Singers and listeners are ready to celebrate the season with Handel's "Messiah," the sing-it-yourself version. For the ninth year, all who wish to are invited to sing along with musical director Dewey Ehling, accompanist Pat Marcy, 21 instrumentalists and four soloists, or to sit back and enjoy listening to the music.

The program, a benefit for Sequim Community Aid, is from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.

There are no tickets but a $10 donation is encouraged, which will be donated to Sequim Community Aid and matched by a couple who wish to remain anonymous but want to encourage the event as a "community building" event as well as to support

Sequim Community Aid. "Handel with Care" shirts and carry bags will be available for purchase, also benefiting Sequim Community Aid. Punch and cookies will be available at intermission.

Participants can bring their own scores or use ones loaned by churches in Port Angeles and Seattle and the Port Angeles Symphony.

"Messiah" first was conducted by its composer George Frederick Handel as a fundraiser for an orphanage in Dublin, Ireland.

The fundraising, sing-it-yourself, concert idea came from San Francisco's University High School by way of Shirley Anderson, who taught science there before moving to Sequim. The high school used it as a fundraiser for youth programs in San Francisco.