MARIETTA - Marietta First Baptist Church is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its "Carols By Candlelight" concert on Sunday and Monday evening. The annual Christmas concert has become a huge success thanks to its founder, Associate Pastor Dr. Paul Hill.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday in the church's sanctuary, located at 148 Church St. just off Marietta Square. It is free and open to the public.

Hill, 51, is minister of music and worship at the 174-year-old church. He started the concert at his previous church in Jacksonville, Fla., and brought the popular idea here when he began working at MFBC 10 years ago. He said it's done early in December to kick off the Christmas season.

The 74-member MFBC choir performs at the concert with a 33-piece orchestra. A wide range of Christmas carols are sung, Hill said.

"Some are what you would consider a festival chorus sound - big volume and full orchestra sound, really fills the room up," Hill said. "And then there are some sweet, intimate pieces."

Hill said "Carols By Candlelight" has grown in popularity over the years at MFBC and filled a niche in the city's Christmas celebrations.

"We have wonderful music programs in the Marietta area and the ministers of music are some of my good friends, but I didn't see anyone doing anything like this," he said. "I decided that this would be a good way for our church to present our music to the community. The church has always had outstanding music."

As "Carols by Candlelight" celebrates its 10th anniversary, so is Hill. He has garnered praise for expanding MFBC's music ministry.

Erin Barnett, a choir member and former Sprayberry High School principal, credits Hill for bringing out the talents of the choir members and being creative in designing the church's worship service.

"He has set a standard of excellence in our music program that's been amazing to watch," said Barnett, who also plays the cello in MFBC's orchestra.

The orchestra was established by Hill to bring out the flavor of the worship service. Previously, there was only an organ and piano. Hill, who is a professional conductor, said the orchestra was a natural idea given is background in conducting and working with choirs.

Hill also added two musical ensembles to the music ministry, in addition to the adult and children's choirs.

At MFBC, there is a contemporary worship service at 8:45 a.m. and a traditional service at 11 a.m. Sunday.

"The one thing that I think I've brought to the worship service here is an intensity on hymns," Hill said. "We are unashamedly a traditional worship service and we have no intent on changing it."

However, Hill said he has sought to make traditional hymns more engaging and interesting.

"I think I've brought that and a pacing to the service that moves it along," he said.

Marietta native Marcia Ruff - sister of Marietta High School stadium announcer Hap Smith - is a lifelong member of the 1,700-member Baptist church and choir member. She described Hill as a "wonderful musician and great teacher."

Hill lives in west Cobb with his wife, Janet, and has two children. He recently earned a Ph.D. in musical arts while on sabbatical. He was responsible for starting MFBC's Church Street Arts program which provides private music lessons. And he said he envisions starting a community orchestra in Cobb in the near future.

"I see myself as a church music educator," Hill said. "I really believe that for people to enjoy using their music and worship, we need to educate on how to make the music and make it the very best they can make it."