DPCA Celebrates "Love Came Down at Christmas"

The Thursday evening prior to Christmas found the DPCA Cafetorium echoing with the sounds of joyful children's voices, bells, guitars, dulcimers, and more as the kindergarten through 8th grade musicians brought the glad Christmas message to parents and friends.

Beginning with the Christmas story read by select students from the 4th - 6th grade class, and continuing through songs from the kindergarteners, 1st - 3rd graders, and the 4th - 6th grade class, the program led the audience in remembering that Love came to earth at Christmas -- that Jesus' birth is the great good news of the Christmas holiday.  Many of the songs featured accompaniment on the guitar and dulcimer by Mr. and Mrs. Randy Barnes, and on guitars, bass guitar, and dulcimer by the eighth grade instrumental musicians.  In addition to singing, students also showed their growing musical talents with xylophones, bells, and autoharps during the program.

Featured music included How Great Our Joy; Away in a Manger; Lullaby, Jesus; I Saw Three Ships; Joy to the World; Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming; Christ Child Lullaby; and many more - plus, of course, the title song, "Love Came Down at Christmas."

The program was compiled and directed by Randy Barnes, with accompaniment assistance from Carol Barnes, Mary Anna Brasser, and student musicians Sam Austin, Chase Macnab, Shelby Phillips, and Cailyn Willis.  Stage assistants were Mary Johnson and Carmen and Linsey Curro, while lights, sound, and program photography were provided by Noah and Micah Ritschard. Jill Van Deel, Austina Campbell, and Kathy Akers handled programs and publicity.

Following the program, Mr. Ritschard announced the winner of the Mission Tree decorating/fundraising contest:  the 1st through 3rd grade class won with their tree for the Arkansas Valley Mission.  Their efforts with the tree and support for the Mission earned the class an ice-cream party later in the new year.