Lessons and Carols: Tuesday Evening

          Each year during Turkey Term—the short period between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break—the School holds a candlelit service known as Lessons and Carols in the Edith Memorial Chapel. This year, the event will occur on Tuesday, December 17. The service will open with a welcome from Acting Co-Head of School Marquis Scott, followed by the classic carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by Adeste Fideles,  before a bidding prayer from the School Chaplain, Reverend Dr. Violet L.D. Lee. The evening will then progress to student readings of the Scripture, as well as carols performed by the Lawrentians and the Lawrenceville Singers, before concluding with remarks from Acting Co-Head of School and Dean of Faculty Emilie D. Kosoff H’88 ‘94 ‘96 ‘00 ‘18 ‘20 P’19and a final Benediction from Lee. 

          The Lawrentians and Lawrenceville Singers, led by Director of Music Robert Palmer, will perform several pieces they have been working on since the start of Fall Term. Palmer shares that he is excited to invite alumni members of The Lawrentians to sing “Sure on This Shining Night,” a piece that was a staple in the choir pre-Covid-19 and will now be making a return. Additionally, during practice sessions, he has enjoyed the opportunity to “see and hear the development in the singers as they become more confident with the music.”.

          Arden Chang ’27, a member of the Lawrenceville Singers, explains that since the beginning of this academic school year, she has been looking forward to this event. Chang only attended the event last year, and recalled “how it [brought] our community together and [created] a really positive and loving atmosphere.” Chang looks forward to embracing the joyfulness of the season and being surrounded by her friends and peers. 

          Student speakers are also preparing for this upcoming service. Madison Sylvan ’26 plans to read “Genesis 3:1-15, Adam and Eve Rebel Against God and are Cast Out of the Garden of Eden,” alongside several of her peers. She chose to speak at the event after “Lee heard [her] singing in the Fall Musical…and said that she would love for [Sylvan] to read at Lessons and Carols.” Sylvan has participated in the choir for two years and expressed her love for Lessons and Carols. To Sylvan, Lessons and Carols represents “home and community” as well as Christmas and anticipation to return home for the holidays. When asked to describe the service in only a few words, Sylvan echoed Chang’s sentiment that the program fosters a space of “bright[ness] and community.”

          As the year comes to a close, Lessons and Carols is a time to usher in the holiday season and new year. To students on the fence about attending, Palmer advises that it is “not really like any other time of the year at Lawrenceville,” and students should take advantage of this opportunity to be together and appreciate the beauty of the Chapel. Chang and Sylvan both agree that this is an event not to miss.

          “No matter how much work [you] have, [you] should still go because it’s honestly the most beautiful thing that happens at Lawrenceville,” concluded Sylvan.