The College’s annual “Service of Lessons and Carols,” an Advent service of readings, choral anthems, and congregational carols that culminates in a candle lighting ceremony will be held in the Vassar Chapel on Sunday, December 8.

This popular event is free and open to the public. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. A freewill offering will also be taken to support the College’s annual philanthropic campaign, Community Works, which provides funding to several Hudson Valley nonprofit organizations.

The program, co-sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices and the Department of Music, will feature Advent and scriptural readings and an ensemble of 170 singers, including the Vassar College Choir, Vassar College Treble Chorus, Cappella Festiva Chamber Choir, and Cor Capriccio Children’s Choir. This year’s event, organized especially around songs of peace, will feature the music of G.F. Handel, Jan Sandström, Felix Mendelssohn, Arvo Pärt, John Devorick, Hakan Olsson, and others.

The Lessons and Carols Choirs are under the direction of Drew Minter, Eduardo Navega, Christine Howlett, and Elizabeth Clifton, conductors. College organist and music faculty member Gail Archer will play the Gress-Miles organ. Archer is also the director of the music program at Barnard College and conductor of the Barnard-Columbia Chorus.