Christmas Carol Service – 17/12/23
Musical Prelude: ‘Candlelight Carol’ sung by our Quartet with Andrew Robinson
Opening Words: ‘We Have an Old Story to Tell’ by Gretchen Haley (adapted)
Calling all who cannot wait any longer for joy,
for hope and some good news (even a little).
The time has come, the waiting is over.
Here in this time we have an old story to tell:
one that has been shared over and over for thousands of years,
But still somehow it remains unheard; still radical and risky;
Breaking through into these days of darkness and cold, division and fear;
Interrupting the perpetual stories of violence and loss and the feelings of powerlessness.
Into the errands and errors of our everyday,
Christmas arrives not only to comfort but to awaken;
to reassure and also to stir us up as a new life,
a life of peace, and justice, and courageous love struggles to be born;
Wondering if we will yet be the ones who make room in our lives and in our world
for the refugee, the poor, the plain and messy sweetness of a newborn baby;
If we will take the journey to Bethlehem;
If we will be changed by the presence of a love
that meets us where we are, in the fields, wherever we lay
And calls us forth into a new journey: a braver and bolder life;
Believing that it is not too late for strong and gentle people to win
For compassion and truth to have the final say
For the bright light of hope to shine through
Even when life seems bleak and we fear all is lost.
Come – let us celebrate the good news of Christmas – and let us worship together.
Words of Welcome and Introduction:
These opening words – adapted from some by Gretchen Haley – welcome all who have gathered this morning, for our Christmas carol service. Welcome to those who have gathered in-person at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jane Blackall and I’m Minister with Kensington Unitarians.
In today’s service we will be returning to the old, familiar, Christmas story – looking at it through a Unitarian lens, of course – through readings, reflection, (and lots and lots of carol singing) we can take time to explore our own understanding of it and reconnect with the deeper meaning of the season.
Before we launch into it, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that we are here, now, together. We’ve gathered, once again, in this spiritual community – this sacred space that we co-create by our presence and intention – so let’s consciously set aside any fuss or bother we came in carrying. We can pick it up again in an hour or so if we need to. This time and space is precious so let’s Be Here Now.
Lighting of Chalice and Advent Candle: ‘The Divine Light, Waiting to be Reborn’ by Simon John Barlow
Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual
connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over,
and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which we are a part.
(light chalice)
This Christmas we light our chalice
in celebration of the Divine Light;
the light waiting to be reborn
in every atom of our bodies,
in every thought in our minds,
in the very essence of every soul –
the light of God waiting for humanity to reach out to it
so that hope and peace and joy and love may reign.
Let us light the candles on our Advent wreath too. It’s the third Sunday in advent and the third candle is traditionally the pink one and it represents joy. May we know joy, this Advent season. Life can be a mixed bag but let us pay attention to those little moments where joy breaks through.
(light advent candle)
Hymn: ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’
It’s time for our first carol now – after this first one all the carols and readings are going to be unannounced today – if you’re in the building you can simply follow along in the little booklet – and if you’re at home you can just take it as it comes and be surprised when the next carol pops up on your screen (or alternatively you can follow the running order on the website; I think Charlotte will put the link in the chat for you). Sit or stand as you feel most comfortable. Our first carol is ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps:
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
Lo, star-led chieftains, Wise men, Christ adoring,
Offer him incense, gold and myrrh;
We to the Christ-child bring our hearts’ oblations:
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:
Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.
Candles of Joy and Concern:
Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.
So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. We’re asking people to keep their masks on for this candle lighting – please keep your masks on – if you use the hand-held microphone, get it really close to your mask, and SPEAK UP, people should be able to hear what you’re saying. I really want to emphasise this – the people at home really want to hear what you’re saying – and if you don’t hold the microphone really close they simply can’t hear you. So point it directly at your face and keep it right up against your mask and that should do the trick. Thank you.
(in person candles)
And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.
(zoom candles)
And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)
Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Simon John Barlow
And let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer now. This Christmassy prayer is based on words by my old friend Simon John Barlow. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)
Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)
God of All Love, Light of the World, who
shines throughout Creation and
through the lives of all good people,
be born anew in us this day, and every day.
In this season we celebrate
the birth of Jesus, the Christ.
Grant us the peace to accept ourselves
and each other, just as Jesus did,
to be amazed by Your awesome presence,
to be alive to the ever-present delights
and miracles of Your Creation.
Holy Spirit, source of nourishment,
be with us in times of darkness,
gestation, digestion and pondering.
May Your Compassionate Light
lead us to the peace and healing
to digest all that life brings us
that we may grow in loving awareness.
Spirit of Love and Light, inspire all our thoughts;
pervade all our imaginations; guide all our decisions;
hold us in the peace of our hearts’ silence;
speak tenderly through us in all our words;
be the energy of our actions and the sharing
of our gifts for the harvest of humanity.
God, we ask for the grace and strength
to live as your faithful, joyful children, and
to play our part in the healing of the world. (pause)
And in a good few moments of shared silence and stillness,
may we speak inwardly some of those deepest prayers of our hearts —
maybe something in our own life or the life of the world is causing us sorrow and grief –
maybe we are feeling full of gratitude, and feel moved to give thanks for our blessings – let us each lift up whatever is on our heart this day, and ask for what we most need. (longer pause)
Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.
As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen
Hymn (on sheet): ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlefolk’
God rest ye merry, gentlefolk, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from tyranny when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heavenly Father, a blessèd angel came;
And unto certain shepherds, brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born, the Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.
The shepherds at those tidings, rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway, this blessèd child to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.
Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy.
In-Person Reading: The Gospel of Luke 2:1-20 (read by Patricia)
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Hymn: ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
Cometh with the holy child.
Joyful, all ye nations rise!
Join the triumph of the skies!
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Hail, the holy Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Comes with healing in his wings,
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail the indwelling Deity!
Born to raise upon the earth
All who yearn for love’s rebirth.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
In-Person Reading: ‘The Truth of the Story’ by Kate Brady McKenna (read by John)
They say a story can carry a truth far greater than the literal truth.
We Unitarians know the value of stories.
We know they carry truth.
We know they carry more truth than just the plain truth ever can.
Maybe we can’t believe a virgin gave birth to the son of God:
but we can believe that all births are miracles, worthy of celebration and wonder.
Maybe we can’t believe angels brought revelations:
but we can believe truth can be revealed
through the actions and words of those who dare to speak it and to act it.
Maybe we can’t believe the angels sang to shepherds:
but we can believe that those revelations about life
can come to and through even those we think are the most humble.
Maybe we can’t believe the wise men travelled to see the new-born baby king:
but we can believe that we should never be too lofty
or think ourselves too clever or too rich to see the wonder and majesty in tiny things.
Maybe we can’t believe that Jesus brought back the light by redeeming our sins:
but we can believe in a leader and teacher and prophet
who brought and brings illumination to the lives of those who wish to listen.
We can believe in the light. Always, we can believe in the light.
Maybe we can’t believe the Christmas story:
but we can believe in it
as a story which points to
a truth greater than we can possibly imagine.
Hymn: ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing oe’r the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
See him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Meditation: ‘God in Solidarity’ by M Jade Kaiser
We’re moving into a time of meditation now. I’m going to share some words by M Jade Kaiser of the enfleshed collective – a prayer-poem I suppose – called ‘God in Solidarity’. It speaks of that central notion of the Christmas story – that Jesus is in some sense God embodied – and so God knows what it’s like to be human – a human born in the humblest of circumstances, living on the edge, suffering and struggling, along with all the rest of us. Regardless of what theology you came in with today, I wonder if you can explore that idea, in this time of meditation.
The words will take us into a few minutes of shared silence which will end with the sound of a bell. And then we’ll hear some beautiful music from our quartet of singers. So let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – perhaps put your feet flat on the floor to ground and steady yourself – maybe close your eyes. As we always say, the words and music are just an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.
‘God in Solidarity’ by M Jade Kaiser
God takes on flesh
and joins life in the struggle –
this is what radical solidarity feels like.
Lives and souls and bodies entangled.
Risks and possibilities shared.
We’re in this together.
The mess, the beauty, the work.
Don’t be afraid to feel hopeful.
God’s promises are kept.
God won’t opt-out or turn away.
God won’t give up when things get tough.
God won’t defend power, or privilege, or institutions, or tradition
at the expense of freedom, or love, or liberation, or your worth.
God’s with-ness is birthed at the margins.
God knows what’s at stake.
Let all who are weary, rejoice!
All of evil’s deceptions will be revealed
and fear of unjust powers will cease.
The Liberating One now dwells among us,
calling upon hearts from all walks of life
to open. to take courage. to soften. to release.
Behold, the Sacred enfleshed reveals the way of Love.
Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell
Musical Interlude: ‘The Shepherd’s Farewell’ sung by our Quartet with Andrew Robinson
In-Person Reading: ‘The Same Stars Shine’ by Cliff Reed (read by Chloë)
The same stars shine on us
as shone on Bethlehem
when Jesus was born.
They shone on the same world
with light that even then was
ancient beyond comprehension.
It was a world of misery and unrest,
beset by war and pestilence,
oppression and bitterness,
cruelty, grief, and pain.
It was a world not so very unlike
our own as we might think.
But there was hope,
shining like the stars,
Shining in a child, in his mother’s love.
Shining in his father’s tenderness.
Shining in the wonder of shepherds,
the awe of travelling sages.
And there is hope now, shining in human love,
shining in human courage and compassion,
in the human mind turned to good and noble ends,
shining with the Spirit that filled Jesus.
Beneath the same stars that shone on Jesus,
on all great souls, all souls who strive and
struggle on this good earth, we pray to be
worthy of the promise implicit in our birth.
Hymn (on sheet): ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
The holly and the ivy, now they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom as white as lily flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet saviour
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry as red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good.
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ for to redeem us all.
Oh, the rising of the sun and the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.
Mini-Reflection: by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall
It’s an old, familiar, story – most of us have seen a good number of Christmases come and go – and the story of Jesus, born in a manger, is one that we know well. Or at least, we probably think we do. Various renderings of the story in popular culture – not least in school nativity plays – tend to play fast and loose with the details, everything gets mixed up, it drifts a bit from the original text. And that’s OK. We’re allowed to play with the story, the myth, and the archetypes it contains. This is a legitimate way of working with the text, and the tradition, to get at the deeper truth that it holds.
Each time we encounter the Christmas story, it will speak to us anew, if we let it. If we really listen, instead of setting our ears and our brain to auto-pilot, and open ourselves to what it has to say.
And each of us will have our own relationship to the season, and to the wider Christian tradition; therefore the story will bring up different associations, resonances, and baggage, for each of us. As Unitarians, sometimes we get a bit hung up on the traditional language, understandably. And yet – we sing the old, familiar songs – albeit sometimes with the words tweaked, here and there. Still, today we sing with gusto, ‘remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day’ and ‘Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Saviour’, and ‘O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord’.
What is the spirit in which we sing these words? I guess some of us can sing without reservation; for a few of us, Jesus is still central to our theology, and we’re fully at ease with our Christian roots. For some of us, there is likely to be a feeling of ambivalence and awkwardness, possibly even a sense that we’re crossing your fingers as we sing these traditional words, that aren’t really our theology. It’s complicated. Perhaps, for most of us, we’re just enjoying a good singalong, and not probing too deeply into what it all means… but we Unitarians do tend to be concerned about such things.
This year I find myself wondering about the talk of ‘Christ our Saviour’. What does that mean – and how could it helpfully speak to Unitarians – outside of the confines of mainstream Christian theology?
We don’t tend to talk about salvation much – not in the traditional religious sense, anyway – our take on sin and redemption tends to be much more this-worldly. But, thinking about it a bit more broadly, I’d say that salvation in a more expansive sense is still a real and present concern for most of us. Don’t we all have moments – and perhaps quite frequently – when we want to be saved? That is, moments in life when everything is awful – when we feel powerless in the face of our own problems and the world’s strife – and we desperately want someone to swoop in and make everything better, solve all our problems, wave a magic wand, sort it all out, smite the baddies and be home in time for tea. In those moments, at some level, we yearn for a saviour, a rescuer, one who will keep us from harm.
‘Christ our Saviour’ – my old friend Simon John Barlow, whose words have popped up several times already, he was very big on Christmas – he often reminded people that ‘Christ is not Jesus’ surname’! It’s more of a job description, a role, a title – the origin of the word ‘Christ’ comes from ‘anointed one’. So from the Gospel of Luke: ‘unto you is born this day… a saviour which is Christ the Lord’. A saviour.
What can we take from this? Perhaps, rather than being the saviour, Jesus is anointed as a saviour. We might say he is an example – for some of us, the prime example – of a way of being in the world that might save us, that might liberate us, from the worldly sources of suffering that drag us down. Perhaps he shows us what it might look like when a human embodies the light of God, and how transformative that can be, in a world of struggle and sorrow. Born in the humblest of circumstances, in a turbulent time, in the back of beyond – living among outcasts, at home in the margins of society – he preached a radical message of love and liberation: Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbour as yourself. (P.S. everyone is your neighbour!) Easier to say than it is to do. But his message, and example, is one that we would all do well to follow, as best we can, in our own time and in our place. Because it’s a signpost to salvation, here and now.
That’s the message I want to leave you with today. It’s not really about what happened once upon a time in Bethlehem. It’s about how we can each be agents of salvation – for each other, and for this precious earth we share – if we own and embrace that calling for ourselves. If we roll up our sleeves, and get stuck in, to the messy work of saving the world. In our own humble way, each day, we too can embody the light of God. And in that spirit I want to close with the famous words of St. Teresa of Ávila:
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
May it be so for the greater good of all. Amen.
Hymn: ‘Joy to the World’
Joy to the world, for peace shall come:
Let this be our refrain!
In every heart, in every land,
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and love and freedom reign!
Joy to the earth where truth is all,
And justice our domain!
In every mind, in every word,
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and love and freedom reign!
Joy to our hearts, good-will to all!
The earth, the world shall ring
With deeds of love, with songs of praise:
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and freedom reign!
Let peace and love and freedom reign!
Announcements:
Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting. Thanks to Charlotte for welcoming everyone online. Thanks to Patricia, John and Chloe for reading. Thanks to Andrew, Margaret, Benjie, Lucy, and last-minute stand-in Edwin for our music today. Thanks to Carolyn for greeting. For those of you who are in-person – today the tea and coffee will be self-service as we’re having a potluck lunch after the service and the kitchen’s rather busy – we’ve got plenty of food so you’re welcome to stay on and join us. Many thanks to Patricia for coordinating the lunch and to David who is doubtless helping too. If you’re joining online please do hang on after for a chat with Charlotte.
We have various small group activities during the week. Heart and Soul, our contemplative spiritual gathering, takes place twice a week online. It’s a great way to get to know people more deeply. Send me an email if you want to sign up for Sunday or Friday. The theme is ‘The Sacred’. And we’ve got our monthly in-person Heart & Soul this Wednesday at 7pm (I think that’ll be on ‘Finding Joy’).
We’ve got a bunch of events still to come during the festive season. Next Friday evening we’re holding a gathering to mark the winter solstice – there’ll be a short concert of midwinter folk songs from our friend Marilisa Valtazanou at 6pm – followed by time for festive treats and a small group gathering to mark the solstice through readings and sharing. And we’ve also got a New Year’s Mini-Retreat coming up – you can come online on the 30th or in-person on the 31st – again please do let me know if you’re planning to be at any of these events to help me plan and prepare resources.
Sonya is here with her Nia dance classes as usual on Friday lunchtime from 12.30pm (that’s the last one before a week off for Christmas – do catch Sonya to find out more – or take a flyer in the foyer – you may have noticed we’ve spruced up all our posters and got a fancy new on-street noticeboard).
We’ll be having our traditional candlelit service next Sunday, Christmas Eve, at 5pm (no 11am that day). There will be plenty more carol-singing, it’s always lovely and atmospheric with the lights down, and you can hang around afterwards for mince pies, mulled wine, and good company.
Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email. Please do sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already. The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.
I think that’s everything. Just one last carol before our closing words and closing music now.
Hymn: ‘Ding! Dong! Merrily on High’
Ding dong! Merrily on high
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! Verily the sky
Is riv’n with angels singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And i-o, i-o, i-o,
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your eve-time song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Benediction: based on words by Kenneth W. Phifer
May the love and goodwill of this season
be with us through all the days of the year
and bring us strength and courage and faith.
May the blessed peace of this season
be felt deep in our souls,
and bring us comfort and serenity.
May the light of this season
shine in our hearts, and bring us
moments of laughter and contentment.
May the joy of this season
be shared with others
and bring hope for the days yet to come.
And may it be so for the greater good of all. Amen.
Closing Music: ‘Midwinter’ sung by our Quartet with Andrew Robinson
Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall
17th December 2023
