A festive service of Nine Lessons and Carols for the season of Advent will take place Dec. 19 at Trinity Episcopal Church at 6:30 p.m.

The Rev. Bill King of Trinity Episcopal Church said the service of lessons and carols is a popular Advent service of nine Bible readings and nine Advent Christmas carols sung.

“Many Episcopal, United Methodist and some Presbyterian churches use this service of word and music as a worship service during Advent,” King said.

The service is hosted annually by Trinity Episcopal Church, Lime Springs United Methodist, Maplesville United Methodist and Resurrection Roman Catholic Church. Clergy from the churches will participate in the service including the Rev. Jim Shannon of Lime Springs United Methodist Church, the Rev. Bruce Bumbarger of Resurrection Church, the Rev. Bill King and the Rev. Deacon C.J. VanSlyke of Trinity Church.

A combined choir from all four churches will lead the singing of traditional carols and hymns during the service.

Walter Hayden, choir director at Trinity and Resurrection, assisted by Jason Grace will coordinate the music for the service.

King said the Advent service of lessons and carols includes nine Old Testament and New Testament scripture readings that offer a message about the coming of the Messiah and the anticipated birth of Jesus.

“This style of service originated more than 100 years ago at the King’s Chapel at Cambridge University in England,” King said. “Over the years, lessons and carols has become a spiritual tradition throughout the world during the season of Advent which are the four weeks of preparation for the Christmas season.”

This year, an offering will be received during the service and given to the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center to assist in addressing the needs of the hungry in Chilton County.

The service is open to the public and all are invited to come for the one hour service of music and biblical readings. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow the service.