The sanctuary was full on Sunday evening, December 22, for the annual Christmas concert. The orchestra began the event playing familiar Christmas pieces, “Carol of the Bells” and “A Christmas Festival,” after which Dave Lambert welcomed the audience. Music Director Gary Riler then led the choir and orchestra in “Tapestry of Carols,” inviting the audience to sing along. The feature of the evening was the cantata “Wondrous Gift: The Treasure of Jesus.”

The theme of the musical was gift-giving at Christmastime, and one of the first songs addressed the struggle of “Picking the Perfect Present.” A quite energetic children’s choir sang the wise words, “Picking the perfect present should not be hard this year; a simple gift of ‘I love you’ is what loved ones long to hear.” The children did a wonderful job! They all hurried back to their seats after the song, except Elouise Tonning, who stayed to sing a beautiful solo in “What Can I Give Him?” The lyrics said “What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb” and concluded “Yet what can I give Him? Give Him my heart.”

The narrators for the evening, John Musgrave and his granddaughter, Charlie Ivany, spoke about the events that surrounded Jesus’ birth. The Jews had been anticipating the Savior and God sent Him in the most unlikely way—a tiny Baby born to a poor, young family. The next song, which included a duet by Julia Moberg and Marcus Luka, spoke of preparing one’s heart for the Messiah. Diana Baros was the soloist for a song describing the newborn King, “Jesus, You’re Beautiful.” Then the choir reminded the audience in song of the heavenly hosts who proclaimed Jesus’ birth in “Sing Gloria!” The last songs of the musical told that the gift God desires from mankind is their hearts. Chris Luka sang a solo in “Treasure of Jesus,” which talked about receiving God’s gift of love and sharing it with others.

At the end of presentation, Sola Adesope led in prayer, and the choir and orchestra repeated the final lines of the program, celebrating Jesus’ birth.