Hastings College will present A Festival of Lessons and Carols, Thursday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m., in French Memorial Chapel. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Following the performance, the Hastings College Crimson Connection will serve complimentary wassail and cookies in Hazelrigg Student Union.

    College officials and students will read nine lessons, from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, that tell the story of Christmas. The Hastings College Choir, directed by Dr. Fritz Mountford, will offer choral responses to each. The Hastings College Bell Choir, under the direction of Dr. Byron Jensen, and the congregation, accompanied by a string quartet, will take part in a selection of carols, hymns and anthems to amplify each scripture lesson.

    A Festival of Lessons and Carols, an ecumenical religious service, originated in 1880 with Archbishop Benson, Bishop of Truro, who used the lessons at his cathedral.

    Student readers include: junior Katy Steurer, daughter of Robert Steurer and Colleen Stanfill, Boone, Colo.; junior Tim Moore, son of Paul and Rebecca Moore, Wichita Falls, Texas; sophomore Melanie Hiatt, daughter of Michael and Lisa Hiatt, Harvard, Neb.; junior Brandon Diamond, son of Anthony and Theresa Locke, Independence, Mo.; and senior Chris Gamble, son of Jonathan and Nancy Gamble, Eagle, Colo. Faculty and staff readers include: Dr. Phil Dudley, college president; George White, professor of theatre arts. Dr. Liz Behrens, professor of mathematics and computer science; and Judy Sandeen, director of campus health services.

    The west doors of French Memorial Chapel will open to the general public at 7 p.m., with music for meditation beginning at 7:10 p.m. The service will begin at 7:30 p.m. There will be no admittance after 7:50 p.m.