Christmas Services
So it’s the middle of January and I’m blogging about Christmas… You could argue I’m a little behind with my updates, or we could pretend I’ve done it deliberately because it’s good to remember some of our Christmas themes all year round. Either way, here we go…
Christmas this year wasn’t too busy for me. It was a nice change from the often crazy time of year. It meant the things I was involved in I had time to really appreciate…
It was great to be part of a couple of carol services at St James. It’s an amazing old building, so when lit up and decorated for Christmas, it feels kinda special. The services had a contemporary edge with a mixture of traditional carols arranged in a contemporary format, video clips, and other creative elements. It was great to see so many visitors at St James, credit to them for inviting and engaging the local community as we ‘unpacked’ what Christmas was all about.
The other Christmas event I was part of was the ‘Light Lunch‘ carol service. Meeting at Regents Hall just off Oxford Circus, business men and women gathered on a Wednesday lunchtime to worship, pray, and reflect on the theme of ‘Emmanuel, God with us’. A quick story… as a passerby heard the singing, she took a moment out from her shopping and joined us. After the service she commented that she hadn’t heard people singing carols that way before (the implication being with passion and enthusiasm) and it had stirred her to think about the words in a way she hadn’t previously… It’s exciting to think that as we worship God with our songs, it has a missional element that can stir people, causing them to think and engage. I was encouraged…
One of the reasons I enjoy carol services is we get to sing one of my favourite songs of all time… So even though it is mid January, I’m going to leave you with a few lines from, what is arguably, the best carol there is…
Have a great 2011.
“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see!
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.”
(PS… Thanks to Jane Plackett for the great photo of St James)
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