(November 24, 2015)

Annual Christmas Candlelight Service is December 4 at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College will host its annual Christmas Candlelight Service in Brown Memorial Chapel on Friday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m., with gathering music beginning at 5:30 p.m. This Centenary holiday tradition is free and open to the public, and the entire Shreveport-Bossier community is encouraged to attend.

Rev. Ken Irby, Shreveport District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, will offer a message. Also presiding over the service will be Louisiana's United Methodist Bishop, Rev. Cynthia Harvey, Centenary's President, Dr. David Rowe, and Chaplain of the College, Rev. Valerie Robideaux.

"I'm honored to be a part of this beautiful service, which has been a special start to the season for our family for years," says Irby. "The music and spoken word will explore the meaning of the eternal Christmas story — 'of the Father's love begotten ere the world began to be' — as it was made known in very specific ways. This town, this baby, these shepherds — what does such an incarnation mean for us, right now and into the future?"

Choral performances and congregational singing are a highlight of the early evening service. The Centenary College Choir under the direction of Dr. David Hobson, and Camerata, under the direction of Dr. Cory Wikan, will be accompanied by organist Dr. Hollice Watson and the I-49 Brass group. The service concludes as the entire congregation lights candles and sings "Silent Night" while processing out of the chapel.

A reception follows the service in the lobby of the College's Magale Library.

For more information about the Christmas Candlelight Service, please contact Chaplain Valerie Robideaux at vrobideaux@centenary.edu or 318.869.5029.