by Carolina Zimbron, Student Public Relations Writer
The most wonderful time of the year — Christmas — is quickly approaching and Cedarville University will begin its celebration with its traditional Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Stevens Student Center Lakeside Plaza. The ceremony will be free of charge and open to the public.
Cedarville’s 32-foot Christmas tree will have nearly 1,000 ornaments and more than 15,000 lights — plus a 4-foot star. The university will provide cookies and hot chocolate for all participants.
“We just found that the best way to celebrate the Christmas season at Cedarville University is by singing the classic Christmas carols and reading Scripture — focusing on Jesus as the center of the holiday,” said Kaileigh McCann, director of advancement communications and events.
Cedarville’s HeartSong worship team formed by Caroline Canning, a junior music performance major from Deerfield Beach, Kentucky; Lucas Clark, a senior worship major from Mt. Washington, Kentucky; and Lincoln Strong, a senior worship major from Westfield, Indiana, will lead in the singing of the Christmas carols. They will perform “Noel” and “Behold Him” at the celebration. Aaron Cook, director of discipleship ministries, and his wife, Laurie, will be reading the Christmas story from portions of the book of Luke.
“This event just really focuses our hearts and minds on the right things,” McCann said. “Focusing on the gift of Christ, and the joy and hope He brings to the world, shifts our focus from the commercialized Christmas we know.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 5,456 undergraduate, graduate, and dual enrolled high school students in more than 175 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, high graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and the No. 4 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal for student engagement. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.