Christ Church Caroling on Friendship Square

December 5th, Moscow, Idaho.

Members of Christ Church, a local evangelical congregation, gathered to sing Christmas carols on Friendship Square on Sunday, December 5th, singing about a dozen traditional carols followed by hot cocoa and cookies. This is a yearly tradition for the church, and gathered approximately 300 people.

As they began singing, an individual residing in the second floor of the Moscow Hotel allegedly placed a noise machine speaker system in the window of an apartment in an attempt to drown out the Christmas carols. According to a witness at the scene who measured the sound with his smartphone, it topped 90 decibels. Meanwhile another individual on the steps of the Moscow Hotel yelled at the gathered families singing, and made disparaging gestures.

Pastor Doug Wilson stood up after a song and said, “Two things – the first thing we should do is on three yell ‘Merry Christmas.'” The carolers shouted a robust “Merry Christmas” on three, directed at those at the Moscow Hotel attempting to drown out the singing. Wilson continued, “The second thing is let’s move across the street around the fountain.”

The carolers crossed the street and continued singing. After a short while the noise from the noise machine ceased, and singing continued unhindered until the end of the event.

The individual responsible for the noise machine was issued a citation by Moscow Police for disturbing the peace, and an MPD officer stayed on the scene to ensure no more illegal disturbances would take place.

As the carolers made their way across the street, one of the carolers, Jared Longshore, tells the camera, “Merry Christmas! We do love them up there.”

VIDEO: Noise machine, and response by Doug Wilson and Carolers, followed by caroling.


Panoramic image of caroling
Dr. Mark Reagan, Christ Church Music Director, leads the singing
Part of the group of carolers on Friendship Square
An onlooker gestures at the carolers

See also: Past Caroling videos:
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