The holiday season goes into high gear at SMU with a rare weekday observance of one of the University’s most beloved annual traditions. Celebration of Lights 2013 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 on the Main Quad.
The celebration features than 100,000 decorative lights, luminarias lining the sidewalks, musicians performing songs of the season, and SMU President R. Gerald Turner reading the Christmas story from the New Testament. Refreshments will be served. Check out slideshows and video of past Celebration of Lights ceremonies, courtesy of SMU News.
Other highly anticipated holiday events:
• On Thursday, Dec. 5, SMU’s Perkins School of Theology celebrates its Advent/Christmas Worship Service at 4 p.m and 8 p.m. in Perkins Chapel with the theme “…A child shall lead.” Children of Perkins faculty and staff members will join Dean William Lawrence and Associate Dean Evelyn Parker as readers for the services. The program also features music from the Perkins Seminary Singers directed by C. Michael Hawn; Meadows School of the Arts’ women’s ensemble, Diva Dolce (4 p.m.), directed by Robert Ward; the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas’ Women’s Youth Chorus (8 p.m.) directed by Kelly Pfaffenberger; and Perkins organist Christoper Anderson. Admission is free; food and cash donations for the North Texas Food Bank will be accepted in the chapel narthex at the entrance. For more information, contact Teresa Rosado, 214-768-2502.
• President and Mrs. R. Gerald Turner will host their annual All-University Holiday Party from 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, in the Martha Proctor Mack Ballroom, Umphrey Lee Center.
• The Guildhall at SMU hosts its Winter Exhibition on Friday, Dec. 20, at SMU-in-Plano. Graduating students in art creation, level design, production and programming will show their work, and attendees will have the opportunity to play games designed by students in multiple cohorts.
• The University celebrates its 2013 December Commencement Convocation at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, in Moody Coliseum. Retired and current faculty members will assemble for procession in academic dress no later than 9:45 a.m. in the Blanton Student Services Building lobby. Prior to the ceremony, a faculty breakfast will be served beginning at 8:45 a.m. in the Blanton Building. RSVP online for the faculty breakfast and processional and learn more about the ceremony.
