On Wednesday, December 7, Princeton Theological Seminary warmly welcomes the public back to the school’s annual Carols of Many Nations services in the Seminary Chapel. These services will take place at 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. Seasonal readings will be conducted in the many languages represented by the Princeton Theological Seminary students and staff. Arabic, French, Ogworok, Italian, Kachin, Malayalam, Mizo, Swedish, and Ukrainian are just some of the spoken languages visitors will hear. 

The Seminary’s Chapel Choir will sing Christmas songs in German, Indonesian, Korean, Spanish, and Yoruba. In addition to some traditional carols, the congregation will join the choir in singing some less familiar fare such as the poignant “Hunger Carol” composed by Shirley Erena Murray (New Zealand) and I-to-Loh (Taiwan). Not to be missed is the newly composed “Tres Guajiros” (“Three Peasants”) by Cuban American composer Tony Alonso. One choral highlight of the evening services will be the Yoruba song “Betelehemu” (Nigeria), led by student conductor Otis Byrd Jr. and accompanied by a resident ensemble of drummers. All three services will conclude with caroling outdoors on the Seminary quad.