he first time I went to the Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, I felt like I was in a fairytale! Every inch of the church I had attended dozens of times (and similar to the ones I attended throughout my life) was transformed into a Christmas wonderland. There was live music, all the hallways, chapel, classrooms, and the gym were decorated to represent different aspects of the way we celebrate Christmas. It was stunning.
For the past 3 years we haven’t been able to have this part of our celebration. I don’t have to tell any of you it’s been tough.
This year the Festival is back, and I get to be part of it! I’ll be playing and singing my own arrangements of some well-loved Christmas carols, as well as some of my original compositions (including my latest lullaby written for my 3 adorable grandbabies – I like to imagine that Mary sang something like this to baby Jesus.)
Also on my list are
Journey to Egypt (original). This piano piece is deeply meaningful to me as I recall some of the changes in my own life, and try to imagine what it would be like for brand new parents to be told by an angel that the king of the lands wants their new baby son dead, and to have to leave in the middle of night to begin life as a family in a brand new place.
Gesú Bambino, one of my long-time favorites. I love the bright, celebratory nature of this arrangement. It reminds me of so many choirs I’ve sung in, and the feeling of being together to celebrate this special time of year.
The Festival will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at
15205 SE 28th Street
Bellevue, WA
(behind the big white Temple)
December 6-11, from 1pm to 9pm.
I’ll be playing from 2-2:50pm on the 11th. You can attend any time you like, but if you decide to come that day, stop and say hi!
Whether Christmas is part of your family tradition or not, I’d love to invite you to come and celebrate with me. I’ll share my take on Christmas and how I like to celebrate. In my pretty long life, I’ve noticed that wherever I go, and whoever I meet, we’re all pretty much the same in our hearts – we love our families, we value truth and integrity, and we hope for a world filled with love and peace, and we do all we can to help create it.
I think the more we join together, the better chance we’ll have of making it happen.
