The first Living Christmas Tree at First Baptist Huntsville was presented in 1984 and was designed as a Christmas worship experience led by the choral and orchestral ensembles of our church. The Living Christmas Tree continues as an outgrowth of Christian conviction and an expression of the rich musical heritage of First Baptist.
This year’s concert features the First Baptist Choir and Orchestra, the First Kids Choir and the First Students Choir, performing both as individual groups and as a massed ensemble.
Merry Christmas and welcome to the 40th presentation of the ChristmasTree
thrilled to share familiar carols, beautiful orchestrations and a few surprise artistic elements that are sure to warm your heart.
This year’s theme is “LivingChristmasTree”began with an idea, a trip to Tennessee, and a lot of creative engineering and imagination. You’ll hear more of tonight. In the meantime, scan the QR code below and you’ll be able to see pictures and read impactful stories from many people who have been involved with the tree for decades.
Stories...we all have them, we’ve all heard them and we’ve all probably told a few. Some of the earliest stories we heard as children typically began with, “Once upon a time.” But at the heart of the LivingChristmasTree has always been another story, one that began with “And it came to pass in those days…” It’s a Bible story found in the Gospel of Luke, and it tells of the birth of Jesus. For sure our “Tree” includes thousands of people, lights, engineering, hours of assembly and of course, 40 years of beautiful Christmas music! All of those elements, however, have never really been the true focus. The core of our message is the 2000-year-old story of Jesus and His love. We’ve been sharing this story through the ministry of our church since 1809.
And now, through your presence with us, youtoo,are part of our story. How exciting! We would be even happier, if you were to become part of God’s story through knowing Jesus as your Savior. We have friends who would love nothing more than to talk with you about what it means to follow Jesus. If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for many years, we hope your encounter with the Christmas story this year will be meaningful and touching as you experience the truth, hope and love of Christmas. The LivingChristmasTreeteam has prepared for many months, so take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the 40th anniversary of the LivingChristmasTree,“His Story and Ours.”
Merry Christmas,
Dr. Aaron Jackson MinisterofMusicandWorship
LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE
2024
As You Enter the Building - The Carillon is ringing Christmas Carols and Noels
Darrell Eldridge, carillonneur
MUSIC FOR PRELUDE
Our instrumentalists will present a mini-concert prior to each presentation. Musical selections will be chosen from the following:
Shepherds’Dance...................................................................................................................................... Richard Elliott
The appearance of angels overwhelms Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds with a sense of the majesty of the Most High who sent them, but their message tells of God drawing near in “tender mercy,” taking on the amazingly approachable form of “a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths” (Luke 1-2). The choreography I have set to this arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High” focuses on the angels’ message as “good news of great joy.”
I use gestures that point to the the good news that God has drawn near to us in human form, and I infuse movements with both ebullient and abiding qualities of joy. - Kaya Weaver
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL MEDLEY - SingtheCarolsofChristmas
Gary Fry Congregation, Choir and Orchestra
A LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE REFLECTION
Billy Orton
TheFriendlyBeasts..................................................................................................................arr. Robert Buckley Farlee
Toccataon“GLORIA” (AngelsWeHaveHeardonHigh)...................................................................Page C. Long
THE CHOIR
SOPRANO
Amanda Anderson
Karen Anderson
Ellen Bailes
Johnnie Barnes
Lisa Belk
Beth Bice
Bertie Bramm
Kwai-Weng Brethen
Becky Caneer
Jennifer Cleary
Kimberly Collette
Carla Cox
Sandra Dabrowski
Kristen Daugherty
Charlotte Davis*
Stephanie Davis
Annette Dohrman
Mary Dohrman
Sarah Estess
Annita Fanning
Beth Fleming
Becky Foshee
Beth Hoffman
Jane Holloway
Lea Hoppe
Mickey Hosch
Sherry Howard
Ava Howse
Mindy Hyatt
Kelli Isaac
Patti Lindow
George Adams
James Adams
Elijah Armstrong
Joshua Armstrong
Anna Avery
Emma Christian
Anna-Kate Cooke
Deborah Malone
Kelly Manley
Lydia Mansfield
Sarah Mansfield
Suzanne Marquez
Laurel Matthews
Laura McCamy
Bethany Minshew
Marcella Pearson
Alicia Pettis
Carole Roach
Barbara Sizemore
Sarah Sizemore
Anne Stone*
Sunshine Thompson
ReNita Walton
Kara White
ALTO
Cynthia Barr
Miranda Beauchamp
Claire Bolton
BJ Boyanton
Kristin Brewer
Whitney Burgess
Janet Campbell
Karen Campbell
Valerie Carey
Kari Childress
Ellyn Christian
Sherry Christy
Caroline Creager
Janet Creech
Tara DuBose-Schmitt
Gus Cooke
Jack Cooke
Ruby-Mae Cooke
Vera-Lynn Fanning
Everly Flores
Nora Flores
Loren Gaither
Bonnie Edmondson
Kelli Ellison
Colleen Falwell
Elisa Fairless
Jennifer Fowler
LeAnne Fowler
Pam Gann
Amanda Hall
Leah Hall
JJ Halverson
Karen Hargrave
Kristen Harris
Yvette Hawkins
Roxanna Ingram
Deborah Jackson
Laura Jackson
Abby Jones
Jennifer Matthews
Sue Mauldin
Libby McCafferty
Brittany McEwen
Amy McKenzie
Jamie McNabb
MaryAnn Moon
Joy Moore
Lisa Morris
Nancy Morton
Shima Nejad
Janice Owen
Katie Patch
JoAnne Patterson
Billie Perkins
THE NATIVITY
Lucero Gaither
Carleton Hoppe-McQueen
Corder Hoppe-McQueen
Ephraim Hoppe-McQueen
Barnabas Jackson
John Silas Kirk
Lucille Kirk
Sarah Taylor Poe
Laura Roberts
Rebecca Sargent
Angela Seanor
Ann Smith
Kristi Taylor
Natalie Taylor
Melissa Tucker
Sonshire Van Cleef
Louise Walker
Andrea Wilson
Lisa Wilson
Rosemary Wolfe
Mary Woods
Joyce Zackie
TENOR
Dexter Brewer
Tim Carr
Greg Ellison
Chris Folsom
Steven Froniabarger
Allen Godwin
Andy Jones
Brian Milner
Boyd Mizell
Rickie Moon
Wayne Owen
Ed Perkins
Gerald Roberts*
J Shuman
David Sisk
Monica Kirk
Quinn McKee
Callie Miller
Abigail Money
Gabriel Money
Molly Reas
Olivia Reas
David Sizemore
Randy Taylor
Eric Van Cleef
Michael White
BASS
Larry Alexander
Bob Broadway
Glenn Brown
John Christy
Ben Darby
Alex Dye
Heath Emerson
Scott Field
Richard Franks
Gaines Gravlee
Brian Leffel
Ethan Maples
David McKenzie
Reid McNabb
Phil Patterson
Elijah Phillips
Grant Scarboro
Jim Thompson
Jeff Vaughn
Will Weir
Thomas Wolfe
Will Yates
*denotessingers whohavesungonthe Treesince1984
Mackenzie Sims
Adalyn Talley
Garrett Talley
Jackson Wheatley
Lettie Wheatley
George Adams
James Adams
Elijah Armstrong
Joshua Armstrong
Anna Avery
Katie May Bellamy
Emma Christian
Anna-Kate Cooke
Cameron Ashley
Catherine Ashley
Joseph Bishop
Marshall Brewer
Reese Broadway
Summer Broadway
Chloe Chapman Ashlyn Cox
Karen Anderson
Kwai-Weng Brethen
Julie Broadway
John Christy
VIOLIN 1
Christin Danchi
Jeff Dortch
Laura Elrod
Gretchen Perry
+Dawn Phillips
Alia Shoemaker
VIOLIN II
Daniel Bearden
Andrea Danchi
Erin Jones
Drew Sarette
Lisa Wiggins
VIOLA
Julie Anderson
Silvina Matthews
Thomas Matthews
Robin Wallace
Gus Cooke
Jack Cooke
Eliza Corbell
Emma Corbell
Joseph Corbell
Chloe Dyess
Jessa Fanning
Vera-Lynn Fanning
THE FIRST KIDS CHOIR
Jamie Finch
Everly Flores
Nora Flores
Lucero Gaither
Grace Gatlin
Carleton Hoppe-McQueen
Corder Hoppe-McQueen
Ephraim Hoppe-McQueen
Barnabas Jackson
Lucille Kirk
Monica Kirk
Quinn McKee
Callie Miller
Abigail Money
Jacob Nez
Lorelei Nez
THE FIRST STUDENTS CHOIR
Michael Davenport
Owen Davenport
Caleb Del Greco
Ella Kate Del Greco
Julia DuBose-Schmitt
Kate Dyess
Lucy Dyess
Olive Dyess
Jarrett Fanning
Bethney Finch
Hayden Flournoy
Isaac Hoppe-McQueen
Hannah Hoskins
Julia Jackson
Lydia Lemons
Shelby McCubbins
Emily McKee
Rory McKee
Matthew Ponder
Lillie
Kate Quattlebaum
Zoey Reas
Jacob Sigler
Thomas Sigler
Michael Steenbergh
THE FIRST KIDS AND FIRST STUDENTS LEADERS
Sherry Christy
Tara DuBose-Schmitt
Alex Dye
Becky Foshee
CELLO
Kelli Battraw
Kevin Lay
BASS
John Gordon
FLUTE
*Janet Cashion
Jana Clark
Emily DePlachett
Amy Helser
Rita Turner
OBOE
Tiffany Flournoy
Lara Lay
CLARINET
Ellen Adams
Genny Bishop
Willa Kate Purpura
Molly Reas
Olivia Reas
Adalyn Talley
Garrett Talley
Scarlett Tischler
Jackson Wheatley
Eleanor White
Maddie Taylor
Bea Tillery
Nola White
Chance Williams
Emmie Williams
Slade Williams
LeAnne Fowler
Jane Holloway
Lea Hoppe
Katie Hoppe-McQueen
THE ORCHESTRA
Rusty Clark
Michelle Kirk
Janet Stalling
BASS CLARINET
Nathan Silvey
BASSOON
Noah Hoppe-McQueen
Susan Keene
HORN
Patrick Chester
Kyra Espinosa
Robert Price
Anne Reasons
*Suzy Young
TRUMPET
Tom Beam
Joyce Ellett
Noah Hoppe-McQueen
Ethan Maples
Suzanne Marquez
Mark Mucci
Barbara Sizemore
Joanna White
Danny Hallman
Kevin Insley
Dale Proctor
EC Richardson
*Bruce Zeiger
TROMBONE
William Boothe
Steve Foshee
*Alan Jones
Johnny Kirk
EUPHONIUM
Susan Field
Greg Gilbreath
*Emily Parker
Jack Tribble
TUBA
Nelson Parker
PERCUSSION
Laura Ashcom
David Castro
*Andrew Littleton
Ken Smith
James Smock
HARP
Katie Hoppe-McQueen
ORGAN/PIANO
Esther Kim
+ ConcertMaster
* SectionLeaders
THE 2024 LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE MINISTRY TEAM
The Living Christmas Tree is a church-wide project. The Ministry Team members listed below served as chairs of their sub-committees and represent just a portion of the many who have worked so willingly in preparation for this presentation.
Minister of Music and Worship - Aaron Jackson
LCT Coordinator - MaryAnn Moon
Associate Minister of Music and Organist - Esther Kim
Minister of Contemporary Worship - Micah Walley
Media Director - Michael Kearney
Music Ministry Assistants - Angela Yarbrough and Sarah Mansfield
Volunteer Leads:
Choir Representative - Myrna Boyd
Church Aesthetics - Beth Craig
Construction Chair - John Corbell
Decorating Co-Chairs - Laura Corbell and Michelle Kirk
Choir Librarians - Janet Creech and Nancy Morton
Lighting - Kyle Christian and Susan Moser
Logistics - Kimberly Collette
Orchestra Librarians - Jennifer Fowler, Susan Keene, Nelson Parker
Orchestra Representative - Amy Helser
Parking - Hunter Hoskins
Prayer Team - Vic McCarn
Production Coordinator - Charles Boyd
Publicity - Will Weir, Alyssa Mitchell and Debbie McDaniel
Safety - Larry Alexander
Sound - David Hoppe
Tickets Chair - Cynthia Barr
Ushers - Clifton Sisco and Tommy Sisco
FIRST BAPTIST MINISTERIAL STAFF
Travis Collins, Senior Pastor
Jud Reasons, Executive Pastor
Aaron Jackson, Minister of Music and Worship
Esther Kim, Associate Minister of Music and Organist
Micah Walley, Minister of Contemporary Worship
Allan Greer, Minister to Experienced Adults
Holly Canup, Minister to Median Adults
Tim Boone, Minister of Missions
John Lemons, Minister to Young Adults
Jamie Mackey, Minister to Students and Families
Amanda McKay, Ministry Resident to Students
Kristin Prasad, Minister to Kids & Families
Shelley Allison, Associate Minister to Kids and Families
Debbie Bell, Church Business Administrator
THE MUSIC AND WORSHIP MINISTRY EXPRESSES SPECIAL GRATITUDE TO THE FOLLOWING:
WAAY-31, Huntsville Police Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, HEMSI, Pam LaPier and the FBC Kitchen Staff, Kent Foy and the FBC Custodial Staff
UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2025
Divorce Care Support Groups for Men and Women – begin January 12
Student Disciple-Now Weekend January 17-19
Mid-Winter Workshop for Choral Singers February 7-8
Oasis Respite Care (A Community Day Respite Care Ministry for Those Living with Dementia) Launching February
Ladies Luncheon February 2
Father Daughter Dance February 21
Ash Wednesday Worship Service March 5
Alaskan Mission Trip March 6-14
Student Spring Camp March 8-12
Spring Missions Fair March 16
Collingsworth Family Concert March 18
Median Adult Marriage Getaway March 21-23
Mother-Daughter Retreat March 28-30
Faith Friends Fun Walk April 6
Palm Sunday April 13, Choral and Orchestral Concert (Savior,A Modern Oratorio - by Greg Nelson)
Maundy Thursday April 17
Good Friday Tenebrae Service April 18, 7pm
Easter Sunday Sunday, April 20, 8:05 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Worship Services
Ladies Lake Retreat April 25-27
First Kids Music Celebration April 30
National Day of Prayer May 1
Mother-Son Amazing Race May 4
Kids in Action Race May 7
Graduate Recognition Sunday May 18
First Students Dominican Republic Mission Trip June 14-22
God & Country Service June 29
Cosmic Music & Arts Camp (for children who have completed Kindergarten – 6th grade) July 7-11
Student Mission Trip (Grades 7-12) July 13-19
Student Fall Retreat August 22-24
Thanksgiving Missions Banquet November 23
Hanging of the Green December 7
THE LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF LIGHT
1984 The Joy of Christmas
1985 Hallelujah
1986 The Living Christmas Tree
1987 Images of Christmas
1988 The Living Christmas Tree
1989 The Carols of Christmas (Music of John Rutter)
1990 The Bells of Christmas
1991 The Light in the Manger
1992 Keyboards and Carols (guestsStephenNielson&OvidYoung)
1993 The Very Best Time of Year (guestJaneHolloway)
1994 Christ is the World’s Light
1995 The Holly and the Ivy (guestsCarolMcClure,harpist,&ShannonSmith,ballet)
1996 Reflections of Christmas (guestMichelleCleveland)
1997 NoLCTduetoSanctuaryrenovation
1998 How Great Our Joy!
1999 The Hopes and Fears of All the Years Are Met in Thee Tonight
2000 My Peace I Give You
2001 …’Tis Love That’s Born Tonight
2002 A Festival of Light
2003 The Glory of Hope
2004 The Living Christmas Tree 2004 - - 20th Anniversary (guestShannonSmith)
2005 Love Came Down at Christmas (guestJeffSmith)
2006 What Shall We Bring? (guestPaulSaik)
2007 A Storybook Christmas (guestEugeneBanks)
2008 The Night of the Child (featuringYoungMusicians&MusicMakersChoirs)
2021 Joy of Every Longing Heart (guestsActofCongress&AdonaiSchoolofBallet)
2022 Let Heaven and Earth Rejoice (guestsSteveAmerson&ScotCameron)
2023 And Glory Shone Around (guestDennisParker)
LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY
1983 Finance Committee members and members of the Music Ministry Committee attend Living Christmas Trees in Jackson, TN and Montgomery, AL
1984 FBC amends 1984 Budget to include the cost of purchasing the structure of the Living Christmas Tree. The first presentation of the Living Christmas Tree was then held on December 15, 1984
1985 First year for LCT excerpts to be broadcast on Christmas Day (WHNT-19)
1987 First interpretation for the deaf
1991 Candlelight processional tradition begins
1994 Added “shrubs” to Tree structure
1995 First year to add the use of computer-controlled playback of pre-programmed lighting sequences
1998 First year to utilize complete FBC Orchestra. First year to employ use of digital special-effects moving-mirror stage lighting units
1999 “A Tree for the Children” added presentation begins
2009 Commissioned Music from Camp Kirkland premiered in celebration of 25th Anniversary. The LCT voted as “Best Holiday Event” by the Huntsville Times Readers’ Choice Poll
2010 LCT Chamber Singers featured in “An Irish Christmas” with HSO and guest artist Eileen Ivers (VBC Concert Hall)
2011 First online video recordings of complete Tree presentations available. The Learning Channel recognizes our Living Christmas Tree in its nationwide broadcast “Extreme Christmas Trees”
2012 Additional row added to bottom of Tree structure to accommodate growth in choir
2013 First live television broadcast of a complete LCT performance (WHNT-2); first livestreaming of a Tree performance online; addition of larger stage extensions to accommodate larger performing forces
2015 “A Tree for the Children” presentation moved to Saturday morning and a new abridged presentation of LCT highlights added to the weekend of presentations (Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM) to accommodate the growing number of ticket requests
2016 Large Tree lights replaced with LEDs (uses 86% less power), and upgraded the light control circuitry to DMX
2017 Wall wash lights were replaced with LEDs
2019 Two new colors and 4,000 new lights added to the Tree; use of video projection added in celebration of 35 year anniversary
2020 No live presentations due to pandemic; a pre-recorded, virtual presentation produced instead; feature broadcast of the video production on WHNT Saturday evening.
2022 Three Music Ministry Worship Leaders featured - Christmases past, present and future (Billy Orton, David Ragsdale, Aaron Jackson)
2024 40th Year Celebration of the Living Christmas Tree
If during or after the service, you would like to pray or talk to someone about what you have heard tonight, there will be a prayer team available in Room 251 across from the Sanctuary.
