58th Festival of Christmas Features Over 300 Students and Alumni

More than 6,000 guests enjoyed Bethel’s 58th Festival of Christmas, themed “Our Sacrifice of Thanksgiving: A Service of Lessons and Carols.” Festival of Christmas is a Bethel holiday tradition featuring more than 300 student musicians in several vocal and instrumental ensembles.

This year—Artistic Director Dennis Port’s 20^th and final Festival of Christmas—over 60 Bethel Choir alumni returned to campus to sing in the program. The program was based on a beloved and longstanding tradition of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, where Christmas carols alternate with Scripture readings. The crowd was invited to stand and sing with the performers at several points during the program, and Professors Brent Adams and Angela Shannon read the nine original lessons from the Cambridge service.

One piece was written by Professor of Music Jonathan Veenker in honor of Dennis and Doris Johnson, in celebration of 50 years of marriage and their life-long support of Bethel University.

Visit the Bethel University Facebook page to see photos from the event. Purchase a CD recording of “Our Sacrifice of Thanksgiving.”