Festival of Lessons & Carols

[plyfreak]

On the evening of Thursday, December 10th, at 7PM, Saint Hilary's will be holding a Festival of Lessons & Carols. It is basically a retelling of the Christmas story with readings of scripture, choir-led hymns, and moments of prayer and reflection.

This event also serves as the holiday debut for both the traditional and contemporary choirs.

If you wish to attend, please do.

Also, perhaps we could use this thread to post other religiously-oriented holiday events?

[OldMama]

Is it Advent Lessons and Carols or Christmas Lessons and Carols?

[plyfreak]

Is it Advent Lessons and Carols or Christmas Lessons and Carols?

What is the difference between the two?

It's the Christmas story- Old/New Testament with both Advent & Christmas hymns.

[OldMama]

In my church (Episcopal) we have a service of Advent Lessons and Carols before Christmas. The readings are from the OT such as Isaiah and end with the NT passages about the Annunciation and Joseph's dream. Nothing about the actual birth of Christ. The reading are interspersed with Advent carols, which I have come to love more than the Christmas carols. I really love this service and look forward to it every year.

On the Sunday after Christmas, we will do Christmas Lessons and Carols, which also has OT and NT reading, including the birth of Christ, but interspersed with Christmas carols.

I grew up a Roman Catholic and one thing I've grown to appreciate about being an Episcopalian is the liturgy of the various seasons of the church year. We really stress the importance of seasons such as Advent and Lent. beyond their culmination in Christmas and Easter. We used hymns ust for those seasons and even different service music.

I hope your service at St. Hillary's went well.