Church and choir unite for Christmas carols service

WITH Christmas preparations in full swing nearly everywhere, the Ballan Uniting Church has managed to lock in a popular local group for its annual Christmas Carols Service next weekend.

The Ballan Community Choir – which is itself dealing with a fast-filling appointment book – will perform a range of carols at the service from 6.30pm on Sunday 14 December.

The event is open to anyone and will be followed by supper at the adjacent hall.

Church secretary Dorothy Shaw said the choir’s performance will be interspersed with appropriate Bible readings by the church’s lay worship leader, Robyn Zanon.\

Mrs Shaw said the church is hoping that the presence of the choir will attract more people than usual to the annual carols service.

She said her husband Gary is busy putting up advertising posters around the town.

“And the farmers market is in our hall the day before, so we’ll certainly be advertising it there,” Mrs Shaw said.

“It will be all the usual Christmas carols – ones we all know, I’m sure.”

Mrs Shaw said service attendees will be encouraged to join in the singing.

The choir has performed at the carols service in the past and was always popular, she said.

“When they’ve sung at the farmers market they’ve been very popular, and a number of our congregation are members of it too,” Mrs Shaw said.

“They had too many bookings last year so we didn’t have them last year, so we’re very pleased to have them again this year.”