Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exaltation
A Taste of our Lessons and Carols
Click to view the video of “The Dream Isaiah Saw”
Yesterday, I shared a moment with 194 other people, that will live long in my memory. It was more like an hour and a half, but it was definitely a capital “M,” Moment.
We had our Christmas Lessons and Carols service last night that our choir has been preparing for several weeks now and it was simply stunning. The church was full, not only with people, but with the glory of God raised in voice and song. You can listen to Christmas carols on your CD player, iPod, radio or whatever, but there is something about being in a live musical service that breathes grace and worship like nothing else can. Our choir and our readers simply did a fantastic job, no other way to put it. I hope you did not miss this service, but if you did, it will be available for viewing sometime soon via our website. I will let you know when it goes live.
Now, if I may take a sentence or two of personal privilege I would like to say that part of my Moment involved being seated in St. George’s for this glorious service of music, lessons, and prayer and realizing, internalizing, and taking great delight in the fact that this was my church – not in the sense that I own it or any such silly thing as that, but in the sense that this is the place where I worship every Sunday; this is the place I have the privilege of leading in worship every Sunday. I didn’t have to go anywhere else to be able to participate in the absolute best Lessons and Carols service I have ever attended. I only had to go to the place where I regularly worship. That was an awesome feeling, and you should feel it, too. Because this is your church, and today is a day to be proud to be a St. George’s member.
“Little child whose bed is straw,
take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
knowledge, wisdom, worship, awe.”
Fr. Ryan+
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi 
Well, that was the best Lessons and Carols service that I ever attended too – since it was my first one! But seriously, I think we should all be proud of our faith community. St. George brings us all closer to God and closer to each other – and after all, aren’t they the Great Commandments? Merry Christmas to all!
And a Merry Christmas to you, too, Mike!
Fr. Ryan I noticed that you could not get that hugh smile off your face the entire concert. Sometimes you dream of how you envision things to be,usually setting the bar too high, but the Lessons and Carols far exceeded the picture I had in my head. St. Georges really looked fantastic, so did her Rector,Choir and Organist.