Highlights
- Critical Mission: The 39th annual Community Christmas Cantata, “Christmas Changes Everything,” returns to Yamhill County this December with the urgent goal of combating local food uncertainty.
- Community Fundraiser: This series of free concerts is a vital fundraiser for the Yamhill Community Action Partnership (YCAP) food bank, having already raised nearly $356,000 since 2004.
- County-Wide Performances: The tour runs from December 7 to 22, with stops in Newberg, Amity, Dayton, McMinnville, and Yamhill.
- Accessible to All: Every performance will be interpreted in American Sign Language, and one show will be available via livestream for those who cannot attend in person.
A Holiday Tradition with a Critical Purpose
For nearly four decades, the Community Christmas Cantata has marked the start of the holiday season in Yamhill County. But this year, its festive music carries a more urgent message. Themed “Christmas Changes Everything,” the series of performances is a crucial fundraising event for the YCAP food bank at a time of significant food insecurity in the region.
Organizers hope that free-will offerings collected at each of the seven performances will substantially add to the nearly $356,000 the event has raised for the food bank over the past two decades.
A Grand and Inclusive Production
The cantata is a massive volunteer effort, showcasing the power of community spirit. The one-hour production features a 60-person, non-denominational choir, a youth chorus, an American Sign Language choir, a narrator, and a full orchestra. Under the direction of Lee Schrepel, who has led the group for 35 years, musicians and singers from at least 17 Oregon communities unite their talents for this charitable cause.
“The upbeat and moving music is expected to appeal to most tastes and ages,” organizers said in a release, describing a blend of contemporary and traditional Christmas music.
2025 Performance Schedule
Don’t miss your chance to experience this beloved holiday tradition and support a vital community resource. The schedule is as follows:
- Dec. 7, 4 p.m.: Amity Christian Church, Amity
- Dec. 11, 7 p.m.: Church of the Nazarene, Newberg
- Dec. 12, 7 p.m.: First Baptist Church, Dayton
- Dec. 14, 6 p.m.: Seventh-day Adventist Church, McMinnville
- Dec. 20, 3 p.m.: Joyful Servant Lutheran Church, Newberg
- Dec. 21, 4 p.m.: St. John’s Catholic Church, Yamhill
- Dec. 22, 7 p.m.: St. James Catholic Church, McMinnville
How to Attend and Get More Information
All performances are free to the public, with donations gratefully accepted. For those unable to attend, the December 20th performance in Newberg is expected to be livestreamed on the Joyful Servant Lutheran Church’s YouTube channel.
Because the schedule can be affected by winter weather, it is recommended to call the host church after noon on the day of the event to confirm the performance. For more details, you can visit the choir’s official website at CantataChoir.org.
Image Referance: https://newberggraphic.com/2025/11/10/community-christmas-cantatas-set-for-december-in-yamhill-county/