Church starts season with singing tree
Along with nativity scenes and decorative lights, a singing Christmas tree will help ring in the holiday season for some in Martinez starting Dec. 10.
The 2003 singing Christmas tree performance at Abilene Baptist Church helped to begin the holiday season. This year's performances will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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That's when Abilene Baptist Church will hold its 26th annual Singing Christmas Tree musical, called Welcome Jesus Our Redeemer.
"Some people say their Christmas season begins with the singing Christmas tree," said Greg Bearden, the minister of music at the church, about the 40-foot-tall tree that will have more than 100 singers stacked high on eight layers of wood. "It's a really beautiful display, and I think it's come to be meaningful. A lot of people make decisions for Christ each year. It's become a very powerful presentation."
Carrying on the tradition, Bearden said the church will hold the event Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are free and can be picked up at the church office, located at 3917 Washington Road in Martinez. Spaces are limited.
"All of the Friday and Saturday night tickets are gone at this time," Bearden said Tuesday. "There may be a few of those left for Sunday performances."
Bearden said the event, which offers performances by children and adults, also will feature a live orchestra, Christmas songs, a Biblical pageant, manger scene and some surprises.
"There's a good mixture of recognizable songs of the seasons that people will want to sing along with and some brand new things they probably never heard before," he said.
Visitors will be serenaded by the church's handbell choir in the foyer and will then have the opportunity to sing along to The Twelve Days of Christmas with the choir.
To get tickets or for more information, call 869-1774.
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