Carols with the Choir: Of Joy Illumined
December 12, 2026 • 5:00pm
First Congregational Church of Evanston
1445 Hinman Ave, Evanston
Audience reception to follow concert, please join us!
December 13, 2026 • 3:00pm
St. Paul’s UCC
2335 N Orchard Street, Chicago
Concert Broadcast
December 20, 2026
Concert Receptions
Join your fellow audience members, singers, CCC board and staff for a light wine & cheese reception following each Saturday evening performance! Have a chance to catch up with singers, talk about your favorite piece on the program, and enjoy the CCC community.
Thank you to our reception sponsors ROGERS PARK SOCIAL AND PROVISIONS
Inspired by the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Of Joy Illumined takes us on a journey to manifest our own joy in times of darkness. Joy is a choice and it can peak through the darkness; joy is an act of resistance.
Our singers will share poetry and readings that lead them to find joy alongside a musical program full of triumphant organ. The audience will join choir and organ in favorite carols of the season. Organist Charlie Sega returns to CCC, playing Rachel Portman’s new The Darkling Thrush, Jonathan Dove’s Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars, and audience carols. Join us to experience the joy of the holiday season.
Program
Puer natus in bethlehem — Gregorian Chant
Rorate Caeli — Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/1526-1594)
Once in royal David’s city with audience — Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876)
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening — Erik Whitacre (b.1970)
To Morning — Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962)
A Christmas Round — John Tavener (1944-2013)
O Come, all ye faithful with audience — John Francis Wade (1711-1786), arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Today the Virgin — John Tavener
Seek Him That Maketh The Seven Stars — Jonathan Dove (b. 1959)
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O Magnum Mysterium — Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
There will be rest — Frank Tichelli (b. 1958)
Arise, Shine — Anna Lapwood (b.1995) (Chicago premiere)
The Darkling Thrush — Rachel Portman (b.1960) (Chicago premiere)
In Dulci Jubilo — 15th century German carol melody, arr. Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856)
Hark the herald angels sing with audience — Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Hodie Christus natus est — Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
Glory to the new born king — traditional spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
Collaborating Artists
Charlie Sega, organ
Talar Khosdeghian, piano
Tickets
Adult: $32
Student (13+): $15
Kids 12 and under: FREE
Group (11 people or more): $25
Broadcasts: $15 suggested donation
Parking and Transit Options
Saturday at First Congregational Church of Evanston
The building is just east of Raymond Park, between Grove and Lake streets.
Parking
Ample street parking is available on the streets around the church.
Transit
We are walking distance from the Dempster Purple Line stop.
Sunday at St. Paul’s UCC, Chicago
Parking
The church parking lot is at 634 W Kemper Pl.
All parking is first-come, first-served, with the below exceptions.
The east half of the parking lot is rented to Lincoln Elementary on school year weekdays from 8am to 4pm.
There are reserved parking spaces on the west side of the parking lot for renters, from 4pm to 8am.
Additional parking is available at the Lincoln Common Parking Garage, located just a block away at 2316 N. Lincoln Ave. Rates and additional information can be found on Parking.com.
Transit
Accessible from the Fullerton station with the Brown, Red, and Purple lines.
Support
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.
