Christmas Music Festival set for Jan. 5

FRIEDENS ― Friedens Lutheran Church will celebrate the 12th day of Christmas when it hosts its annual Christmas Music Festival at 7 p.m. Jan. 5.

Musicians from the church will be featured including the choir; Exultation; organist, Preston Showman; and other instrumental and vocal soloists. Special guests will include local guitar/vocalists John Larimer and Arnie McFarland. Larimer is well known to area concertgoers as he regularly performs with the band Whitehorse and is often seen with a dobro and/or guitar at area bluegrass and country music festivals. He will perform a couple of his own compositions including "He Said Yes," the song he wrote after the Quecreek mine rescue.

McFarland is the pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Somerset and is also a popular entertainer in Somerset. He regularly sings with the Laurel Highlands Chorale and was recently chosen to sing in a concert featuring the best talent in the area during the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra's 94th season, "Hometown."

There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken to benefit the Next Step Center in Somerset. The Next Step Center is a fully operational emergency shelter, providing temporary housing for Somerset County families and individuals while enabling them to work towards a resolution of issues that might have led to homelessness. More information about the organization and how you can help can be found at their website: https://www.nextstepcenter.org/

A reception will follow in the church's Friendship Hall.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Friedens church hosts annual Christmas Music Festival Jan. 5