Spectacular Christmas Cantata at Methodist Church

Do you remember when a trendy "gotta have" gift was a pet rock?

In a church concert next weekend, a clever new Christmas song, dramatized with the children's choir, has the current-day father baffled over items on his children's high-tech gift list. "You need a graduate degree in digital physics just to talk to the store sales clerk," the father moans.

It's a charming portion of a spectacular musical, "Noel, a Musical Collection of Christmas Moments," presented for seasonal uplift Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, at First United Methodist Church of Spring Hill.

The production includes several solos sung with the choir and orchestral accompaniment, including strings, synthesizer, saxophone, trumpet, flute, clarinet, trombone, piano and percussion, all smoothly tied together with narration and drama.

It is free and open to the public. A love offering will be taken. Infants and small children would be more comfortable tended to at home to with a sitter as the musical entails nearly 85 minutes of attention.

According to Music Director Jack Evans, the Christmas musical "noel," written by David T. Clydesdale and Deborah Craig-Claar, "is one of the finest Christmas cantatas written because the musical selections are so well composed and intertwine so many familiar Christmas songs and carols, making it very appealing to the audience."

Evans said that the Chancel Choir has been rehearsing this music since May, and the children's choir and drama team began practicing their parts in September.

Professional musicians, who have degrees from music schools throughout the country, will augment the close harmony and challenging compositional arrangements.

Drama Director Cherie Gamble, a church member for 13 years and a fourth-grade teacher at Nature Coast, is in charge of drama, narration, props, costumes and coordinating the production. "We have 25 children in their own choir, ages first through fifth grades, "she said. "They will be wearing the handmade seasonal vests, and older youth will be in the drama team. It all represents weeks and weeks of preparation and rehearsal on their parts, and supportive parents transport and encouragement.

"One part I relish is during the Nativity scene. Imagine ushers lighting candles in darkness and candles being lit by passing the flame throughout the congregation. We can comfortably seat 900 each performance by adding the balcony. How grand and beautiful and moving that finale will be!"

The elaborate sound system and lighting ensures clarity, overseen by sound engineer Monte Evans.

Music in the first portion includes secular favorites, such as "up on the Housetop" and a medley of "Jingle Bells," and a "Swingin' to the Sounds" sampling done in a swing band style.

The second section of the musical tells the story of the birth of Jesus is told in a unique and beautiful way, according to Helen Evans, who is the director of the children's choir and the wife of the director. "Using the weaving of lyrics and scripture, the cantata leaves the audience with a hushed candlelight benediction that invites everyone to 'Come Let Us Adore Him.' "

Lead Pastor Bill McLoud will welcome the audience. He affirmed the "tremendous amount of talent and effort it has taken to participate in and produce this beautiful Christmas cantata as our gift to the church and community, in Jesus' name," he said. "It will be a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season and we invite you to come."

When do they meet?

Christmas Musical Cantata: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

Sunday worship services: 8 and 10:15 a.m.

Casual services Lighthouse: Sunday, 9 a.m.

Sunday school all ages: 9 a.m. Wed. family night: dinner, classes, choirs

Christmas Eve services: 5, 7 and 11 p.m.