Christmas Caroling in the Barn with the Friendly Beasts event

Faith Lutheran Church of Windham invites the community to a Christmas Caroling in the Barn event that will take place on Sunday, December 15 at The Hartwell Farm, 443 Sebago Lake Road in Gorham at 1 p.m.

This will be an old-fashioned community carol sing held in a cozy barn with live animals,

storytelling, hot cocoa, Christmas cookies and special treats for the children.

“Because Mary and Joseph had to seek shelter in a stable the night Jesus was born, Faith Lutheran has a longstanding tradition of gathering in a barn to tell the story of that first Christmas,” stated Faith Lutheran Pastor Jane Field. “This year, we’re giving our tradition a new twist. Instead of a pageant, we will use the French carol, ‘The Friendly Beasts,’ to tell the Christmas story.” 

Based on an ancient European legend that at midnight on Christmas Eve animals can speak, the carol gives each animal in the Bethlehem stable a voice to tell of the gift they gave the Christ child. 

“On December 15, everyone is invited to join us as we sing to the animals who live at Hartwell Farm, including a donkey, a horse, cows, goats and hens, and folks will have a chance to see these animals close up (and maybe even feed them a treat or two!),” Field said.

“We will sing lots of other carols, too, and enjoy Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. Every family who joins us will receive an ornament to take home, and we will have a present for each child who participates.  This very special event is a gift from Faith Lutheran to our neighbors in the community, given in the spirit of joy and love that are at the heart of Christmas.”