{"id":5094,"date":"2021-12-14T12:49:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T18:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/?p=5094"},"modified":"2021-12-14T12:49:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T18:49:56","slug":"one-of-the-best-things-we-do-lessons-and-carols-kicks-off-the-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/?p=5094","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOne of the best things we do,\u201d Lessons and Carols kicks off the holiday season"},"content":{"rendered":"

A clutch of student greeters waited outside the the doors of Our Chapel of the Lord on Saturday Dec. 4, with a smile to welcome the Concordia University Chicago community back to the first live “Lessons and Carols” concert since 2019. The chapel was already buzzing with excitement for the performance to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following pre-service music from the Handbell Ensemble, the Chamber Orchestra, and organist Steven Wente, BA \u201875, MCM \u201876, the combined choirs filed into the chapel with the hymn \u201cOnce in Royal David\u2019s City.\u201d The two-hour worship service included Christmas classics like \u201cSilent Night\u201d and \u201cO Come, All Ye Faithful,\u201d along with a variety of other traditional and contemporary songs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The performance was the second of three worship services conducted over that weekend, <\/span>led by university pastor the Rev. Jeffrey Leininger, Ph.D., each showcasing six different musical groups and featuring nine guest readers.<\/p>\n

This was the first time the “Lessons and Carols” allowed a live audience after COVID-19 forced the chapel to close its doors to participants only, although CUC broadcasted the annual holiday concert online in 2020.\u00a0\u201cIt’s right that we be together celebrating the birth of our savior,\u201d said university president Russell Dawn, D.Phil. \u201cThen we do so with the words of scripture and the beauty of music, both of which are both gifts from God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kapelle soprano Joy Greco expressed a similar feeling when she entered the chapel to perform before the congregation. \u201cI was overwhelmed with joy the first time I walked in,\u201d said Greco. \u201cLast year, we had to film it, and there was no one in the chapel. It was just bare. It was wonderful having everyone there, and the congregation singing was amazing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Planning for the production began as soon as students arrived on campus in August. \u201cIt takes really all semester in terms of the music, since they begin working on things and planning for it several months in advance,\u201d Pastor Leininger said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Entering his twentieth year at CUC, Pastor Leninger feels grateful to be part of one of CUC\u2019s longest traditions. \u201cIt\u2019s the greatest joy of my work here to participate in this, and to have the excellent musicians, students, and faculty that are involved in it,\u201d said Pastor Leininger. \u201cThis is one of the best things we do, and it has a long rich history. I\u2019m just glad I can be a part of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The worship concluded with a candlelight choir performance of \u201cNo\u00ebl, No\u00ebl,\u201d\u00a0 which was composed by Carl Schalk HS \u201847, BS \u201852, who passed away this year. \u201cIt just had a whole new meaning this year, and it\u2019s such a beautiful song,\u201d said Greco. \u201cThen with the candlelight, it\u2019s so serene.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflecting on the service, President Dawn said that he was most moved by the Sixth Lesson highlighting the Holy Birth. \u201cThe beauty of \u2018O Magnum mysterium\u2019 combined with the profound truths in the word, and it\u2019s a mixture of English and Latin,\u201d said President Dawn. \u201cIt\u2019s typically profound to see it in the old language and our language.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After the worship service, the congregation members filled the chapel lobby and surrounding areas. With smiles on their faces, family members embraced one another and congratulated the participants for the excellent performance. \u201cI\u2019m extremely grateful for all the work that went into this,\u201d said President Dawn. \u201cThe student, staff, faculty, just lots of thoughtful and probably agonizing work because of the level of perfection. It was just beautiful and meaningful, and I just appreciate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pastor Leininger walked around and shook the hands of congregation members, and embraced the students who performed. \u201cWe\u2019re meant to be together, and it was a thrill to see everyone,\u201d said Pastor Leininger. \u201cThe Incarnation, which is God becoming flesh in baby Jesus, brings us together. So what better way to celebrate it than in person together?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A clutch of student greeters waited outside the the doors of Our Chapel of the Lord on Saturday Dec. 4, with a smile to welcome the Concordia University Chicago community back to the first live “Lessons and Carols” concert since 2019. The chapel was already buzzing with excitement for the performance to come. Following pre-service […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":5095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-campus-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spectator.cuchicago.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}