With only three days left to Christmas I think I’m all carolled out! I don’t think I’ve ever sung this many in such a short space of time. This last week has had services in church, nursing homes, schools, and schools in church.
Boroughbridge Manor on Wednesday was very hot but lovely. Especially moving was a lady with severe dementia shouting out one word of each carol we had - hark, comfort, joy. Her brain obviously knew what we were singing and she could join in in her own way. Then there was my lovely lady from Darley who was as usual a verse behind so we had a solo!
On Thursday morning, Allhallowgate had their annual coffee and carols morning with 70 people choosing their favourites. It was a fun time and the end of the year for the coffee morning which is an important outreach for our church. Then on Thursday afternoon I helped lead the carol service for Roecliffe School in the ancient church in the village. The children enjoyed the carols especially singing along to the Boney M version of Mary’s Boy Child. I didn’t tell them I bought that version on vinyl in 1978!
Later on Thursday we went into Leeds to the Howard Assembly Rooms for an evening of Christmas music with Eliza Carthy and friends. It was a lovely time to receive for a change in this mad week!
Friday saw the whole of Boroughbridge Primary School have their carol services in our church for the first time. The place was rocking and it was lovely to see the children having fun sharing the story with us and to see parents hanging over the balcony and to have our church full.
Saturday had me leading a Blue Christmas service where we sang two carols and had a supportive space for those struggling. It was a peaceful and powerfully quiet time. Then in the evening I was glad to be at the village carols in the hall at Sawley. It was really good to be at a non church village event and just join in. Sixteen carols were sung in just over an hour.
So to today. A morning service on Mary and Elizabeth, an afternoon carol service at Allhallowgate with over forty people there and then a full church at Dallowgill tonight where they come from near and far every year to sing some carols with local tunes and traditions. Dallowgill at Christmas is like a piece of elastic which pulls those who have been part of it in the past back. We filled an hour happily choosing our favourites and remembering those we sang when we went out singing in the community years ago and those requested on doorsteps every year.
I’ve been reminded this week of the power of the carol. It tells the story and it evokes memories and it can be the only vehicle some share to hear the Gospel. A lot of people come and join in with them once a year. We sing the mightiest theology in them. How would it be if we had to explain some of the verses? Lo he abhors not the virgin’s womb anyone? After so many of them this week I’m nearly carolled out! They are great and they link church and the secular world like no other thing but please can I have one day without singing any tomorrow??!
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