Father Benjamin Lwin will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord at 9 p.m. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Tonkawa.
Preceding the Mass, the Christmas Choir, directed and accompanied on the organ by Jerry Steichen, will begin caroling at 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the caroling and the Mass.
Melinda Glasgow will greet parishioners and guests in the church vestibule.
Josette Swanson and Lilliana Jarrett will bring the figure of the Christ Child in procession to the crèche as the Christmas Choir sings the carol “Rocking”. Father Lwin will then bless the crèche before lighting the Christ Candle. Larry Swords will declaim the Christmas Proclamation.
Serving at the altar will be Nicole Caughlin and Ryan Davis. Melinda Glasgow will serve as sacristan.
Lector Nancy Pendleton will read from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (9:1-6) and from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (2:11-14). Father Lwin will proclaim the Gospel according to Luke (2:1-14) and preach the homily based on that scripture. Cantors are April Caughlin, Audrey Caughlin, Abby Davis, Madison Davis, Carli Pendleton, Anita Simpson, Larry Swords and Cecilia Tarrant.
The Jay Bellinghausen family will present the offertory gifts as the Christmas Choir leads the congregation in singing “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”.
Phillip Caughlin, Robyn Caughlin and Silvia Vasquez will serve as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. The choir will lead the congregation in singing “Silent Night,” accompanied by guitarist Marta Moorman.
Evergreen wreaths placed in the windows by Anne Evans and Myrna Fath symbolize the eternal God. Lighted Christmas trees arranged by Melinda Glasgow recall the light of Christ brought into the world. The red of the ribbons and poinsettias decorating the church symbolize the blood shed by the crucified Christ, who came into the world to bring salvation to mankind. The crèche, prepared by Glasgow, will remain throughout the Christmas season.
Individual vocal selections during the caroling include “The Virgin’s Slumber Song,” sung by Audrey Caughlin; “Benedictus,” Abby Davis and Madison Davis;” “Patiently Have I Waited,” Madison Davis; “Ave Maria,” Annette Hunt; “Mary Did You Know,” Annette Hunt and Cecilia Tarrant; and “O Holy Night,” Cecilia Tarrant.
Clarinetist Dineo Heilmann will perform Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” and flutist Sydnee Jacobs will accompany several numbers during the caroling and the Mass.
Father Lwin will celebrate Christmas Mass at St. Joseph Church in Blackwell at 6 p.m. Dec. 24. On
Christmas Day he will celebrate Mass at 9 ...
