The joy, magic and wonder of Christmas will fill St. Mary Basilica as we present our multi-parish Christmas program, “Lessons and Carols,” at 4 p.m. this Sunday.

The entire community is invited to share in this free gathering, which honors Christ’s birth through songs and scripture readings.

Possibly the best-known Christmas service in the Western world, “Lessons and Carols” celebrates the birth of Jesus by telling the story of creation, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus in a series of short readings from the Bible, interspersed with carols, choral music and congregational singing of hymns.

This beautiful, traditional service of Christmas songs and scripture with a message of hope has become a yearly tradition for the congregations of Assumption Parish, Holy Family Parish and St. Mary Parish, and this year, we are pleased to have St. Anne’s Parish from Fayette joining in the celebration.

“Lessons and Carols” has a long and interesting history.

It began in England and was based on an order by Edward White Benson, later the Archbishop of Canterbury for use on Christmas Eve 1880. Tradition says he organized a 10 p.m. service on Christmas Eve as a way to keep men out of pubs on Christmas Eve!

In 1918, the then-new dean of King’s Chapel, Eric Milner-White, wanted to try something innovative and beyond the standard liturgy. So he wove together scripture and song, called on readers of various ages from school and town, and created this beautiful program that carries us from prophecy to fulfillment, from Old Testament foretelling to a birthday celebration!

Wherever the service is heard or presented, and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by choir or congregation, it’s now become a Christmas tradition of many churches and denominations all over the world from the West Indies to the Far East and places in between as part of their Christmas worship.

In addition to the beautiful readings of Scripture by members of all the parishes, the St. Mary Choir under the direction of Dr. Patrick Doherty, the Holy Family Choir, the Children’s Choir with members from all the parishes, and guest artists including Alvin Shelby, Donna Schaffer, Chandler Russ, Gabrielle Richardson and Valencia Hall, will present songs of the Christmas season, including carols everyone can join in and sing.

Make your plans to start a tradition for your family and friends by celebrating the true meaning of Christmas — the birth of Jesus — through “Lessons and Carols” with St. Mary Basilica, Holy Family, Assumption and St. Anne’s Parishes at 4 p.m. this Sunday at St. Mary Basilica. We hope to see you there and afterward at a reception for all in St. Therese Hall. Merry Christmas!

 

Jennifer Ogden Combs is a member of St. Mary Basilica.