Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church will host "Holy Light: A Service of Lessons and Carols" at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The service is the church's annual musical welcoming of Advent and the upcoming Christmas season and is presented by Trinity's Sanctuary Choir and guest members. The choir will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra, organ and harp."The service of lessons and carols has become a tradition at Trinity," said Susan Lovejoy, organist and choir director. "We've been doing this for seven years now. It begins our Advent season for the church and for our community. The choir considers it a gift as they share the Christmas story in word and song."She noted that this year's service, written by Robert A. Hobby, contains a combination of reverent Advent hymns and familiar, joyful Christmas carols. Hobby's musical journey through the seasons of Advent and Christmas begins with "Let All Mortal Flesh" and "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus," and soon celebrates the birth of Christ with carols such as "Still, Still, Still" and "What Child is This."Lovejoy noted that word "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus," which means "coming.""In Advent, we are remembering how the Jews were longing for the coming of a Messiah. As Christians, today we also celebrate Advent as we are longing for the second coming of Christ," she said.The latter portion of the service is dedicated to well-known carols such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and ends with "Joy to the World.""It prepares us to celebrate the season of Christmas," she said.The congregation is invited to sing along with many of the carols."There are familiar carols, which are mixed with readings," said Lovejoy. "The readings are a mixture of poetry and Scripture to present the Christmas story, which is a little bit different."Poetry and meditations are written by Susan Palo Cherwien, a well-author of inspirational and religious texts.A freewill offering will be taken during the service to benefit the Trinity Food Pantry, which serves needy individuals and families in the Lehighton Area School District.Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 175 S. Third St., Lehighton.