As Thanksgiving is over, and finals week season begins to loom over the student body, John Brown University's Student Government Association provided a break designed to foster community, warmth and joy amid the piling work and multiple study sessions.
The Christmas season was welcomed on JBU’s campus on Tuesday, Dec. 2, beginning with the first Advent chapel service; however, the kick-off truly began with “Light Up JBU”. The JBU community gathered to watch the lighting of the campus tree, enjoy some warm treats and each other's company. The event was catered with Christmas goodies by Pioneer Caterers and opened with an introduction by JBU President Chip Pollard and SGA President Jose Conejo. The countdown and light up were accompanied by several carols by the cathedral choir, as onlookers enjoyed the soft lights and warm refreshments. A festive red Christmas truck was parked by the clock tower, offering a potential photo opportunity; lights lit the bed, which was filled with flannel blankets and hay bales.
Between the cafeteria and the clock tower, a swarm of students, faculty and staff alongside their families gathered around the unlit Christmas tree. Children in Santa hats ran across the brick walkways and through the crowd. Refreshments of hot cocoa, cider and sugary Christmas cookies warmed the waiting bodies as the tree lighting was almost underway. Lights were twinkling across campus, on bushes outside of Walker Student Center and draped along the outside of JAlvin hall, but the campus tree remained unlit.
Half an hour into the festivities, Pollard and Conejo called for attention in front of the tree. Pollard welcomed the crowd to the second annual tree lighting on JBU’s campus and began with a reading of John 8:12, connecting the decorative lights with the Light of the World, Jesus. From there, he gave a brief background on the celebration of Christmas during the winter solstice. After a brief introduction, Conejo took the microphone and invited the gathered crowd to join him in counting down the lights.
With the lighting of the tree came the cheerful voices of the cathedral choir bundled up on the stairs. They sang several carols, the first being a beautiful rendition of “Sussex Carol” by Philip Stopford. This was followed by “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Hark the Harald Angels Sing” and “Joy to the World”. During these classic carols, the voices of the crowd mingled with those of the choir. The mixing of voices added to the dreaminess of the soft lights and the smell of hot cocoa.
Junior Art and Illustration major and member of the choir, Sarah Paez Montero, said, “Singing carols at Christmas is so special because we are joyfully proclaiming Christ's coming and the redemption He offers. It is so much fun to sing more casually than in concerts while inviting others to sing carols with us, too.”
Celebration and praise were at the heart of the choir‘s performance, Paez Montero said, “Our desire in the choir is to share the message and joy that we celebrate during Christmas. So, it is such a wonderful opportunity to come together through music to praise and thank the Lord for the gift of Christmas and the hope and joy it brings to the world.”
After the performance, the crowd dispersed to enjoy their refreshments, take pictures and appreciate the company around them. People took turns taking photos in front of the newly lit tree and up the stairs to the holiday truck. Classics were played through a speaker, and several groups of students took to enjoying the music by dancing. A sweet picture unfolded through the nostalgic music, the laughter of students and the shuffling of feet as they turned and dipped along to the rhythm.
This moment during the bustle of finals served as a time to catch a breath and uplift students’ mood. Sophomore Entrepreneurship and Innovation major, Ava Villarreal, said, “I think it’s really uplifting. It’s very stressful with all the finals and everything. It’s a good break from all the things just to have fun.”
Photo Courtesy of Hope Brittenham
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