Advent Carol Service

This evening marked my first Christmas-y activity for the year – an Advent Carol Service at Saint Mary’s. Both Steve and Cara would have sung in the choir this evening if Steve wasn’t in the US and Cara wasn’t sick with a cold. As it was there were less than 20 people there, but it was a nice service all the same. We had readings prophesying the coming of Christ interspersed with carols. As is usual here when singing church songs, only one of the carols was familiar to me: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

At the end was a blessing which I’ll pass on to anyone reading this:

Go forth into the world in peace;
be of good courage;
hold fast that which is good;
render to no man evil for evil;
strengthen the faint-hearted;
support the weak;
help the afflicted;
honour all men;
love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you, and remain with you forever.

Amen!

~ by bibliophilist on Sunday, 28 November 2004.