Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will again be presented at the Gualala Arts Center Coleman Auditorium on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24 from 5 pm to 6 pm. Admission is free.

During this annual community event, the audience will join in singing the nine carols, all old favorites familiar to many. Interspersed with the carols, clergy and readers representing most of the coast faith communities share Bible passages that tell the Christmas story. Don Krieger provides musical accompaniment. Community favorite Sita Milchev returns to sing a special carol.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols follows the format offered since 1918 at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England. The Festival was introduced to bring a more imaginative approach to worship, and is accessible and inviting to people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols continues to be offered at King’s College Chapel and has been broadcast by the BBC since the 1930’s. The service was first held on the Mendonoma Coast in 1992, and is now in its 27th year, with programs held at Gualala Arts since 1998.

Seating is limited and quickly fills up, so plan to arrive early.

Donations are welcomed, and those received will go to support the South Coast Crisis Aid (also known as South Coast Crisis Line). These donations are the primary source of funding for SCCA, supporting emergency food, fuel, bus transportation and lodging assistance throughout the year via vouchers distributed by local clergy and Action Network in Gualala and Point Arena.