DAILY LIFE

Written by Administrator Tuesday, 05 December 2006 18:00

The public is invited to hear a variety of music-from traditional, well-known carols to newer works written to incarnation texts-that will be performed at the annual Tabor College Christmas Festival Sunday, Dec. 10.

The event, featuring the Tabor College Oratorio Chorus and Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Cantate! and Concert Choir, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Tabor gymnasium. The college jazz band will greet guests with seasonal songs as they arrive.

The traditional performance of Handel's Messiah, directed by Bradley D. Vogel, will close the program.

Student soloists for Messiah are Jarod Richardson, Grant, Neb.; Elise Hiebert, Hillsboro; Jennifer Krehbiel, Haven; Heidi Glanzer, Abilene; and Ashley Siler, Beloit.

Holly Swartzendruber, assistant professor of vocal music, will also perform.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Richard Cantwell, will begin their portion of the program with a piece titled "Let There Be Praise," featuring Hiebert, a soprano soloist.

In addition to other selections, the band will also perform Tschaikowsky's "Themes from the Nutcracker Suite," arranged by Clair Johnson.

Cantate! will perform a song arranged by Jackson Berkey, the keyboardist for Mannheim Steamroller.

"If you are familiar with the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music," Vogel said, "you will expect some interesting rhythmic changes to the familiar carol."

The other piece Cantate! will perform is the King's Singers' arrangement of "Twelve Days of Christmas."

The Concert Choir will follow with four pieces focused upon the incarnation of Christ-his coming to earth from heaven and being the light of earth.

The incarnation text, from John 1, is featured in the opening songs, and the choir's portion will end with an arrangement of a Mennonite hymn, "Nun ist sie Erschienen" ("The Sun has Now Risen").

Hillsboro book group plans Dec. 8 meeting

The Hillsboro Public Library book discussion group will meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8 at Little Pleasures.

Coffee or tea and coffeecake will be provided.

The group will discuss "The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith. It is not necessary to have read the book in order to attend.

Christmas parade Friday in Burns

The second annual Burns Christmas parade will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8.

The last of the 21 floats in the parade will transport Santa, who will then be at the Burns Community Center to visit with children. The Lions Club will provide candy bags for the kids as well.

"Burns Bucks" will be awarded to the top floats.

Sticks and Twigs, a new business in Burns, will co-sponsor a gingerbread house competition with Flint Hills Junction.

The public is invited to attend.

Reception Dec. 9 for Wiebe's 80th

The siblings of Raymond Wiebe will host a come-and-go reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Historic Church on Tabor College campus to celebrate his 80th birthday.

The public is invited to attend.

Museums plans German program

The Friends of the Hillsboro Museums will celebrate the Christmas programs of Hillsboro's German past with a "Weihnachts Fest" ("Christmas celebration") at 7 p.m., Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in the Historic Church on the Tabor College campus.

The program is billed as an evening of traditional German Christmas music. Individuals and groups will perform time-honored Christmas music.

The music will range from well-known pieces such as "O Tannenbaum" to more ancient classical pieces from as early as the 16th century.

A translation of the German songs will be distributed. The program will be free to the public.

Among those participating will be the Hillsboro German Choir, Julia Jost, the Zion Lutheran Church Quartet, Lola Unruh and the Ebenfeld Church Hand Chimes Ensemble, Glenn Litke, Brenda Jordan, Jonah Kliewer, and the Men of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.

"There was a time when most of the Christmas programs in Hillsboro would have been given in German-and would have included some of the best known Christmas music in the world," said Stan Harder, city museums director.

"German is an intrinsic part of the history of Hillsboro. Early Hillsboro residents spoke German on the streets, read German in the local Hillsboro newspapers, and sang German Christmas songs in their Lutheran, Mennonite and German Baptist churches."

For information, call 947-3775.

HES students offer holiday musical

Third- and fourth-graders at Hillsboro Elementary School will present the musical program "Holiday Magic" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Hillsboro High School auditorium.

The public is invited to attend.

Candlelight event to remember kids

The Marion County Compassionate Friends will hold a candlelight remembrance ceremony starting at 6:50 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, in the courtyard of Marion Presbyterian Church.

The worldwide event is held annually at 7 p.m. local time on the second Sunday of December, National Children's Memorial Day, to honor children who have died.

The Marion County observance will include readings, music and the candle lighting. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served following the program.

For more information or to have a child's name read if the family is unable to attend, contact Thad and Janie Meierhoff at 620-382-3492, Linda Carlson at 382-2228, Chris and Melissa Stuchlik at 924-5793 or Debbi Darrow at weeb@southwind.net.

Local PEO chapter to meet Dec. 11

PEO Chapter DB met Nov. 20 at the home of Wayne and Judy Reno with 18 individuals in attendance.

Hostesses were Patty McLinden and Judy Reno. Gary Ewert shared the findings of his trip to England to observe the school system and compare it to the American system.

The next meeting will be Dec. 11 at the Marion Presbyterian Church.

MCSEC board plans Dec. 13 meeting

The Marion County Special Education Cooperative Board of Directors will meet at noon Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the MCSEC conference room at 302 W. Eighth in Florence.

Polar Express party at Marion library

Children ages 7 and up are invited to meet at the Santa Fe Depot (Marion City Library) and board the Polar Express for a magical train ride to the North Pole (party and movie) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15.

Smaller children are welcome to attend with a parent. Wear pajamas and bring a pillow as seating will be on the floor.

A conductor will greet those in attendance to take their tickets for the Polar Express. A special Christmas visitor will also stop in to see the children.

A movie will be shown about a small boy who is taken on a mysterious train ride on Christmas Eve to the North Pole.

The event will also include crafts, activities, hot chocolate and candy and a special gift for each child.

For more information or to reserve a seat, call 620-382-2442.

Farmerettes to meet Dec. 11 at Enns's

The Farmerettes will meet for their annual Christmas dinner at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, in the home of Letty Enns.

Those attending should bring two dozen cookies of one kind and a cookie recipe for the cookie exchange.