As the first snows of the year surround us, the Gustavus campus is lively with preparations for this year’s Christmas in Christ Chapel. While students, faculty, and staff put in the countless hours of rehearsal that this service requires – as they have for nearly 50 years – this is a time to reflect on the hope, joy, wonder, and life that is so palpable during the Christmas season.
This year’s theme, Celestial Wonder, Joy Unfolding, allows us to do just that. The service will be bold and dynamic, filled with magnificent performances from three choirs, the symphony orchestra, and handbells, blended with imaginative dancing and spoken word. The service centers Mary, mother of Jesus, and her cousin Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, as they discover with joy and wonder the news of their prospective motherhood. Their story will be told with an emphasis on the hope that the celestial realm of planets, stars, and the universe beyond human comprehension evokes in all of us.
The performances will express these elements visually and spectacularly, through multicolor spinning orbs and clouds suspended from the ceiling, along with light and color splashed across the walls of the Chapel. The students play the most important role in conveying these themes, performing music, dance, and spoken word pieces from a wide palette of moods and genres. From the grand to the intimate, “Our efforts will invite all of creation to join in the celebration,” artistic director Chad Winterfeldt said. “We want to unfold from our tired bodies and joyfully sing, play, move, and speak with renewed energy.”
A limited number of tickets remain for all four Christmas in Christ Chapel services being offered this year. You may also purchase tickets for the holiday buffet, which is back by popular demand for the first time in two years! Purchase tickets at the Gustavus Tickets website. Please call the Marketing Office at (507) 933-7520 with questions.
On Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m., the Celestial Wonder, Joy Unfolding performance will be livestreamed to share the magic of the Christmas season and this outstanding service with viewers from across the country and around the world. This broadcast, available on the Christmas in Christ Chapel website, will be archived for on-demand viewing immediately following the performance.
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