(pensive music) - I am John Griffith, President of Presbyterian College.

- And I'm Debbie Timmerman, President of the ETV Endowment Board of Trustees.

- [John] I'm delighted that we're sharing with you Presbyterian College's annual Christmas concert on the occasion of the college's 125th anniversary.

- [Debbie] It is ETV's great pleasure to bring you this holiday gift.

(audience applauds) (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ Joy to the world, the Lord is come ♪ ♪ Let Earth receive her King ♪ ♪ Let every heart prepare him room ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing ♪ ♪ And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing ♪ ♪ Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns ♪ ♪ Let all their songs employ ♪ ♪ While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains ♪ ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ ♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪ ♪ Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy ♪ ♪ No more let sins and sorrows grow ♪ ♪ Nor thorns infest the ground ♪ ♪ He comes to make his blessings flow ♪ ♪ Far as the curse is found ♪ ♪ Far as the curse is found ♪ ♪ Far as, far as the curse is found ♪ ♪ He rules the world with truth and grace ♪ ♪ And makes the nations prove ♪ ♪ The glories of his righteousness ♪ ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ ♪ And wonders of his love ♪ ♪ And wonders, wonders, of his love ♪ ♪ And wonders, wonders, of his love ♪ ♪ Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ♪ ♪ The King of creation ♪ ♪ O my soul, praise him ♪ ♪ For he is thy health and salvation ♪ ♪ All ye who hear ♪ ♪ Now to his temple draw near ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Praise to the Lord ♪ ♪ The Almighty, the King of creation ♪ ♪ Praise thee Almighty ♪ ♪ The King of creation ♪ ♪ O my soul, praise him ♪ ♪ For he is thy health and salvation ♪ ♪ Oh my soul praise him ♪ ♪ For he is thy health ♪ ♪ Now to his temple draw near ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Glad adoration ♪ ♪ Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ♪ ♪ The King of creation ♪ ♪ O my soul, praise him ♪ ♪ For he is thy health and salvation ♪ ♪ All ye who hear ♪ ♪ Now to his temple draw near ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Glad adoration ♪ ♪ Join me in glad adoration ♪ ♪ Glad adoration ♪ ♪ Praise to the Lord ♪ ♪ Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee ♪ ♪ Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee ♪ ♪ Ponder anew what the Almighty can do ♪ ♪ If with his love he befriend thee ♪ ♪ He befriend thee ♪ ♪ Praise to the Lord ♪ ♪ O let all that is in me adore him ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath ♪ ♪ Come now with praises before him ♪ ♪ All that hath life and breath ♪ ♪ Let the amen sound from his people again ♪ ♪ Gladly forever adore him ♪ ♪ May we adore him ♪ ♪ Yea, let the amen ♪ ♪ Sound from his people again ♪ ♪ Gladly for they we adore him ♪ ♪ Gladly for we adore ♪ ♪ We adore him ♪ - Strange silence tingles in the air.

Through a half open door a bar of light from one low hanging star touches a baby's radiant face.

No sound.

- The mother, kneeling, lays her cheek against the little face.

- Oh, human love.

- Oh heavenly grace.

- 'Tis yet in silence that she prays - Ages of silence end tonight, then to the long expecting Earth glad angels come to greet the birth in a burst of music, love and light.

(thoughtful music) (choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (happy music) ♪ Still, still, still ♪ ♪ Let all the world be still ♪ ♪ For Mary lays her son to rest ♪ ♪ Sings to him softly ♪ ♪ At her breast ♪ ♪ Still, still, still ♪ ♪ Let all the world be still ♪ ♪ Sleep, sleep, sleep ♪ ♪ My dearest baby, sleep ♪ ♪ The angels all ♪ ♪ Rejoice and sing ♪ ♪ Heav'n for your ♪ ♪ Delight shall ring ♪ ♪ Sleep, sleep, sleep ♪ ♪ My dearest baby, sleep ♪ (bright music) ♪ Where shepherds lately knelt ♪ ♪ And kept the angel's word ♪ ♪ I come in half belief ♪ ♪ A pilgrim strangely stirred ♪ ♪ But there is room ♪ ♪ And welcome there for me ♪ ♪ But there is room ♪ ♪ And welcome there for me ♪ ♪ In that unlikely place ♪ ♪ I find him as they said ♪ ♪ Sweet newborn babe, how frail ♪ ♪ And in a manger bed ♪ ♪ A still, small voice to cry ♪ ♪ One day for me ♪ ♪ A still, small voice to cry one day for me ♪ ♪ How should I not have known ♪ ♪ Isaiah would be there ♪ ♪ His prophecies fulfilled ♪ ♪ With pounding heart I stare ♪ ♪ A child, a son ♪ ♪ The Prince of Peace for me ♪ ♪ A child, a son ♪ ♪ The Prince of Peace for me ♪ ♪ Can I, will I forget ♪ ♪ How love was born, and burned ♪ ♪ Its way into my heart ♪ ♪ Unasked, unforced, unearned ♪ ♪ To die, to live ♪ ♪ And not alone for me ♪ ♪ To die, to live ♪ ♪ And not alone for me ♪ (happy music) ♪ The night was calm ♪ ♪ The air was still ♪ ♪ As shepherds watched ♪ ♪ On Bethlehem's hill ♪ ♪ There was a sound ♪ ♪ With radiant bright ♪ ♪ And turned the sky ♪ ♪ From dark to night ♪ ♪ The sky was filled ♪ ♪ With heavenly song ♪ ♪ As sweetly sang ♪ ♪ The angels song ♪ ♪ Now peace on Earth ♪ ♪ Goodwill to man ♪ ♪ And Earthly peace ♪ ♪ Allowed of men ♪ (bright hammered dulcimer and cello music) (music overpowers voice) ♪ The highest gift ♪ ♪ With shepherds eyes ♪ ♪ Men, angels too ♪ ♪ Praise God on Earth ♪ ♪ His gift to you ♪ (gentle music) ♪ Cold are the people ♪ ♪ Winter of life ♪ ♪ We tremble in shadows ♪ ♪ This cold endless night ♪ ♪ Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping ♪ ♪ Flowers that will echo the sunrise ♪ ♪ Fire of hope is our only warmth ♪ ♪ Weary its flame will be dying soon ♪ ♪ Voice in the distance ♪ ♪ Call in the night ♪ ♪ On wind you enfold us ♪ ♪ You speak of the light ♪ ♪ Gentle on the ear you whisper softly ♪ ♪ Rumors of a dawn so embracing ♪ ♪ Breathless love awaits darkened souls ♪ ♪ Soon will we know of the morning ♪ ♪ Spirit among us ♪ ♪ Silent night ♪ ♪ Shine like the star ♪ ♪ Holy night ♪ ♪ Your light ♪ ♪ All is calm ♪ ♪ That guides shepherds ♪ ♪ And kings from afar ♪ ♪ All is bright ♪ ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ ♪ Shimmer in the sky ♪ ♪ So empty, lonely ♪ ♪ Mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant so ♪ ♪ Rising in the warmth of ♪ ♪ Your Son's love ♪ ♪ Tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Star unknowing ♪ ♪ Of night and day ♪ ♪ Spirit we wait ♪ ♪ Sleep in ♪ ♪ Heavenly peace ♪ ♪ For your loving Son ♪ ♪ Spirit among us ♪ ♪ Silent night ♪ ♪ Shine like the star ♪ ♪ Holy night ♪ ♪ Your light ♪ ♪ All is calm ♪ ♪ That guides shepherds ♪ ♪ All is bright ♪ ♪ And kings from afar ♪ ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ ♪ Shimmer in the sky ♪ ♪ So empty, lonely ♪ ♪ Mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant so ♪ ♪ Rising in the warmth of ♪ ♪ Your Son's love ♪ ♪ Tender and mild ♪ ♪ Star unknowing ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Of night and day ♪ ♪ Spirit we wait ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ ♪ Heavenly peace ♪ ♪ For your loving Son ♪ - A little child, a shining star, a stable rude, the door ajar.

Yet in that place, so crude, forlorn, the Hope of all the world was born.

(choir singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (choir continues singing in foreign language) (bright music) ♪ Tomorrow shall be my dancing day ♪ ♪ I would my true love did so chance ♪ ♪ To see the legend of my play ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing oh, my love ♪ ♪ Oh my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ Then was I born of a virgin pure ♪ ♪ Of her I took fleshly substance ♪ ♪ Thus was I knit to a man's nature ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing oh, my love ♪ ♪ Oh my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ In a manger laid, and wrapped I was ♪ ♪ So very poor, this was my chance ♪ ♪ Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing oh, my love ♪ ♪ Oh my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ Then afterwards baptized I was ♪ ♪ The Holy Ghost on me did glance ♪ ♪ My Father's voice heard I from above ♪ ♪ To call my true love to my dance ♪ ♪ Sing oh, my love ♪ ♪ Oh my love, my love, my love ♪ ♪ This have I done for my true love ♪ ♪ For my true love ♪ (choir vocalizes) ♪ O the holly she bears a berry, as white as the milk ♪ ♪ And Mary, she bore Jesus all wrapped up in silk ♪ ♪ And Mary she bore Jesus, our Savior for to be ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly, holly ♪ ♪ O the holly she bears a berry, as green as the grass ♪ ♪ And Mary, she bore Jesus who died on the cross ♪ ♪ And Mary, she bore Jesus, our Savior for to be ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly, holly, holly ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly, holly ♪ ♪ O the holly she bears a berry, as black as the coal ♪ ♪ And Mary she bore Jesus, who died for us all ♪ ♪ And Mary she bore Jesus, our Savior for to be ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ The holly in the greenwood ♪ ♪ Holly ♪ ♪ Holly ♪ ♪ In the greenwood ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Oh the holly, she bears a berry ♪ ♪ As blood it is red ♪ ♪ And we trust in our Savior who rose from the dead ♪ ♪ And Mary she bore Jesus, our savior for to be ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly, holly, holly ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ ♪ Holly, holly, holly ♪ ♪ And the first tree that's in the greenwood ♪ ♪ It was the holly ♪ (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ The first Noel ♪ ♪ The angels did say ♪ ♪ Was to certain poor shepherds ♪ ♪ In fields as they lay ♪ ♪ In fields where they ♪ ♪ Lay keeping their sheep ♪ ♪ On a cold winter's night ♪ ♪ That was so deep ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ They looked up ♪ ♪ And saw a star ♪ ♪ Shining in the East ♪ ♪ Beyond them far ♪ ♪ And to the Earth ♪ ♪ It gave great light ♪ ♪ And so it continued both day and night ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King of Israel ♪ ♪ Then let us all ♪ ♪ With one accord ♪ ♪ Sing praises to ♪ ♪ Our heav'nly Lord ♪ ♪ That hath made heav'n ♪ ♪ And Earth of naught ♪ ♪ And with his blood ♪ ♪ Mankind hath bought ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Born is the King ♪ ♪ Of Israel ♪ (pensive music) ("Sing We Now of Christmas") ("Sing We Now of Christmas" continues) (dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (dramatic orchestral music continues) ♪ A frosty Christmas Eve ♪ ♪ When the stars were shining ♪ ♪ Fared I forth alone ♪ ♪ Where westward falls the hill ♪ ♪ And from many a village ♪ ♪ In the water'd valley ♪ ♪ Distant music reached me ♪ ♪ Peals of bells a ringing ♪ ♪ The constellated sounds ♪ ♪ Ran sprinkling on earth's floor ♪ ♪ As the dark vault above ♪ ♪ With stars ♪ ♪ Was spangled o'er ♪ ♪ Then sped my thoughts to keep ♪ ♪ That first Christmas of all ♪ ♪ When the shepherds watching ♪ ♪ By their fold ere the dawn ♪ ♪ Heard music ♪ ♪ In the fields ♪ ♪ And marveling could not tell ♪ ♪ Whether it were angels ♪ ♪ Or the bright stars singing ♪ ♪ And there were in the same country ♪ ♪ Shepherds abiding in the field ♪ ♪ Keeping watch over their flocks by night ♪ (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ And, lo, the angel of the Lord ♪ ♪ Came upon them ♪ ♪ And the glory of the Lord ♪ ♪ Shone 'round about them ♪ ♪ And they were so afraid ♪ ♪ And the angel ♪ ♪ Said unto them ♪ ♪ Fear not, fear not ♪ ♪ Fear not ♪ ♪ For behold ♪ ♪ I bring you good tidings ♪ ♪ Of great joy ♪ ♪ Which shall be to all people ♪ ♪ For unto you is born this day ♪ ♪ In the city of David ♪ ♪ A savior ♪ ♪ Which is Christ the Lord ♪ ♪ And he shall be a sign unto you ♪ ♪ Ye shall find the babe ♪ ♪ Wrapped in swaddling clothes ♪ ♪ Lying in a manger ♪ (energetic orchestral music) ♪ Then suddenly, then suddenly ♪ ♪ There was with the angel a multitude ♪ ♪ Of the heavenly host praising God ♪ ♪ And saying ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ Glory to God in the highest ♪ ♪ And on Earth peace, and on Earth peace ♪ ♪ And on Earth peace, and on Earth peace ♪ ♪ Peace, peace, peace, peace ♪ ♪ Peace, goodwill toward men ♪ ♪ Goodwill toward men ♪ ♪ Goodwill toward men ♪ (gentle music) ♪ But to me heard afar ♪ ♪ It was starry music ♪ ♪ Angels' song, comforting ♪ ♪ As the comfort of Christ ♪ ♪ When he spake tenderly ♪ ♪ To his sorrowful flock ♪ ♪ The old words came to me ♪ ♪ By the riches of time ♪ ♪ Mellowed and transfigured ♪ ♪ As I stood on the hill ♪ ♪ Hark'ning in the aspect ♪ ♪ Of the eternal silence ♪ ♪ As I heard this ♪ ♪ Goodwill toward men ♪ (pensive music) ("Bell Carol") ♪ Born is Jesus, Christ the King ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Joy and peace to us he'll bring ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Upon this day all people sing ♪ ♪ To hear the news the angels bring ♪ ♪ To free mankind from fear and sin ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth do ring ♪ ♪ Shepherds saw the angels bright ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Shining through the dark of night ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Upon this day all people sing ♪ ♪ To hear the news the angels bring ♪ ♪ To free mankind from fear and sin ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth do ring ♪ ♪ Kings there came, and gifts they bare ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ To worship Christ that child so rare ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ To hear the news the angels bring ♪ ♪ To free mankind from fear and sin ♪ ♪ Upon this day all people sing, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Blessed be that holy Child ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And his mother Mary mild ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Upon this day all people sing ♪ ♪ To hear the news the angels bring ♪ ♪ To free mankind from fear and sin ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth do ring ♪ ♪ Blessed be the Trinity ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Mankind is forever free ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Upon this day all people sing ♪ ♪ To hear the news the angels bring ♪ ♪ To free mankind from fear and sin ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth ♪ ♪ And all the bells on Earth do ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Ring, ring, ring ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ (gentle music) ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ Angels and men rejoice ♪ ♪ For tonight ♪ ♪ Darkness fell ♪ ♪ Into the dawn ♪ ♪ Of love's light ♪ ♪ Sing alle ♪ ♪ Sing alleluia ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ Let there be peace on Earth ♪ ♪ Christ is come ♪ ♪ Go and tell ♪ ♪ That he is in the manger ♪ ♪ Sing alle ♪ ♪ Sing alleluia ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ Lift up your voice and sing ♪ ♪ Born is now Emmanuel ♪ ♪ Born is our Lord and Savior ♪ ♪ Sing alleluia ♪ ♪ Sing alleluia ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ All is now Emmanuel ♪ ♪ Born is our Lord and Savior ♪ ♪ Sing alleluia ♪ ♪ Sing Alleluia ♪ ♪ All is well ♪ ♪ All is ♪ ♪ Well ♪ (audience applauds) ("Noel")