Texas Lutheran University’s Christmas Vespers returns this December with Journey to Peace, a service of music and reflection that moves from the quiet, inward peace of the heart, toward the peace that came into the world at Christmas. Across four movements, Embrace Peace, Make Me an Instrument of Peace, Peace Within – Peace Between, and The Peace of the Child, the service traces a path from personal stillness to peace shared with others, arriving at the manger.
The TLU Treble Choir opens the journey with an ancient-sounding chant, Nos Sumus. It continues with Will Todd’s Precious Moment and Joan Szymko’s setting of Wendell Berry’s beloved poem The Peace of Wild Things. Prayers for peace follow in Bob Chilcott’s Peace Mass and Kirk Aamot’s Verleih uns Frieden (Grant Us Peace).
The TLU Choir then turns the focus outward with Mark Miller’s I Believe, a setting of e.e. cummings’s i thank You God for most this amazing day, Jocelyn Hagen’s On My Dreams, and Richard Smallwood’s gospel anthem Total Praise. The final movement brings the Christmas story home through Latin American carols and a new take on a familiar classic:
- Carlos Cordero’s Pastores
- the Nahuatl lullaby Xicochi
- Love’s Pure Light, a setting of “Silent Night”
Throughout the evening, the audience joins the choirs and band in singing traditional Christmas carols, so the journey becomes one the whole community shares.
The service closes with Caldwell and Ivory’s Hope for Resolution. It weaves the ancient hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” together with a South African freedom song, a fitting end to a journey toward peace.
Services are scheduled for December 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m., and December 6 at 4 p.m. in Jackson Auditorium. All services are open to all, and tickets are free but required. They can be reserved online by clicking the links below or picked up at the TLU Bookstore beginning November 1.
There will be an additional service on December 13 at 4 p.m. at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin. No tickets are required for the Austin performance.
Friday, December 4 Tickets: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=f06623
Saturday, December 5 Tickets: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=9d16b6
Sunday, December 6 Tickets: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=e13893
