Discover Fauquier Page 12

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Discover Fauquier December 2019

After a

break from

performances

in 2018,

the

Living

Christmas

Tree (LCT)

concerts at

Wa r r e n t o n

UMC are back! Choirmaster Peter Lewis

has created a brand new show, complete

with new songs, seasonal favorites,

gospel tunes, and even a 400-year-old

hymn. This year's theme, the Story of

the Birth of Christ, will be told through

narration and music selections. There

will be opportunities for the audience to

sing along during the one-hour-and-20-

minute show. The Saturday afternoon

show marks the 100th performance.
New this year, the community will have an

opportunity to purchase Select Seating

tickets. About 100 seats in rows 3, 4,

and 5 on both sides of the church will be

available for $10 each. Select Seating

ticket holders will be seated early and

guaranteed a seat. All other seats in the

sanctuary are free and available through

the website in advance and at the door.

As always, a free-will offering will be

collected during performances, with 10%

going to Fauquier Community Coalition.
Since 2001, community members

have looked forward to the annual LCT

performances. The audience is dazzled

by over 50 singers arranged in a multi-

tiered Christmas tree reaching to the top

of the three-story high ceiling. Ranging

in age from teens to 80-something,

the singers come from many different

churches and the community, while

more than a dozen accomplished local

musicians make up the orchestra. It

takes over 150 volunteers to make this

event happen.
Replaced in 2015, thousands of

colored LED lights dance to the

music. Church member Chris

Lane, now in his 18th year

with the LCT, designs the

light show with the sheet music

and a computer simulation of

the tree lights. The color of each

individual bulb can be changed

WUMC Living Christmas Tree Concert

Reaches 100th Performance

throughout

the show. A

talented tech

crew makes

all the magic

h a p p e n

behind the

scenes.

Originally purchased in 2001, the entire

cost of the tree was covered by an

anonymous donor. The $30,000 price

tag included the steel frame, greenery,

light strands, a music controller, and

rental rights to the music. Now new

music is purchased and permanently

owned. The 3,000-pound structure

takes about seven hours for volunteers

to put together. Church member Alice

West has held the illustrious title of LCT

coordinator since the beginning.
Peter is excited to be involved in this

special gift to the community for the first

time. One of the singers commented

that he is really teaching them, not just

guiding their rehearsals. "I teach them

vocal technique and how to sing well with

a full understanding of the words," Peter

explains. "My goal is to prepare them to

share the message with the community."

He began planning and selecting music

over the summer and rehearsals started

in September.
Peter attended the Eastman School of

Music in Rochester, New York, and came

to Warrenton UMC with over 25 years

of experience playing the organ and

leading worship at various churches. His

passion for the musical performance will

be evident to everyone in attendance.

"Music isn't the end for me," Peter said.

"Impacting the audience's relationship

with God is my real purpose."
Performances will be held on Thursday

and Friday,

December 12 & 13 at 7:30

p.m. and Saturday and Sunday,

December 14 & 15 at 4:00 and

7:00 p.m. Tickets are available

online at

lct2019.org, or by

calling

(540) 347-1367 x125.

Unused tickets are often turned

in just prior to each performance

for those who wish to get them at

the door.

~ Lynnette Esse

11262226

Warrenton Insurance & Financial Services

Sondra McTarnaghan, LSP

540-347-7766

568 Waterloo Rd., Ste. 104

Warrenton, VA 20186

Proud to offer Good Hands® protection to you and your family.

Enjoy all the good moments that come with the season.

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season and look forward to serving you in 2020.

May your holidays be

joyful and bright.