Enjoy Advent Lessons and Carols at St. Charles church Dec. 3

On Sunday, Dec. 3, St. Charles Episcopal Church, 994 N. Fifth Ave., hosts its annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 p.m., featuring the parish choir and instrumentalists. Admission is free.

A beautiful respite from the stresses of December, the St. Charles' choir and instrumentalists present the Advent message of anticipation and grace through meditative anthems, poignant readings, and carols sung by the gathered congregation - all in the grand English style.

Join them as the St. Charles choir proceeds literally and symbolically from darkness into light.

Music by the choir of St. Charles Church, directed by Mark Downey, will include great choral music in the Anglican tradition by Gerald Near, J.S. Bach, Paul Manz, Jacob Handl, and Richard Proulx, as well as Advent carols and hymns for the congregation.

The St. Charles choir is well known in the area as a mixed choir in the Royal School of Church Music tradition. The result is a sound of wide dynamic range and beautiful expression.

The event is presented by Sacred Music at the Red Door, St. Charles Episcopal Church's gift to the community of St. Charles, and is a grand conclusion in the 2017 season. The series has helped to establish St. Charles as a destination for those seeking musical refreshment and excellence, drawing on the existing strengths of the choir and guest artists, Georgian architecture, the Howell 21-rank organ, and Anglican heritage.

The church is wheelchair accessible and has ample free parking. For information, visit www.stcharlesepiscopal.org, call (630) 584-2596, or email mdowney807@gmail.com.