Got holiday spirit?

Above the din of salesmen Santas and yuletide elevator music, consider an invitation to hear hauntingly beautiful music reflecting the joy and beauty of this Christmas season.

For 18 years under the direction of Linda Blanchard, the St. Cecilia Chamber Choir has presented “A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols.”

The choir will sing carols and anthems, both old and new,with accompaniment by Sean Fleming, interspersed with readings from poetry and scripture. Composers of selected works include John Rutter, Cecilia MacDowell, Malcolm Archer, Gabriel Jackson, Will Todd, Philip Ledger and Midcoast composer Richard Francis.

Participating “urchins,” children who sing and attend to candle lighting, will be Hermione Blanchard-Fleming and Tristan Hearth. The audience will be invited participate by joining the choir in singing selected traditional Christmas carols.

This year’s performances will be on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Newcastle’s Second Congregational Church (River Road) and on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Bowdoin Chapel in Brunswick on the college grounds.

Tickets are $15 for adults, students admitted free, and may be purchased at the Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta, or ordered on line at www.ceciliachoir.org. For further information, contact Linda Blanchard at 207-380-2768.