The music department at Zion UCC, Second and Iron Streets in Lehighton, will present the Christmas Cantata, "Love's Pure Light" a Christmas worship experience created by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

This annual event has become a tradition at Zion church and was started by Paul and Linn Smith who served as choir director and organist of Zion for 44 years before their retirement in September of 2008.The cantata features 55 voices from various churches in the Lehighton area as well as some singers who are not affiliated with a church choir.Churches represented in the cantata include SS Peter and Paul, Dinkey Memorial, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Trinity Lutheran, St. Matthews, All Saints Episcopal Church, Grace Lutheran, St. John'sChurch, First Presbeterian, Zion UCC and Zion Opera Workshop all of Lehighton, Emmanuel UCC of Bowmanstown, Hope Lutheran Church of Cherryville, St. Joseph's Church, Summit Hill and Life Church, Pocono.The story of the Birth of Christ through music is being narrated by Split Rock Lodge's entertainment director, Doc Holiday and well known local story-teller, Kathy Long. Soloists include Joy Dougherty, Brent Harris and Robert Fatzinger.Zion's junior choir,The Choraliers, will also be featured in the cantata.The cantata is accompanied by the 20 piece Zion Festival Orchestra which features musicians from Pennsylvania and New Jersey.Cindy Mack, organist at Zion UCC has served as rehearsal pianist for practices and will perform with the orchestra as well.In addition to the cantata, the Zion Festival Orchestra will perform other pieces including Christmas Visions, A Canadian Brass Christmas and All is Calm which features clarinetist, Ken Leffler.O Holy Night with Away in a Manger will be performed as a duet featuring Cindy Mack on organ and Laura Cressley on Piano.The cantata and orchestra are under the direction of Bradly R. Cressley, director of music at Zion UCC.The cantata is free to the public but a free will offering will be taken.