Join Us for 10th Annual CTX Christmas Tree Lighting

Concordia University Texas has a collection of rich traditions, one of which is the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Students, parents, faculty, staff and the greater community gather at the edge of the Pier to watch the lighting.

This year, due to COVID-19, you can view the lighting either in person or virtually. However you participate, we look forward to celebrating the true reason for Christmas — when Christ entered the world to save us.

When & Where

The Concordia University Texas Christmas Tree Lighting will occur on December 3, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The lighting of the tree will also be livestreamed on Concordia's Facebook page for those who prefer to attend the event virtually. Those who attend in person on campus will enjoy an evening of festive Christmas music, delicious hot chocolate and pre-packaged cookies.

Adding Your Ornament to the Tree

We encourage you to decorate an ornament for the Concordia Christmas tree. This year, we're altering the schedule to promote social distancing.

Come to the Pier on Dec. 3 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. to decorate your ornament and put it on the tree.

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season

We are excited to celebrate the Christmas season with our Concordia family. Let's prepare our minds and hearts to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!"

Let the tree's brilliant lights that pierce the dark background of the canyon remind you that Jesus, the Light of the world, pierces dead souls, bringing salvation and eternal life to those who repent and believe in Him.

Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

We look forward to ushering in the Christmas season with you!