Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 December 2007 20:12:00
Tonight I witnessed The Archbishop of Canterbury (Rowan Williams) on the top of an open top bus in the main shopping centre bobbing up and down to We Three Kings of Orient Are. It was the Lord Mayor of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund community carol singing event this evening and it can only be described as an experience.
This is where the archbishop and I think it was the cannon of the cathedral leave the precincts and encounter the "ordinary people", with their silly hats, singing Chrimbo carols in a slightly less than dignified way.
The archbishop gave a two minute sermon about the most important thing we need this Christmas is courage. He said it is courage that will turn us into peace makers and it was courage that the angels told Mary to have when she first encountered them. He also pointed out that God believes in us even if we don't believe in him.
After the sermon, (or seasonal soundbite), we went straight into a rendition of Jingle Bells which had one verse, (by Queenie Hollands, Mary Ray, Dorette Simpson and Mark White), which read as follows:
"Though our fields are green, snow is far away
And a sleigh's not safe on a motorway.
Voices ring like bells, children's eyes are bright
As all Canterbury sings on a winter's night."
I wish I had bought the Howies t-shirt they were selling at the Tate which read "Keep it Surreal".
Happy Christmas to you all :D