The program is under the direction of James Bieber with assistance from his daughter, Sarah Bieber, Choral Director at Waukon Middle School and Waukon High School.
The public is invited to attend this community celebration of Christmas in-person at St. John’s Lutheran Church for a unique Christmas music experience. For at-home viewing and listening pleasure, the service will also be live-streamed on Facebook and can be heard on KNEI Radio 103.5. A rebroadcast of the Ecumenical Concert can be heard on KNEI Radio Christmas Eve, December 24 at 12 noon.
The Allamakee Ecumenical Choir presents the...
45th Annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols
featuring the Heartland Barbershop and Gospel Singers
Director/Organist: James H. Bieber; Assisted by Sarah J. Bieber
Sunday, December 12, 2021, 7 p.m.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Waukon, Iowa
Pre-service Music: Waukon High School Brass Quintet
Procession of Bells: HE IS BORN, Arr.: Mitchell Eithun; Youth Bell Choir
Welcome: Rev. Bryan Robertson
Prelude: PAT A PAN, Arr.: Linda R. Lamb; Youth Bell Choir
Procession of Singers: MEDIEVAL GLORIA, Vijay Singh; Men’s Choir
Congregational Carol: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Prayer: Rev. Bryan Robertson
Music: THE LORD’S PRAYER, Music: Albert Hay Malott; Arr: Joe Liles and Tom Gentry; Men’s Choir
THE LESSONS AND CAROLS
First Lesson: ISAIAH LX Rev. Laura Gentry
Carol: HERE COMES THE LIGHT, Arr: John Yane; Men’s Choir
Second Lesson: ST. LUKE i Rev. Laura Gentry
Carol: THERE IS FAINT MUSIC, Dan Forrest; Men’s Choir
Third Lesson: ST. MATTHEW i Rev. Kenneth Kimball
Carol: THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY, Arr.: John Nichola; Men’s Choir
Fourth Lesson: ST. LUKE ii Rev. Kenneth Kimball
Carol: AWAY IN A MANGER, William Kirkpatrick; Men’s Choir
Congregational Carol: PEOPLE LOOK EAST; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Special Music: WHAT CHILD IS THIS, Arr.: Brenda Austin; SING WE NOW OF CHRISTMAS, Arr.: Kevin McChesney; Senior Bell Choir
Special Music: A WINTER’S NIGHT, by Kevin McKee; Performed by Shauna Johnsen, Baritone Horn Soloist; Baritone Horn and Piano
Announcements: Rev. Bryan Robertson
Congregational Carol: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Choral Selection: AVE MARIA (Angelus Domini), Franz Biebl; Women’s Ensemble and Men’s Choir
Fifth Lesson: ST. LUKE ii Rev. Kim Gates
Carol: CHRISTMAS ANGEL, Carlynn Hanney; Men’s Choir with Greg Hagensick, Tenor Soloist
Sixth Lesson: ST. MATTHEW ii Rev. Kim Gates
Carol: DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR, Arr: Joe Liles; Men's Choir
Seventh Lesson: ST. JOHN i Rev. Bryan Robertson
Carol: ONE FAITH, ONE HOPE, ONE LORD, Craig Courtney; Men’s Choir
Candlelight Ceremony: SILENT NIGHT; Congregation and Men’s Choir
Prayer Rev. Bryan Robertson
Collect/Blessing Rev. Bryan Robertson
Congregational Carol: JOY TO THE WORLD; Choirs, Congregation and Organ
Postlude: CARILLON, Michael Bedford; Organ
PARTICIPATING CLERGY
Rev. Kim Gates, St. Paul’s United Methodist and Forest Mills United Methodist Churches, Waukon; Rev. Laura Gentry, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Lansing; Rev. Kenneth Kimball, Old East and Old West Paint Creek North American Lutheran Churches, Waterville; Rev. Bryan Robertson, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Waukon
VOCAL ENSEMBLES
Ecumenical Men’s Choir: Tenor 1 - Greg Hagensick; Tenor 2 - Brian Bieber, Jeff Goettel, Josh Grau; Baritone - Cameron Berges, James Bieber; Bass - Jonathan Buhl, Randy Johnsen, Jon Payne
Women’s Ensemble: Soprano 1 - Peyton Verthein, Madelyn Helgerson, Sarah Hagen; Soprano 2 - Hailey Houg, Judith Engle, Vickie Larson, Caitlyn Owen, Sarah Bieber; Alto - Hannah Teslow, Sarah Stock, Linda Halverson, Dawn Teslow, Sue Bieber
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH YOUTH HANDBELL CHOIR
Dalton Ellickson, Landon Ellickson, Hailey Houg, Lynsey Houg, Hannah Jeglum, Haylee Jeglum, Jonathan Marti, Emma Palmer, Sophia Palmer, Sarah Stock, Brandon Teslow, Hannah Teslow, Peyton Verthein
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH SENIOR HANDBELL CHOIR
Sarah Bieber, Sue Bieber, Sue Blagsvedt, Linda Groe, Sarah Hagen, Hailey Houg, Randy Johnsen, Vickie Larson, Jon Payne, Nona Sawyer, Chris Stuckman, Hannah Teslow, Sue Torkelson, Peyton Verthein
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Piano/Organ: James H. Bieber
Brass: Trumpet: James VanderVelden, Cael Rethwisch; Baritone Horn: Shauna Johnsen; French Horn: Jay Aldrich; Trombone: Cody Huinker; Tuba: Logan Lubahn
The concert will also be live-streamed on the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Waukon Facebook page, and broadcast both live and again Christmas Eve Day, December 24, at 12 p.m. on KNEI Radio (103.5 FM)
