Letter from the Pastor
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December 5, 2021Next Sunday, December 12th at 3:00 PM, join our Choir with guest singers as we conduct The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. I am hoping this will be an annual celebration in anticipation of Christmas. After the Service, we will have a little social in Toner Hall. We need to get back together and socialize.
The original prayer service was held on Christmas Eve 1880. Archbishop E.W. Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, arranged from ancient sources a little service for Christmas Eve – nine carols and nine tiny lessons, which were read by various officers of the Church, beginning with a choir boy, and ending, through the different grades, with the Bishop. Over the years slight changes occurred to this original service. However, the present service has been unchanged since Christmas Eve 1918. The most famous service comes from King’s College, Cambridge England. Although originally a Protestant Service for Christmas Eve, since they don’t have the Mass, other ecclesial communities adapted the service. The 9 readings from Scripture remained unchanged. The nine Scripture lessons begin with the Fall of Adam and Eve, then the promise of a Messiah through the Prophets, the Incarnation and Birth of the Savior. After each of the readings, a Christmas carol or sacred motet is sung to the glory of God. The Sacred music for Christmas is most beautiful, in its lyrics and melodies. The Birth of the Lord must be celebrated.
It is such a beautiful ceremony of listening to the story of God’s love for His people from Adam and Eve to the birth of Jesus, from Adam and Eve’s saying no to God to Mary’s Yes, and singing the Christmas Carols.
Come and be a part of our Lessons and Carols. Let us as a parish take the journey once again to Bethlehem and hear the loving purposes of God…and follow where the story leads us! It is a wonderful way to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. Bring the children to hear and sing.
Talking about Christmas, I would like to inform you of our Christmas Schedule for this year. In the past on Christmas Eve, we had two Masses held at the same time, one in the Church and one in the School Gym. However, this year we cannot have Mass in the School because of Covid concerns.
This year all the Masses must be held in the Church; the first Mass of Christmas Eve will be at 4:00PM. We have added a 5:30PM, 7:00PM and the 10:00PM. On Christmas Day the Mass will be at 7:30 AM, 9:00AM, 10:30 AM (Choir Mass) and the noonday Mass. There will be no evening Mass on Saturday (Christmas Day) for Sunday, and there will be no 5:30PM Sunday Mass on December 26th. So please plan accordingly.
I know for a lot of people they would want to go to the 4:00PM Mass, but I am asking if you would please consider going to another Christmas Eve Mass instead, so that everyone can have a seat and be comfortable praying. The outdoor speakers will be on, so if you feel more comfortable staying outside attending Mass away from the crowds, please feel free to bring a chair. Pray for a warm night! Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
By the way, I can’t believe I’m writing about Christmas. Weren’t we all just down at LBI?
