Join us for an inspiring interfaith Advent service
Community religious leaders and musicians from a variety of Cedar City area mosques, synagogues and churches will gather at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, December 3 at 7:00 p.m. for the community’s annual Advent Lessons and Carols Festival. The festival, hosted annually by St. Jude’s Episcopal Church consists of a series of readings and musical performances featuring the theme, “From Darkness into Light”
According to The Rev. Dr. Lee Montgomery, St. Jude’s vicar, celebrations of light began long before the advent of established religion. Long before official, recognized, observances came into being, primitive people gathered around campfires and struggled to hold back the darkness with bonfires built on wintery hilltops. Huddling together, they anxiously awaited the reappearance of life sustaining light and warmth. “It’s no wonder, then,” he said, “that as darkness hovers with the approach of the Winter Solstice, images of light fill our songs, our poetry, our stories and our symbols.”
“Celebrations of light are common to many religious traditions,” Montgomery added. “Just behind us is Diwali, a four-day celebration known as the Festival of Lights, observed by Hindus around the world. December 1 will be the First Sunday in Advent, a time of preparation for that day when Christian belief tells us the Light of the World was born in a lowly manger. Hanukkah, which begins on December 22 this year, is the Jewish Festival of Lights observed around the world. And just after Christmas, those of African heritage will affirm their principles for living by lighting the first of the seven candles of Kwanzaa.”
This year’s festive celebration, which begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Jude’s sanctuary located on 70 North 200 West, will feature a series of readings and music from a variety of religious traditions and perspectives. Its intent is to bring together representatives from all faiths and denominations to celebrate a season observed by virtually every major religion and to promote religious tolerance and understanding. The festival will feature readers, musicians and performers representing Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and the Bahai Faith.
The use of candles, luminarias, colored lights and other forms of illumination will also be a prominent feature of the program. “Our church will be inundated with light and music,” Montgomery said. “There will be readings from the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, Buddhist texts, and the Christian New Testament
Among the musical groups and artists featured in the program are the SUU Concert Choir, the Southern Utah Children’s Choir, and the Village Voices.
The Lessons and Carols Festival is free to the public and refreshments will be served following the program. For further information contact the Rev. Dr. Lee Montgomery at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church (435) 592-0034.
According to The Rev. Dr. Lee Montgomery, St. Jude’s vicar, celebrations of light began long before the advent of established religion. Long before official, recognized, observances came into being, primitive people gathered around campfires and struggled to hold back the darkness with bonfires built on wintery hilltops. Huddling together, they anxiously awaited the reappearance of life sustaining light and warmth. “It’s no wonder, then,” he said, “that as darkness hovers with the approach of the Winter Solstice, images of light fill our songs, our poetry, our stories and our symbols.”
“Celebrations of light are common to many religious traditions,” Montgomery added. “Just behind us is Diwali, a four-day celebration known as the Festival of Lights, observed by Hindus around the world. December 1 will be the First Sunday in Advent, a time of preparation for that day when Christian belief tells us the Light of the World was born in a lowly manger. Hanukkah, which begins on December 22 this year, is the Jewish Festival of Lights observed around the world. And just after Christmas, those of African heritage will affirm their principles for living by lighting the first of the seven candles of Kwanzaa.”
This year’s festive celebration, which begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Jude’s sanctuary located on 70 North 200 West, will feature a series of readings and music from a variety of religious traditions and perspectives. Its intent is to bring together representatives from all faiths and denominations to celebrate a season observed by virtually every major religion and to promote religious tolerance and understanding. The festival will feature readers, musicians and performers representing Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and the Bahai Faith.
The use of candles, luminarias, colored lights and other forms of illumination will also be a prominent feature of the program. “Our church will be inundated with light and music,” Montgomery said. “There will be readings from the Hebrew Bible, the Quran, Buddhist texts, and the Christian New Testament
Among the musical groups and artists featured in the program are the SUU Concert Choir, the Southern Utah Children’s Choir, and the Village Voices.
The Lessons and Carols Festival is free to the public and refreshments will be served following the program. For further information contact the Rev. Dr. Lee Montgomery at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church (435) 592-0034.