Fall is upon us, and thoughts will soon be turning to the Christmas season.

“The Greatest Story Ever Told” by Dennis and Nan Allen will be performed by the Zion Festival Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

This is a brand-new cantata for Zion’s ecumenical singers, and was a gift to the church from last year’s participants of the cantata.

The orchestration was purchased with memorial gifts in memory of Shirley Wentz and Carol LaRose, who were both faithful members of Zion UCC’s choir.

The group will once again be accompanied by the Zion Festival Orchestra, and will also be doing another anthem, which is to still to be determined.

“The Greatest Story Ever Told” is a special cantata consisting of a mix of contemporary and traditional songs.

It includes “For Unto Us a Child is Born/Open the Eyes of My Heart,” “Heaven Sings Glory,” “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “One King,” “A Strange Way to Save the World” and more.

All are encouraged to attend no matter what their singing experience is.

Practice CDs will be made available.

Rehearsal times and dates are as follows: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23; 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13; 3 p.m. Nov. 18 (practice with orchestra); 8:30 p.m. Nov. 21; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29; and 3 p.m. Dec. 2 (actual performance at 7:30 p.m.).

Participants are not expected to make every rehearsal, as the days of the week have been scattered so they don’t consistently interfere with other rehearsals or commitments.

To preregister to sing in the cantata, visit zionlehighton.org and click on the link in the article about the cantata, or show up at one of the rehearsals and register then.

For more details, contact director Brad Cressley at ccmusic@ptd.net.