The Fall River Valley Community Choir treated the people of Burney to a taste of the Kingdom of Heaven as they performed the Christmas cantata The First Noel at Burney Presbyterian Church on Saturday afternoon December 16.
Fall River Valley Community Choir performing at Burney Presbyterian Church
The 40 minute cantata, written by Russell Mauldin, contains and arrangement of classic carols, hymns and favorite Christmas songs of the season. The songs and narration celebrate the birth of Jesus as messiah and king.
Reverend Penni Elaine Scarbrough, the pastor the hosting church, welcomed everyone and began the program with a prayer.
Opening with a prayer
The performance was directed by Reverend Alison Maki and Ruth Strauch with musical accompaniment by flautist Theron Canrall, pianist Linda Gulbransen, guitarist Jean Rodgers, and Goldie Christofferson and Nate Strauch on chimes. Nate Strauch read the narration.
Rev. Maki introduced the choir and gave a brief introduction. The cantata began with “The Birthday of a King Medley” containing arrangements of “For unto us a Child is Born,” “Sing We Now of Christmas,” and “The Birthday of a King.”
Angelic Voices
Then followed six selections: “Glory, Glory in the Highest;” “The First Noel;” “Jesus Born on This Day;” “Light of the Stable,” with “Angels We Have Heard on High;” “In the First Light;” and “Jesus at the Center.”
Reverend Bill Myers sang a solo for Glory, Glory in the Highest.”
Reverend Bill Myers singing Glory, Glory in the Highest
Maggie Torres sang solo in “Jesus Born on This Day.”
Maggie Torres singing Jesus Born On This Day
Following “Jesus at the Center,” narrator Nate Strauch said a prayer celebrating the birth of Jesus, and then the cantata concluded with a grand “Birthday of the King Finale.”
After the conclusion of the finale, Rev. Maki led the entire congregation as they sang “Silent Night.”
Alison Maki leads the congregation singing Silent Night
Rev. Maki thanked everyone for coming and announced that there would be a second public performance of the cantata at Intermountain Evangelical Free Church in McArthur the following day at 4 p.m. That concert would also include a performance of six songs by the Fall River Valley Community Children’s Choir.
The concert was performed in remembrance of Melanie Kerns. Mrs. Kerns was a beautiful singer and wonderful pianist. She was also a pillar of the Intermountain Community who was active in both the Fall River Methodist Church and the Burney Presbyterian Church.
After the concert, the audience and choir mixed and mingled as they shared fellowship and enjoyed refreshments.
Pit River Country 