The freezing temperatures did not prevent a good crowd joining the Lord Provost Cllr. Jacqueline McLaren and Glasgow Churches Together (GCT) for the blessing of the crib in George Square on this, the 25th year of this lovely tradition. The City Chambers, lit up for the Christmas season, provided a bright and cheerful  background for the service.

As people gathered, attracted by the music of Alba Brass, the Lord Provost and church representatives prepared to process over to the crib, where the children of St Monica’s Primary School were waiting to lead the singing of Do You Hear What I Hear?.  This year, the words in the last verse were particularly poignant – Pray for Peace, people everywhere – when we reflected on the news headlines of war in so many places.

Lord Provost McLaren greeted everyone warmly to what she described as an event which allows us to come together to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  There followed a reading from the Christmas story as told in the Gospel of St Luke, and the children sang Away in a Manger in both Gaelic and English, before Rev. Prof. Roger Sturrock, Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow, blessed the crib and all who would look on it.

Jim Carruth, Glasgow Poet Laureat, read his nativity sonnet, which reminded us of the fact that there was both light and dark, crib and cross, in the story of Jesus.  Then in the prayers of Intercession for the city and its citizens, the country and the wider world, we remembered in particular, on this 10th anniversary of the Clutha Bar disaster, those who had died or been injured on that night, and their families.

The service closed with everyone joining in the Lord’s Prayer before the children led us with enthusiasm in Merry Christmas, Everyone which had quite a few dancing along to the lyrics – one way to keep off the cold.