First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville is presenting a special musical offering to the community in the form of Lessons & Carols, a traditional service of sacred music, Christmas carols and scripture readings designed to help usher in the Advent and Christmas seasons. 

Featuring the First Presbyterian Church Choir and an ensemble of noted area musicians, including a brass quintet from Florida State University, Lessons & Carols is scheduled for Wednesday evening, December 11, under the direction of Dr. Iain Quinn, FPC Director of Music and Organist. Senior Pastor Dr. Timothy H. Filston will lead prayers during the service.  

The prelude and seating begin at 6:30 p.m. in First Presbyterian’s historic church sanctuary, located at the intersection of Dawson and Jackson streets. The public is invited to attend, and a festive holiday reception will follow the service. There is no admission charge.

Given its historic legacy and traditions, the service provides a perfectly paired lead-in to Thomasville’s annual Victorian Christmas celebration, which begins the next day.

“The service of Lessons and Carols developed in the latter part of the English nineteenth century and was intended as a service that everyone in the community could attend,” Quinn said.

“The balance of scriptural readings and music allows those attending to experience the spoken message of Christmas while also hearing the response of composers to that same message. Services of Lessons and Carols have been held at First Presbyterian Church since 1932. We know the service is highly anticipated in the community, and the choir is greatly looking forward to this annual celebration.”

“We have been blessed with a corpus of wonderful music of several styles that means every year we can draw on glorious pieces,” Quinn added.

“We often find that many people have a particular favorite choral piece they’re looking forward to hearing because each piece brings a particular image of the Christmas story to mind.”

Along with members of the Chancel Choir, musicians contributing to the service include Dr. Karl Barton, flute of Thomas University; Tyler Duncan and Julia Bell, trumpet; Samantha Gowen, horn; Bradley Snyder, trombone; and Brandon Smith, tuba from Florida State University.

The 6:30 p.m. prelude showcases works by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach for flute and organ with Dr. Barton and organ music by Franz Liszt and Dieterich Buxtehude. The 7 p.m. service includes choral works by John Rutter, Felix Mendelssohn, Richard Runciman Terry  and John Gardner, among others, as well as familiar hymns and carols, such as “Once in Royal David’s City,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “O, Come, All Ye Faithful,” with arrangements by David Willcocks.