Christmas Number 1

It’s just a few more sleeps until Christmas Day! With the rise of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 there is a feeling that Christmas will be different again. Last Sunday we had to cancel our in-person ‘Carols by Candlelight’ event and broadcast it online.

However, there is something which still will go ahead, and that is the race for the Christmas number one song, and it’s looking like history will be made...

You are probably aware that LadBaby (AKA Mark & Roxanne Hoyle) are attempting a fourth consecutive Christmas number one with another charity single called ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’. They have been helped by super star Ed Sheeran and the legend, Sir Elton John. All profits from the track go to UK foodbank charity, The Trussell Trust. What a great cause, I hope they do it!

Music is so powerful, and especially around Christmas. I do enjoy listening to Classic FM, and in the run up to Christmas they play a fantastic collection of old and new carols. They do their own countdown of the ‘Nation’s Favourite Carol’, and in 2020, ‘O Holy Night’ topped their annual festive chart for the fifth year in a row.

I agree with the choice, as it has become my favourite carol, since I first heard it in the film ‘Home Alone’ back in 1990!

It’s a beautiful and strong melody which tells of the birth of Jesus with a sound of hope and proclamation of worship. Every year we sing it at Christmas at church, the place erupts!

There is a line in the carol, which seems to be even more poignant this year: ‘A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices’. The unsettledness of the last 20 months has left many people weary, with the question how long is this going to last?

It’s into this weariness and uncertainty that we remember a ray of light, a bright hope came...the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. May you discover that for yourself this Christmas.

Let me leave you with the lyrics from ‘O Holy Night’ to read and reflect on...

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!

O night divine! O night when Christ was born.

O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,

And in his name all oppression shall cease,

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;

Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!

His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!

If you have questions about God, faith or the church then why not sign up for the Alpha Course we are running in the new year on Zoom? Alpha is an opportunity to explore life and the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment, all from the comfort of your own home!