(singing) Tonight on New Hampshire Crossroads, a special holiday concert.

We travel to Newport to hear an 88-member choir representing 26 different churches throughout the Sunapee region.

They call themselves the Area Choir, and for 40 years now they have brought Christmas cheer to New Hampshire.

Angels are singing, the Christ child is born Hi, I'm Fritz Wetherbee, and this is New Hampshire Crossroads.

Theme Music Today we're at Emery Farm in Durham, New Hampshire.

And we're here because Emery Farm always has the most spectacular Christmas decorations.

And tonight, we have a very special Christmas show for you.

Over in the Sunapee region, there is a saying that it's not Christmas until the Area Choir presents its annual Christmas concert.

Every year, at Christmas time, members from 26 different churches from 12 separate area towns come together to form the choir.

They have Episcopalians and Methodists and Congregationalists and Baptists, Christian Scientists, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Seven Day Adventists.

All join forces for a celebration in song.

The Area Choir presents its concert at the South Congregational Church over in Newport, New Hampshire, and this year, on their 40th anniversary, we had a chance to tape their concert.

I think you will find this a very special Christmas program.

Organ Music Hark!

The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on Earth, and mercy mild God and sinners, reconciled Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies with th’angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark!

the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King Christ, by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord late in time behold him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, hail th’incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel Hark!

the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King Organ 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 men their songs employ While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy Organ Music Hodie!

Christ, the Lord, is born today in the manger!

Hodie!

Christ, the Lord, is born Hodie!

Christ, the Lord, has come to say, Peace I bring you!

Hodie Christ, the Lord, is born (overlapping choral singing) Hodie!

Christ, the Lord is born!

Christ, the Lord is born!

Gloria Gloria Organ Music The tree of life My soul hath seen Laden with fruit, and always green The tree of life My soul has seen Laden with fruit, and always green The trees of nature , fruitlessly compared with Christ the apple tree His beauty doth all things excel.

By faith I know, but ne’er can tell His beauty doth all things excel.

By faith I know but ne’er can tell.

The glory which I now can see In Jesus Christ the apple tree For happiness I long have sought And pleasure dearly I have bought.

For happiness I long have sought and pleasure dearly I have bought I missed of all, but now I see Tis found in Christ the apple tree I’m weary with my former toil.

Here I will sit and rest awhile I’m weary with my former toil, here I will sit and rest awhile under the shadow I will be Of Jesus Christ the apple tree This fruit doth make my soul to thrive it keeps my dying faith alive This fruit doth make my soul to thrive It keeps my dying faith alive Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ the apple tree Organ Music How do you capture the wind on the water?

How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How can you measure the love of a mother?

Or how can you write down a baby’s first cry?

Candlelight, angel light firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle til breaking of dawn.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angles are singing The Christ child is born Organ Music Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him Seraphim round him their vigil will keep Nations proclaim him their Lord and their savior But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle ’til breaking of dawn.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing, the Christ child is born Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger Christ our Redeemer, asleep in the hay Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation A child with his mother that first Christmas Day Canglelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow Shine on his cradle til breaking of dawn Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!

Angels are singing The Christ is born Organ Music Oooh Still, still, still One can hear the falling snow.

For all is hushed The world is sleeping Holy Star its vigil keeping.

Still, still, still One can hear the falling snow Ooh, ooh Sleep, sleep sleep Tis the eve of our Savior’s birth The night is peaceful all around you Close your eyes Let sleep surround you Sleep, sleep, sleep Tis the eve of our Savior’s birth Ooh, ooh Dream, dream, dream Of the joyous day to come While guardian angels without number watch you as you sweetly slumber Dream, dream, dream Of the joyous day to come Organ Music The holly and the ivy when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood The holly bears the crown.

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the tree that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown The rising of the sun And the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Savior.

The rising of the sun And the running of the deer the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir The holly bears a berry, as red as any blood, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good The rising of the sun and the running of the deer the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas day in the morn.

The rising of the sun and the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, for to redeem us all.

The rising of the sun and the running of the deer.

The playing of the merry organ sweet singing in the choir.

Sweet singing sweet singing, sweet singing, sweet singing singing, singing, Fa la La la la la la la la la la la la Sweet singing in the choir Sweet singing in the choir Organ Music Silent night Holy night All is calm, all is bright.

Round yon virgin mother and child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace Silent night holy night Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from Heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ our Savior is born Christ our Savior is born Wasn't that just lovely?

In case you're wondering, Donald Cox is the director of the Area Choir and Judy Andrews accompanied on the organ.

We would like to give special thanks as well to Karen Kosky Little for her help in organizing the concert.

And of course, thanks to the members of the Area Choir and the folks at the South Congregational Church.

I'm Fritz Wetherbee.

We here at New Hampshire Crossroads would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless the silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight How silently How silently the wondrous gift is giv’n So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n No ear may hear his coming but in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth