102nd Annual Candlelight Carol Service at First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church of Englewood will hold its 102nd Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday, Dec 15, at 4 p.m. Directed by Dr. David Macfarlane, this holiday concert will feature the Chancel Choir, youth choral groups, soloists,  brass and percussion instrumentalists performing traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.  

Dr. Macfarlane, FPC's music director and organist, said, "this holiday concert has been a go-to event for the whole community for generations of Bergen County residents and each year there is always something new at this traditional service." In addition to the familiar carols, works by Rutter, Spencer and Willcocks will be heard. 

Performers include local musicians Karen Stern on the harp and flutist Margaret Swinchoski, plus a Manhattan brass quintet and timpany. The soloists, lyric soprano Sandra Ruggles, baritone Ryan Allen, and soprano Iris Karlin, have been a part of FPC's musical programs for years and also perform professionally at such venues as the  New York City Opera,  Metropolitan Opera, Caramoor Festival, and New Jersey Symphony. 

The Chancel Choir, known for their perfomances of large-scale works, will bring the strength of their voices to this popular concert. They were recently featured singing the Brahms "German Requiem" with the Bergen Symphony Orchestra. 

The service concludes with the traditional lighting of candles and the singing of "Silent Night." Audience participants will be given hand candles so that they can join in the singing of this final carol. 

All are welcome to come to this historic church and enjoy Christmas services in a traditional building with an up-to-date atmosphere. The beautiful Victorian Gothic Revival First Presbyterian Church, with its splendid holiday decorations, has excellent acoustics with light flowing through from the Tiffany and LaFarge stained glass windows. First Presbyterian Church is at 150 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood, NJ . For more information visit the website at www.englewoodpres.org or call 201-568-7373. 

The above information was submitted by The First Presbyterian Church of Englewood.