O Little town of Bethlehem
After a great start to our Advent celebrations, it became obvious that we would not be able to hold the Carols for Peace service in its usual format, because of Covid restrictions. However thanks to the hard work of so many people both at the City Council and in Glasgow Churches Together, we produced a lovely online service which was broadcast on 19th December and can be seen at the link below.
(https://glasgowchurches.org.uk/carols-for-peace-service-2021)
The core of the service was recorded at the church of St Leo the Great in Dumbreck where the GCT church representatives were joined by the St Mungo Singers (suitably masked and bedecked in tinsel and other Christmas decorations), members of the parish congregation and guests.
To this were added messages from the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Cllr Philip Braat, and Adv. Anton Salman, Lord Mayor of Bethlehem. There was also moving footage of the Amway Choir from Bethlehem and nativity scenes, as well as footage of Glasgow’s George Square.
As well as familiar and less familiar Christmas music and carols, such as the opening quite haunting setting of the Prologue of St John’s Gospel by Frank Docherty; O Holy Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem, there was a setting of Psalm 121 with its poignant refrain “May the House of the Lord be at Peace, wishing for our twinned city of Bethlehem “Shalom”.
There was beautiful harp music from Dr Noel Donnelly, and a Christmas poem of Josephine Neill, wonderfully proclaimed by young Leo Tetteh of St Denis’ Primary School.
At the end of the St Leo’s section of the service, the usual collection for the Lord Provost’s Fund for children was taken up – we never miss out on an opportunity .
Well it was a very different service this year but one that showed that with goodwill we can achieve great and heartwarming things.
