Southern Wesleyan University Celebrates 25th Annual Lessons and Carols Service

12.20.24| bySWU Marketing

On Saturday, December 7, Southern Wesleyan University celebrated the beginning of the holiday season with its 25th annual Lessons and Carols service. Dr. William Barker welcomed the audience and spoke about how Southern Wesleyan University participates in the worldwide celebration of God coming to dwell among us, deliver us, and grant us enduring hope through the work of Jesus Christ.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols originated from the Christmas Eve service held in King's College Chapel at the University of Cambridge. Introduced in 1918, it was designed to offer a more imaginative approach to worship. The service was first broadcast in 1928, and is now aired to millions of people worldwide. The nine lessons from Scripture each tell a part of the salvation story-from the fall of humanity and the promise of the Messiah to the birth of Jesus. These lessons span from the book of Genesis through the prophets and conclude with the Gospels.

The opening carol, "Once in Royal David's City," is traditionally sung by a child, and this year was performed by Marrett Frisk. The readers included faculty, staff, students, and local leaders from the Central community including Town of Central Mayor Andrew Beckner, Town of Central Council Members Paige Bowers and Rev. Joe Moss, and former Representative Jerry Carter. Rev. Ken Dill, SWU Chaplain Emeritus, Town of Central Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem, orchestrated the entire Lessons and Carols program again this year, as he has been doing for 25 years at SWU. Musical performances were provided by the University Wind Ensemble, Professor Emerita Jane Dill, Dr. Amber James, Professor Lori Shelton, the University Concert Choir, and the University Singers.

As we reflect on this season of hope and giving, we pray that our community will continue to support the Faith & Future Fund, a new annual giving opportunity introduced earlier this year. This fund allows alumni, friends, parents, and donors to make an immediate impact on SWU students by supporting key campus initiatives, educational opportunities, and affordability for students.

As Dr. William Barker emphasized in his heartfelt message to donors before the event, every gift, regardless of size, is recognized as more than a donation to Southern Wesleyan University-"We recognize you have given a gift to Christ. You have given a gift in His name to see students' lives transformed by the goodness and the truth of God."

Our mission is to provide every student with a biblically faithful, academically rigorous, vocationally effective, and financially affordable education. The Faith & Future Fund helps us pursue that mission by allowing us to meet our most pressing needs. Contributions to this unrestricted fund support key campus initiatives, provide cutting-edge educational and faith-based opportunities, and make a Christian education affordable to students from all backgrounds.

Partnering with SWU is more than a donation-it is an investment in the future and a meaningful act of worship that honors the King we celebrate at Christmas.

We invite you to watch the video recording of this special event online and consider joining us in shaping the future of Southern Wesleyan University through the Faith & Future Fund. Together, we can make an immediate and lasting impact.

About Southern Wesleyan University
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused community that emphasizes inventive learning experiences. The university seeks to prepare its students as dedicated scholars and servant-leaders ready to impact the world. Visit www.swu.edu for more information on degree programs.

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