Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 December 2005 20:42:33
After a raucous singalong at the local hospital (what must the poor patients have thought of us?) it was 'how still we see thee lie' at the Midnight Mass. The church was full, with people standing at the back, and yet there was total silence. There was a row of candles each side on the sopranos' stalls and candles around the pillars, but no dangling greenery to risk repeating last year's unplanned fire. During the administration we listened to the faultless A-team of handbell ringers and then sang 'Away in a Manger' (unaccompanied) and the 'Sussex Carol' (with organ accompaniment). We started 'O come all ye faithful' right on the stroke of midnight (so we didn't cheat by singing 'born this happy morning') - planned with military precision, obviously.
I didn't expect a high turnout for the 9.30am Christmas Day service, but had a surprise. I suppose being a Sunday this year there was the normal congregation plus the extra Christmas visitors. Most of the choir turned out again after the previous night, plus a couple of additional younger choristers who, although intending to stay up for Midnight Mass, fell asleep. Although the choirmaster instructed us to sing 'Little Jesus sweetly sleep' (with Lullaby harmony - Czech carol, arr. Willcocks) very quietly, I fear we got carried away with the sound of our own voices. As we were standing right next to the crib at the time, I hope little Jesus wasn't too frightened.