Father Balaswamy Bathini will celebrate the Mass of the Nativity of the Lord at 9:00 p.m. Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Tonkawa.Preceding the Mass, the Christmas Choir, directed by Madison Davis and accompanied on the organ by Marjilea Smitheisler, will begin caroling at 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the caroling and the Mass.Kevin and Alison Caughlin will greet parishioners and guests in the church vestibule.As the choir leads the congregation in singing “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” the procession of celebrant and servers will enter the church with Wesley Vowell and Evelyn Gottman bringing the figure of the Christ Child to the crèche. Father Bathini will bless the crèche and then light the Christ Candle as the choir sings “Adeste Fideles.” Joe Caughlin will declaim the Christmas Proclamation.Serving at the altar will be Ryan Davis, Nathan Caughlin and Maria Caughlin. Melinda Glasgow will serve as sacristan.Lector Melinda Glasgow will read from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (9:1-6) and lector Nicole Caughlin will read from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (2:11-14). Father Bathini will proclaim the Gospel according to Luke (2:1-14) and preach the homily based on that scripture. Cantors are Abby Davis, April Caughlin, Carli Pendleton and Cecilia Tarrant.Aaron and Annmarie Stanford and their daughters Kennedy and Evelyn will present the offertory gifts as the Christmas Choir leads the congregation in singing “Silent Night”.Reta Swords will serve as the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. The choir will sing “Christmas Communion Song” during Holy Communion.Evergreen wreaths placed in the windows by Anne Evans and Myrna Fath symbolize the eternal God. Lighted Christmas trees arranged by Melinda Glasgow recall the light of Christ brought into the world. The red of the ribbons and poinsettias decorating the church symbolize the blood shed by the crucified Christ, who came into the world to bring salvation to mankind. The crèche, prepared by Melinda Glasgow, will remain throughout the Christmas season.Individual vocal selections during the caroling include: Carli Pendleton, “What Child Is This?”; Cecilia Tarrant, “Do You Hear What I Hear?”; Madison Davis, “Patiently Have I Waited”; and April Caughlin, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”. Father Bathini will sing “Baluda Chinni Balu-Da Baluda Mud-Dhu Baluda”, a Christmas carol from his homeland. Cellist Ken Crowder will perform “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and flutist Sydnee Jacobs will play “O Come O Come Emmanuel”.Father Bathini will celebrate ...
