By Susan Shinn
sshinn@salisburypost.com
For the third year, the choir of West Corinth Baptist Church will share its talents with the community in its Singing Christmas Tree.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.
The morning concert takes the place of both services.
The event is free and the public is invited.
The Singing Christmas Tree is directed by Dean Orbison, minister of music. West Corinth’s pastor is Robert Suttles.
The church is located at 120 Corinth Church Road, near N.C. 152 West, between Mooresville and China Grove.
“I had done a Singing Christmas Tree years ago,” Orbison says. “I wanted something we could do to minister to the community, a community outreach project.”
Several members from other churches are participating, bringing the total number of voices to 36. Rehearsals for the program started in August.
The church ordered plans for the tree from the Internet, and a church member built it. Off-season, it “just fits” in the hut behind the church. The tree is decorated with greenery, ornaments and lighting.
Even for the daytime concert, Orbison says, the windows are covered, creating nighttime ambience.
Each performance lasts about an hour and will feature several spirituals and contemporary Christian songs, all based around the holiday season.
“It’s about presence, not presents,” Orbison says.
For more information about the Singing Christmas Tree, call the church office at 704-857-7532.