The rollicking string Pifa in Handel's Messiah always kicks off the Christmas season for many of us. As we gather to celebrate the mystery and joy of Advent and Christmas, many of us attend Handel's famous Messiah Oratorio. We have assembled texts from the Christmas portion of Messiah, Part 1, with music by Catholic composers of the sixteenth century. You'll hear instruments from the Renaissance including cornetto, sackbut, recorders, and shawms. The program features instrumental music, and we'll have two sing-alongs: "O Come, o come, Emmanuel" and "All People That on Earth Do Dwell." This is a free offering.