Deanery Choir to sing at benefit fundraiser

MILFORD — The Deanery Choir will present a program of Advent and Christmas music on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Saint Patrick’s Church Hall, High and Fourth Streets in Milford, as a benefit fundraiser for People Helping People. The choir promises a mix of traditional and less-familiar Christmas songs, as well as a sing-along and “a few surprises.” People Helping People is a nonprofit service organization at Saint Patrick’s that raises funds for individuals and families who need emergency help with necessities like food, heating and electric. The group also gives out Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas presents for needy children and the elderly in Pike County. The Deanery Choir has performed widely in the Milford area, appearing at the Milford Music Festival, the Pike County Historical Society’s annual Christmas party and the Milford Business Council’s Fourth of July celebration, among numerous other venues. The group consists of more than 25 singers and instrumentalists who come from the music ministries of the various Catholic churches in Pike County. The choir’s repertoire covers many styles of Christian music, from traditional and contemporary to calypso and Gospel. The Advent/Christmas program includes beloved standard carols as well as many pieces from other cultures. Refreshments will be served after the concert, and door prizes will be awarded to a number of lucky ticket holders. Tickets are $10 per person; children under the age of 12 will be admitted free. Tickets will be sold after all the Masses at Saint Patrick’s, starting on Nov. 28. They are also available at the church office. The office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call 296-7451 for more.