The Christ the King Seminary Festival Chorus will perform at the annual vespers service Dec. 2.

The Western New York community is invited to begin the Advent and Christmas seasons by participating in the annual vespers service, a holiday tradition at Christ the King Seminary, on Sunday, Dec. 2. The service will begin at 4 p.m. in the seminary's St. John Vianney Chapel.

Vespers, the Church's solemn evening prayer, will include music by the Christ the King Seminary Festival Chorus, consisting of seminarians, resident clergy and faithful supporters of the seminary. Alan Lukas, director of music for the seminary and the Diocese of Buffalo, will lead the chorus through a selected arrangement of Scripture passages and sacred songs.

All are welcome to attend and no registration is required. A free-will offering will be received and a reception will follow.

In addition, an Advent dinner lecture titled, "Good Friday Falls on Christmas," will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, beginning with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the program at 6:30 p.m. The portraits of both the Madonna and Child - so popular on Christmas cards as well as Christmas carols - often contain hidden hints of the Passion and death which lie in the Christ child's future. Rev. Xavier Seubert, OFM and Alan Lukas will explore the art and sing carols to help attendees prayerfully enter into Advent.

Those interested in attending can register online at https://www.cks.edu/event/100394 or call Gayle Mann at 716-805-1438. The cost is $35 for dinner and the lecture, and $25 for the lecture only.