Christmas Eve ChoirNote

Dear Choir of Hope.

"Choir of Hope" What a perfect name for this moment in the year when Hope  comes again in a stable in Bethlehem.

At the Mass during the darkness of the  Night of the Nativity, Christmas Eve, (December 24th)

the Psalmists, Ramon and Jerome will  cry out the command from Psalm 95 in two languages:  

                                                   O sing to the Lord all the earth,

                                                   Tell among the nations his glory

                                                  and his wonders among all the peoples.

And that is exactly what the Choir of Hope and members of the Coro Hispano will be living out Christmas Eve at Christ Our Hope!   Thanks to the rich diversity of our choir "the nations" "all the peoples" "all the earth" are represented in Choir of Hope

• We will "Sing to the Lord" in Spanish;
• We will "Tell among the nations his glory” in English;
• We will preach "His wonders among all the peoples" in  rhythms and melodies born in Africa and carried to America  by singers of color;
• We will sing again in Latin  the song the Angels sang to the Shepherds;
• We will welcome the Light of Christ in Tagalog;

• I suspect Marc will say a prayer for Choir of Hope in a language of Europe while he is visiting his family.
• Perhaps Obi will say a pray for us in a language of Africa.
• Crystal might say a pray for us in  a language of Asia. 
• Daniela and Salvador will certainly pray for us while visiting family  in Central America.
• I know Elizabeth will be united with her beloved Jess in inviting the Angels of Heaven to join in our song.  

I am looking forward with excitement to our Great Celebration on Christmas Eve

• When we begin the prelude in Tagalog,
• continue with our own Mary's Praise Song for Christmas,
• open the Mass with a rousing O come all ye faithful, mostly in English, but with a Spanish verse and a Latin refrain, 
• Continue the Mass with songs in English, Spanish and a Latin Gloria in Excelsis Deo 
• conclude the celebration with a rousing, hand-clapping, tambourine-playing, Calvalita and Jerome led, Charlotte brilliantly accompanied, Dance of Joy for all Peoples:

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born

December 24th, Rehearsal 9:00 Sharp!; Mass 9:30; Choir Dress, Black or White or Black and White. With Festive ties for the Gentlemen and, if wanted, Festive scarfs for Ladies.??

My O My, you were the living, breathing, singing reality of a Choir filled with Hope last evening.   We missed, of course, our choristers who could not be with us, but the group that came had a well balanced  sound, a focused sense of purpose, a commitment to hard work. An excellent ensemble!

• JoAnn, Selena and Mary supplied a unified soprano for the ensemble;
• Luc, Fe, Pris, with Cora  supplied our Filipino core sound;
• Cora, Issabella,  Kathy,  held on to the alto line valiantly;
• Ramon and Jerome provided a rich foundation;
• and the Contraliti Jani, Catheen, Calvalita with the  tenors--Jamie, Daniel B., Daniel K., were wonderful and full and exciting,
• Thomas coached our vocal sound with beauty and musical grace;
• Our Christmas Eve pianist, Charlotte, played with verse, musical excellence, stylistic appropriateness providing a superb support and encouragement for Choir of Hope.

See you Christmas Eve,

Jbs