Ringing out the Christmas season

The Wesley United Methodist Church's Peals of Praise hand bell choir will join Sunday with the St. Joseph Cathedral Ringers and the Faith Lutheran Church Handbell Choir for the "Bells of Christmastide" hand bell concert.
The Wesley United Methodist Church's Peals of Praise hand bell choir will join Sunday with the St. Joseph Cathedral Ringers and the Faith Lutheran Church Handbell Choir for the "Bells of Christmastide" hand bell concert.

A long-standing, post-holiday tradition continues Sunday in Jefferson City with the "Bells of Christmastide" hand bell concert.

Many Mid-Missouri congregations have hand bell choirs, which have participated in this community event. This year, the St. Joseph Cathedral Ringers and the Faith Lutheran Church Handbell Choir will join the host Wesley United Methodist Church's Peals of Praise at 3 p.m. at 2727 Wesley St.

"Bells at Christmastime historically announce the birth of Christ," Peals of Praise Director Cherlyn Grubbs said. "There's just something about bells to make it very Christmas-y."

Three full sets of bells and chimes will line the front of the sanctuary, allowing each group to perform individually and together for the big finale, "Carol of the Bells."

Bell choirs are popular during the Christmas season, Grubbs said.

"We work so hard to prepare; it's a shame to play only once," she said.

And the experience of performing in a mass ring among all the choirs is fun.

"It's really cool to see all the ringers come together and playing in unison," Grubbs said.

The community concert allows separate bell choirs to appreciate one another's talents, she said.

During rehearsals and performances, the bell choir members concentrate on their own parts. At this concert, they can hear other choirs in liveform rather than recordings.

"It's such a visual art, too," Grubbs said. Plus, "it's fun to listen to others play."

Members tend to be highly committed and form tight-knit groups, she said.

"A hand bell choir is so different from other musical groups," Grubbs said. "Rather than several voices or instruments on the same part, if someone is not there, the note is not played."

The community is invited to donate items to the Samaritan Center food pantry while attending the concert. A reception will follow.

Both traditional and modern Christmas songs will be played, and different instruments and techniques will provide a variety of sound.

"It's cool to hear a familiar melody in different ways," she said. "The music is interesting; it's not just words."