By Dwight Otwell, Contributing Writer
Murphy – It’s time for singers to perch in the 30-foot tree at the 49th annual Singing Christmas Tree as the Lord will be worshiped in music, dance and gospel pageantry.
The event will be presented three consecutive days at First Baptist Church of Murphy, across from McDonald’s on Hiwassee Street. A matinee will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Other performances will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, and Monday, Dec. 15. All performances are free to the public.
The title of the musical is The Story of Christmas – Worship the King.
“This is a good music set,” Singing Christmas Tree Director Carol Moss said. “We have done this music in the past but it is worth repeating. We have a good group of singers.”
Other than singing and music, there will be pageantry, including banners, children performing, dance and a nativity scene, she said. “Come out and make the Christmas story your story this year. It is our way to say to the community ‘Merry Christmas’. ”
The Christmas tree is almost 30-feet high with singers stationed in the tree from bottom to top. A star at the top points toward the highest point of the sanctuary. The tree is green with hundreds of small, white lights that appear to be tiny stars.
The first Singing Christmas Tree at First Baptist began in 1977.
“This is the 49th year, and it has been a way to give back to the community,” pastor Jimmy Tanner said. “Next year, will be the 50th year for the tree, and I will invite everyone who has been part of the tree to come back and see us. We hope to have 100 people singing with us for the 50th annual Singing Christmas Tree.”
This will be Tanner’s 12th and a half tree. He said it is because he helped take the tree down just before he became pastor in January.
The 2 p.m. matinee Saturday, Dec. 13, will give people a chance to see the performance and then go to the annual Bethlehem Market Place.
Things have changed since Tanner first began participating in the tree. Jackie Wayman, Ken Lance and Dan Anderson previously headed up the tree. They are all in heaven now, he said.
Moss has Chastity Ledford helping with choreography. Narration will be by Susan Profont and Leighton West.
Many people come back to see the Singing Christmas Tree every year, Tanner said.
Jerry Brackett first became involved with the tree in 1986. He is an amateur person who can’t read music, he said.
“But when you put it all together, it is a wonderful time of music and a gospel presentation for everyone involved,” he said.
The writer is a member of First Baptist Church of Murphy.