BRUNSWICK — The 22nd annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Brunswick.

Under the direction of Ray Cornils (minister of music of First Parish Church, UCC, and Portland municipal organist), this popular community program bring choirs from Brunswick’s First Parish UCC, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic, St. John the Baptist Catholic, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist and Seventh-day Adventist churches; the Elijah Kellogg Church of Harpswell; and Mid-Coast Presbyterian Church in Topsham.

The combined choirs will sing carols and choruses by Michael Praetorius, Harold Darke, Hal Hopson, Mack Wilberg, John Rutter and others, interspersed with Biblical readings of prophesy and birth. Among the carols sung will be “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming,” “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Joys Seven,” “In the Bleak Mid-winter” and the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

This beautiful festival of Advent and Christmas music has become a great holiday tradition in the Mid-coast area. The community spirit of more than 100 singers from many local choirs joining together to sing wonderful music of the Christmas season in the beautiful sanctuary of St. John’s Church has made this festival one of Brunswick’s most popular holiday traditions.

The festival is preceded by a 15- minute prelude by The Parish Ringers at 2:45 p.m. This highly accomplished handbell choir based at Brunswick’s First Parish Church has often performed with the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s “Magic of Christmas” concerts.

Admission is by donation at the door, $10 suggested. Doors will open at 2:15 p.m. Early arrival is encouraged, as this annual event has become very popular in the community.

St. John the Baptist Church is located at 39 Pleasant St. For more information, call 729-7331.