Lighting of the Quad Kicks Off 2013 Christmas Season at Mississippi College

MC students enjoying the festivities surrounding the annual Lighting of the Quad.

Mississippi College students will ship hundreds of T-shirts to aid a mission trip to Nicaragua, Christmas trees will be delivered to needy metro Jackson families and holiday music will fill the air.

It’s all part of the Christian university’s Lighting of the Quad on December 3 to embrace the 2013 Christmas season on campus and spread joy throughout the Clinton community.

The festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. that Tuesday evening with plenty of hot chocolate and cookies served to visitors and the Mississippi College campus illuminated to brighten the holiday spirit.

“Each year, it rings in the Christmas season with the lights, hot chocolate, the Christmas story and new surprises,” says Dannie Woods, assistant director of student life.

Coupled with the 500 T-shirts going to people in the Western Hemisphere’s second poorest nation, and the Christmas trees going to needy local families, “it is a great MC tradition that we love to continue,” Woods said. The community is invited to the Campus Activities Board production.

Mississippi College senior Saysha Sebren of Madison always looks forward to the event in early December. “My favorite part is turning off the regular lights and just having the Christmas lights,” she said. “Everybody comes together. It gets me in the spirit of Christmas.”

The third annual T-shirt drive is community-wide.

There will be Christmas trees decorated on the Quad, English professor David Miller is expected to read the Christmas story and jovial personalities from STAR 93.5, the university’s Christian radio station, will greet visitors. Making the night merrier, the university’s clubs and tribes will engage in some friendly gingerbread competition. “It will be a fun family event,” Woods said. The theme is “Home for the Holidays.”

The Campus Activities Board “wants to welcome all of MC and all of the Clinton community into our home,” said senior Moriah Chitwood, a communication major from Little Rock, Arkansas. “We encourage people to come bundled and bring a bundle of shirts,” she said. “This is an event you do not want to miss.”

That same Tuesday evening at Provine Chapel, the Baptist-affiliated university’s annual winter choral concert is set for 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The Lighting of the Quad comes just two days before the 28^th annual Festival of Lights featuring the award-winning MC Singers.

Booked for December 5-7, the festival has been a must-see Christmas tradition at Mississippi College since 1986. The MC Singers are joined by faculty members to present a memorable worship service combining music and scripture. Music professor Jamie Meaders directs the 55-member group.

Tickets for the 2013 Festival of Lights are $15 for adults, $10 for MC faculty and staff and $5 for any student with a school ID card. Provine Chapel seats about 350 visitors. The best advice for patrons is to order tickets in advance and arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the 7:30 p.m. performances.

For more information, contact the Music Department’s Dottie Serio at 601.925.3440.