By Jasmine Liu ‘25
While the upcoming week may just seem like the long, work-filled week before the notorious assessment week, it is also the week when the biggest Chapel service of the St. Mark’s school year will take place: Lessons and Carols.
Every year before winter break, St. Mark’s celebrates Lessons and Carols during Evening Chapel which includes choral singing, orchestral performances, and lessons of scripture from christian tradition. This is a popular celebration among Episcopal (religious) schools – a tradition that began in England in the 19th century when carols were not traditionally sung in church. Typically, St. Mark’s has traditionally held two services, with one open to the public. However, this year, due to the desire to hold the service in Belmont Chapel instead of the Class of ‘45 Hall like last year, Lessons and Carols will take place over two days of the academic week: on Tuesday, December 6th and on Thursday, December 8th. Unfortunately, the chapel will be too small to fit the school as well as the school orchestra and choir, the groups who will be performing and in the front of the chapel during the event. Students will be split into the two Chapel services based on their after school sport/activity.
On each evening of the Lessons and Carols, students will first be having a buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m. right before the service. Students will be seated by sports teams or activities. For those who are not attending the service that day, they will be having their buffet dinner at 6:15 pm while Lessons and Carols is happening. During the Evening Chapel, the school, alongside the choir, will be singing hymns and carols such as Personent Hodie, Silent Night, and Little O’ Town of Bethlehem, with the orchestra playing in the background. Additionally, there will be nine lessons of scriptures, one presented after each hymn. The service is predicted to last for around one hour from 6:15 to 7:15 pm. After the service, VIth Formers will have coffee and dessert in the faculty room while orchestra and choir have their dinner in Taft.
With the Lessons and Carols being held in Belmont Chapel, there are many circulating opinions among the student body. While some St. Mark’s veterans who went to Lessons & Carols last year enjoy the service and view it as their favorite Chapel event at St. Mark’s, others think of it as nothing special. “Not gonna lie, last year’s L&C was sort of dull. Dinner wasn’t that special either,” one IVth former commented. “However, I think it’ll be better this year since it’s gonna be at Belmont Chapel (and the orchestra gets catered dinner from Chipotle).” Yet, another student remarked that they “enjoy singing the hymns during L&C”. New students who’ve never experienced such an event before also have a variety of opinions. “I don’t exactly know what to expect, but I hope the food will be good,” one St. Marker remarked. Another stated “as long as the chapel’s warm, then I’ll be fine.” Some are also eager to experience the new, Christmas-y chapel service.
Nevertheless, Lessons and Carols is a memorable part of St. Mark’s school year for many since it differs from the typical sleepy chapel in the morning. Hopefully this year’s Lessons and Carols will incite the holiday spirit, relax us before the assessment week ahead, and be remembered as a wonderful part of a St. Mark’s students’ experience.