Consider the true meaning of the season this year at “Lights of Christmas”—a new outdoor light show at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at Third and Pine Streets. The free 10-minute show, open to the public, will play every evening from December 18 through December 31.
Visitors can view the show from the sidewalk along Third Street, near the corner of Pine Street in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. The show will be staged in that corner of the St. Peter’s churchyard, along the side of the historic, brick church. The “Lights of Christmas” show will begin at 5 p.m. every evening and the show will run every 15 minutes through 7 p.m.
The centerpiece of the show is the nativity story, recited by Jen Childs, co-founder and artistic director of local theater company 1812 Productions. The show will also feature a 6-foot-tall multi-color LED-lit nativity, complete with the holy family, shepherd, wise men, angel, and animals.
More than 2,000 LED lights, including 12-foot-tall Christmas trees topped with stars, will twinkle synchronized to “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Joy to the World,” and other familiar carols recorded on the St. Peter’s Church’s E.M. Skinner organ and broadcast over outdoor speakers.
“The nativity story is a story of faith and peace, a story of God’s love for each and every one of us,” said the Rev. Claire Nevin-Field, rector of St. Peter’s Church. “We hope that this show, with its animated lights and beautiful music, will spread joy this Christmas season.”