Think of it as a very large shower with superb acoustics — or the most forgiving of choirs. Or think of it as a way to release holiday stress in song. Every year the Reston Singers offers members of the community the chance to sing along to Handel’s Messiah. And every year, a few hundred people take them up on it.

Last night’s concert featured exquisite soloists, robust alto and soprano sections (as usual, this seemed a female-driven enterprise) and enough tenors and basses to make do. Together, we made our way through “Glory to God,” “For He Shall Purify,” “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and other choruses.

The big kahuna came at the end, and that was, of course, the “Hallelujah Chorus.” By then we were in fine fettle. We’d warmed up our pipes and were ready to belt it out. And we did.

When I stood to leave there was a lone tenor behind me. He admitted that he had gotten goosebumps from the experience. And I admitted that I had, too. The Singalong Messiah was a high-octane dose of seasonal cheer.

(From a 2023 Messiah concert by professionals. I took no photos last night.)