TWO MONTHS of preparation went into the Christmas cantata that is to be performed Sunday at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taneytown.
The church's adult choir has been working on the cantata, Journey of Promises, since October, according to Claude Elmore Jr., a longtime choir member.
"There is so much to do," he said. "This is the kind of thing you have to start early and then go back and start polishing it. It's a labor of love."
The production is directed by Karen Quillin, the church's organist, music director and music teacher at Runnymede Elementary School. The narration within the cantata will be performed by Debbie Leathers and the Rev. Nicholas Brie.
"The cantata is talking about biblical prophecies, songs that are about the coming of Christ and that God is with us," Quillin said.
Quillin estimates the choir puts in an extra hour a week for the production.
"But I enjoy all of it, how the people respond, what the people get from it," she continued. "I've been doing this since the 1970s. I enjoy spreading God's word, especially this time of the year."
Elmore said one of the things that makes the adult choir different is the range in members' ages.
"We have members who range from 17 to 90," he said.
The cantata is composed by Joseph Martin, with narration written by Pamela Martin.
The cantata will be performed during the 10:15 a.m. service Sunday. The musical merges variations of familiar Christmas carols and includes solo parts as well as congregational participation. The narration within the cantata is written to integrate "promises" from the Old Testament and "fulfillment" from the New Testament.
Participating choir members are: Teresa Brauning, Mary Clingan, Maxine Dixon, Garnette Grimes, Carol Hansborough, Betty Naylor, Zayna Null, Crystal Perry, Debbie Scheller and Keri Scheller as sopranos. Singing alto are: Maxine Bowers, Rhonda Danner, Shirley Hull, Shirley Dudderar, Bonnie Garner, Kathy Kovacs and Lola Null. Tenors are: Herb Bowers, George Naylor, Ed Null and Roger Kovacs. Basses are: Owen Ecker, Claude Elmore, Ed Saunders and Steve Scheller.
The church is at 38 W. Baltimore St. Information: 410-751-1227 or 410-751-1203.
Blood drive
Northwest Middle School pupils, along with the American Red Cross, will conduct a blood drive as part of their lessons on blood. The drive will be from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at the school.
Information: April Sexton, 410-751-3270.
Decorating contest
The Taneytown Heritage Committee's annual Christmas Door/Home decorating contest will be judged this week. All homes and businesses must be decorated and lighted by 5:30 p.m. every evening during the judged week.
Jean Marie Beall's Northwest neighborhood column appears each Thursday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.