Good Shepherd to present Christmas musical Dec. 20-21

Posted December 01, 2014 10:00 pm

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Elgin will present the Christmas musical, "Were You There on That Christmas Night?," based on the Christmas anthem written by Natalie Sleeth in 1976. There will be two performances at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at the church, 195 Nesler Road in Elgin.

Both traditional and contemporary songs are included, including "Welcome to our World," All is Well, and "Sing We Now of Christmas." The Good Shepherd Bells will provide special music for the event. Nine-year-old boy soprano Gavin Dougherty and soprano Wendy Gorog will be featured soloists. Dakota Judson, Julia Burch and Wanda Sihanath will further enrich the program with creative dance choreographed by Kelly Hill. Barbara Russell and David Barth will provide the dramatic narration of the Christmas story throughout the musical. Russell is well known within the Good Shepherd family for her dramatic readings. Barth is experienced in communications and voice over recording work. The Bartlett resident is founder and director emeritus of the Sprit of Life Choir, and is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle.

The musical is presented to the glory of God by the Shepherd's Voice Choir and New Sound Singers, under the direction of Gary Lichthardt and Amy Hoffenkamp.

The Christmas musical, "Were You There on That Christmas Night" is the work of American composer and arranger Lloyd Larson. The popular Christmas choral piece by the same name was first written in 1976 by the late Natalie Sleeth, and has been sung by choirs around the world for nearly 40 years. Larson builds his Christmas musical around the anthem and includes traditional and contemporary music of the season in a tapestry of music that asks if we were all there on the night our Savior Jesus was born.

Worshippers will be given opportunity to sing carols of the season and the Rev. Steven Maske will deliver a short advent homily entitled, "Born in Your Heart Today!"

For information, visit www.goodshepherd-elgin.org or call (847) 741-7788.

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