Don#'t be surprised to hear a host of heavenly voices coming from the Westminster Presbyterian Church on the Sunday preceding New Year's Eve. The congregation will be holding the traditional “Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.”

According to the church#'s pastor, Rev. Philip S. Windsor, the service, which is based on the King#'s College traditional “Festival of Nine Lessons, and Carols,” tells the story of Christmas from prophecy to Jesus#' birth. The service is part of the Christmas celebration leading up to Epiphany, the climax of the Advent season, on Jan. 6.

According to King#'s College of Cambridge, “Nine Lessons and Carols” was first held on Christmas Eve in 1918. The advent of broadcast then introduced the service to churches around the world, which have adapted the tradition.

Westminster#'s service will include nine readings from both the Old and New Testament interspersed with nine carols sung by either congregation or choir.

The prayers and lessons of the service are adapted from the original Order, drawn up in 1880 and later adapted by King#'s College Dean Eric Milner-White as the Nine lessons and Carols we know today.

Carols to look forward to hearing during the Order of Worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church include “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “All Through the Night,” “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and “Angels we have Heard on High,” according to church member Jo Fandrich.

Church members Bob Miller, Gary Rhodes, and Paul Dungy will sing solos.

According to the King#'s College Web site the focus of the service is “found by those who 'go in heart and mind' and who consent to follow where the story leads.”

If you go

What: The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

When: Sunday, Dec. 30 at 9:30 a.m.

Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn

Cost: Free and open to the public