Thursday 13 December 2012

Carol Service

My childhood Christmases had all the elements of celebration, gifts and good food but lurking in the shadows of our old farmhouse were the spectres of anxiety and guilt. My father was emotionally exhausted from trying to make a go of it and my mother was lonely and bitterly unhappy.

My father played the church organ and our lives revolved around the celebrations of the church.


Ringsfield
My village church: All Saints, Ringsfield

None was more wonderful to me than the carol service on Christmas Eve. My father usually left early and my mother, brother, sister and I would walk down to the church later. The fields and hedgerows were overlayed by snow and the trees glowed with frost. The sky was a star speckled cloak of deepest indigo.  When we reached the main road we joined up with other people from the village. It was companionable, friendly greetings and kind words.

Once through the church gate we would fall silent. The great oak door stood open, light streaming around our dear vicar welcoming us with open arms. His white surplice billowed into wings just like an angel. Inside, the church was lit solely by candles giving everything a golden glow. Up by the pulpit stood a Christmas tree reaching into the wooden rafters. It too was lit by real candles.

wiki
 
The vicar tasked a group of boys to watch over the tree and extuinguish any candles that burned too low to the branches. The service was routinely interrupted by acts of daring and courage as one fine young man after another scaled the wildly swinging tree to snuff a candle whether it needed it or not.

The vicar began the service, "Dearly Beloved..."  One by one the men and women from the village: farmers, railway men, road workers, the blacksmith, came to the lectern and read the lessons. Hands thickened by hard work and sharp weather turned the gold trimmed pages. Each lesson followed by a familiar carol. My favourite was "O Little Town Of Bethlehem"

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight


I was a little girl beset by fears but in that church on Christmas Eve I was at peace. Dearly beloved, surrounded by good, kind people, I could believe a brilliant star shone high above the church.
 
 
Merry Christmas Everyone







 
 
This is my entry into Gardens Eye View, Seasonal Celebration. Join in or go to Donna's site for some seasonal joy.





21 comments:

  1. Susan, This is a wonderful Christmas post. It is at Christmas Eve mass that I feel the anxieties of the season leave me. The music is by far my favorite part of the service. I love singing Silent Night while kneeling and then the joyous voices joining together in Joy To The World. Bonnie

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    1. I know exactly what you mean.

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    2. this morning we were at St George's cathedral. For the music and the singing!

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    3. It is nice to think people on the other side of the planet are enjoying the same experience. Gathering together in the spirit of love and peace is important in our divided and fractious world.

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  2. Such a lovely post. Thanks. For stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

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    1. I'm looking forward to more Christmas stories on your blog.

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  3. Susan what a most lovely story. You have such a wonderful way of painting a picture with emotion. Have you ever considered writing a memoir...it would be wonderful. I loved how you described the woods and the vicar. I could sense the love and peace in the church and felt I was there with you. I would love to attend such a warm service filled with carols on Christmas. I don't know if I have a favorite carol but I do love Noël. Merry Christmas and thank you for adding your story to my meme. I am honored.

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    1. Thank you for the kind words Donna. I love reading your work. I've nixed the idea of a memoir but I am working on something else. News about it after Christmas.

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  4. Christmas does give us a lot of celebrations. Reading this, I found myself remembering all the church services I've been to almost like this. We never had real candles, though. But the peace one feels inside while wrapped with the warmth of love and friendship in a church is a beautiful feeling. Merry Christmas to you.

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    1. It's nice to think of these services all over the world on Christmas Eve. Everyone joined in a common experience.

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  5. You have beautifully described the Christmas Eve carol service it is good that you have something to hold dear in your memory.

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    1. I must add another Christmas Eve in the village to my bucket list. There is a sense of connection inside the stone walls of a building where people have worshipped for a thousand years.

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  6. Oh my gosh, what beautiful writing. I didn't want it to end, Susan. I wonder what that little one was so afraid of. I hope you're writing a memoir. I enjoyed this very much!

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    1. I'm working on getting my act together. I have a project in the planning stages. If you don't mind I will run it by you closer to launch date.

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  7. Lovely. Merry Christmas to you Susan. : )

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  8. Thanks, CB. Merry Christmas to you and your lovely blog.

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  9. Please do, Susan. I would love to assist you in any way I can. Hugs.

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  10. Merry Christmas to you! I'm glad the church was a peaceful place for you. I've always enjoyed carols, too. We share the same favorite. :o)

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    1. As the child of a church organist I had a vast repertoire of hymns memorized, in contrast to my peers who knew all the pop songs.

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  11. Thanks for sharing your rich and vivid memories-- Have a lovely merry holiday!

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    1. Warmest wishes Linnie. Time to gather in our loved ones and count our blessings.

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