— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.’”
Luke 2:10-11
Soon after the construction of Truro Cathedral began in 1880, the first service of nine lessons and carols was held in a temporary wooden building next to the building site. The service itself was designed to bring together scripture and music to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and focused on our journey towards salvation. Whilst singing, praying and listening, the congregation were drawn into the story of God’s redeeming love.
The service was later to gain prominence when it was adapted and refined at King’s College, Cambridge, in 1918. The King’s College service has since become the most recognized version, with its annual broadcast reaching millions worldwide and, for me, marks the border between advent and christmas.
The centre of the service, the point around which all revolves is perhaps the passage which describes how angels appeared to the shepherds. In my imagination, the shepherds were very much people ‘of the world’; their outlook was undoubtedly practical, their knowledge was useful; they also had plenty of time for storytelling, joking, arguing and generally chewing the fat, giving them very clear opinions that were well-considered and confidently held. Into this world-view, then fell the opposite perspective: one of naïve and instinctive adhesion to compassion, justice, and peace. The landscape of their lives was unchanged, but their perspective was suddenly completely different.
Luke’s message is a simple one of joy and salvation. If this encounter is reflected in our own lives, then maybe it is the awakening of our understanding, a realisation that we can choose to seek God’s goodness and love. Here we have the heart of the Christmas message: that this has been made possible by the arrival of Christ as the Saviour of us all.
Over the years, the service of nine lessons and carols has become a beloved tradition worldwide (including in Freiburg!) and has been endlessly adapted by churches and communities to suit their contexts. However, its enduring appeal lies in its ability to unite people in worship, offering a powerful reminder of our hope that this simple Christmas message is true.
As we celebrate this Christmas season, may God’s word fill your heart with love and joy. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 