Christmas Carols

Here in Cambridge Christmas has already really started as it's all about getting in early so that the students who go back home don't need to miss out but they too can join in and remember and celebrate together. On Sunday at church we had a Carol service, and Monday evening I attended another carol service with many others.

 

In Australia I am from a quite small community and then in the city belonged to a smaller church. Every year at Christmas time I am always amazed, astonished, astounded at just how many people come out for Carols. And I find myself excited, exhilirated, euphoric at how many people have the opportunity to hear the gospel, the good news, of Jesus Christ, and sing praises to God together with one voice.

 

The amount of people is only limited by the venue, and in most cases for these services - the venue is full. In Australia Christmas is in the summer. Our venues are outside. People gather by the thousands to join together for Carols by Candlelight. Mostly though, it becomes much more of a performance rather than something you join in with. People sing together still and our voices go up and out swallowed up almost immediately by the night around us.

 

In the UK Christmas is in the winter so the venues must be indoors. In a large church which fits around a thousand people inside its walls, with candles shimmering nearby, we sang. The choir up front, around the organ, and the people filling the pews, the sound being held for a short time inside those walls before disappearing.

 

The main difference here is between a traditional type service and a contemporary type service. Both have their benefits and drawbacks but the most important thing to remember is that no matter where we are, now many of us are gathered, what songs we are singing, we are all raising our voices together in praise to the same one and only God as we remember how He came and revealed himself to us in this world some two thousand years ago.

 

A particularly common bible passage which is used at these services, I have found, is the beginning of John 1. I have included a small excerpt below, to read the full passage follow this link.

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

God Bless