The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cortez will host a community sing-in of Handel’s “Messiah” Sunday, Dec. 4 at 26525 County Road M.

It is the ninth performance of the event after a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19.

While the sing-in officially starts at 7 p.m., organizer Patricia Faulkner suggests those who plan to participate in the chorus arrive about 6:30 to get their music.

The nondenominational sing-in is free and open to everyone, without the usual months of preparations and practices.

“There are many people who would love to sing in the “Messiah,” but normally speaking, you would practice for months to do that because it’s such difficult music,” Faulkner said. “So, what we do is we have local singers and we have a local orchestra and they perform the solo numbers. The community can come and just sing the choral numbers.”

According to Faulkner, the youngest soloist this year is 12 years old, while the oldest is 90.

People also are welcome to attend to listen to the music or sing along.

“They can come and just sing,” Faulkner said. “It’s not professional, it’s just a great community, nondenominational experience to sing this beautiful music.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stepped in to host the event and cover the cost of the programs and posters after the Methodist church was unable to host this year.

Cookies, drinks and displays of Nativity scenes will be available after the sing-in.

Faulkner urges people who wish to sing in the choir to not let nerves, lack of experience or practice stand in their way.

“It’s just come and enjoy singing, eat a cookie and look at Nativities,” she said. “One of my mantras has been through the whole thing, it’s about participation and not perfection.”

After two years without the sing-in, Faulkner said she and the other organizers are thrilled to have it back on.

“It’s just a wonderful experience and we’re extremely excited to do it again this year,” she said.