Christmas Eve Worship Services

CHRISTMAS EVE : Go tell it on the mountain!

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is one of the most well-known and beloved African American spirituals and represents just one of the countless contributions made to American music by enslaved people. These songs represented a passion for life and living despite the suffering, humiliation, and unimaginable cruelty of slavery.

Because most enslaved people were uneducated, these songs were passed along through a vibrant and rich oral tradition and were eventually captured and written down by one special American family. Not long after the Civil War, John Wesley Work, a Black choir director in Nashville, Tennessee, began a mission to write down melodies and lyrics of these well-known songs, often traveling hundreds of miles to seek former slaves who had sung this and other songs while they labored.

Just as this Spiritual was kept alive for generations via the oral tradition, so to has our sacred story about Christ’s birth. This Christmas Eve, First Church continues the theme “Speaking of Jesus” as we share the old, old story in new lively ways!

Come where there’s a seat for everyone and experience God’s love.

Come this Christmas Eve and witness hope. Hope for today, hope for tomorrow and hope for all humankind.

As always worship services will be live streamed at www.youtube.com/firstchurchsandwichucc