Christmas spirit may indeed originate from within, but it can be positively affected by outside stimuli. One particularly festive outside stimulus is music.

"Music began in the church," said Debbie Kline-Smith, the director of the Lititz Area Community Choir. "It has always been a part of worship and entertainment. Music allows people living in a current situation to go to a different place. It might make them think of things from the past. I think that's one of the reasons people come. Musicians have been part of celebrations forever. People find great joy in music. It's a way to remember and reminisce."

The Lititz Area Community Choir, Warwick Alumni and Friends' upcoming performance is designed to put everyone involved in a specific frame of mind for Christmas. This year's seasonal concert by the local choir, titled "The Majesty Glory of Christmas," will be presented at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, inside Warwick High School's 1,400-seat Performing Arts Center, 301 W. Orange St., Lititz.

The concert is free to attend, and a goodwill offering will be accepted.

"It's kind of like an awe-inspiring Christmas," said Kline-Smith. "The glory of Christmas is always tied to a lot of power, which is accompanied by the birth of Baby Jesus. The glory is like the restoration of humanity. It signifies hope for the future, and not just the biblical part of it. It's like the rebirth of a new year."

The hourlong musical presentation will include 10 well-known holiday selections, including "O Holy Night," "Joy to the World," "Silent Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." The concert will feature soloists Holly Colvin, Allison Fund-Drogemueller, Toni Guhl, Matthew Hehnly, Ethan Reimel and Lillyan Steiberg.

The performance will not include an intermission.

"The audience can expect hearing recognizable tunes," said Kline-Smith, a retired, longtime music educator in the Warwick School District. "They'll hear some very fine singing. We work hard to get to what we consider choral excellence. There will be a few props and backgrounds that will make it more of a performance or an experience. It's going through all parts of the holiday season. It's all tied together. When (audience members) leave on the 21st, they'll really feel like Christmas is coming."

The Lititz Area Community Choir, Warwick Alumni and Friends is made up of about 90 talented singers of all ages, ranges and backgrounds, mainly graduates of the Warwick School District's musical program, but also those who have previously been involved with programs of surrounding school districts. The choir will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra.

"These people love to perform," said Kline-Smith. "They love music, and they love singing in a group setting. For many of them, it's an opportunity to continue their singing. They're performers who use their voices. It's just an outlet for people to have as a hobby."

"They're very hard workers," continued Kline-Smith. "They're very dedicated. They seem to enjoy it. I pick music that I hope they enjoy singing and that the audience will enjoy hearing. The arrangement of this music is absolutely beautiful."

Preparations for "The Majesty Glory of Christmas" began in June, and the choir began rehearsing as a group in September. Two-hour rehearsals were conducted every Thursday night at Brunnerville United Methodist Church.

"It's typical that choirs perform a holiday concert," said Kline-Smith. "We would be performing every weekend in December; there's that much demand. This is truly a choral setting where we sing in a four- or eight-part harmonies. We are providing something that moves the audience aesthetically. I think we as people need more of that in life. This is a real positive thing, and it's traditional."

The Lititz Area Community Choir, Warwick Alumni and Friends was formed in August of 2022. The Dec. 21 performance will be the seventh public concert presented by the group.

"I hope people will have a desire to come and see what it's all about," said Kline-Smith. "For people who have seen us before, I hope they come to continue the journey with the choir."

For additional information, search for "Lititz Area Community Choir, Warwick Alumni and Friends" on Facebook.