Ok, as bonus to yesterday's speel, here are 14 Carols that are (1) about Jesus rather than snowmen etc, and (2) familiar to the general public.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Away In a Manger
Angels We Have Heard on High
The First Noel
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Joy To The World
Once in Royals David's City
Silent Night
Oh Holy Night
We Three Kings
Do You Hear What I Hear?
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O Come Emmanuel
O Come All Ye Faithful
I see there's even more Jesus-focussed second verse to We Wish You A Merry Christmas".
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Christmas Eve (Some Tips)
Whilst away over Christmas i decided to attend a Christmas Eve Carols Night at a nearby church.
Now, you might reckon that if any event in the church's calendar could be attended by someone outside of the church tribe, it should be the Christmas Eve Carols. But for some reason (possibly force-of-habit) even this night seems designed purely for the 'insiders'.
So here are some tips for churches doing a Christmas Carols Night
1. Let people know it's on
For all the hours of rehearsal and preparation that went into the night, somebody could have taken 5 minutes to put the details online. This church's website can tell me the name of the church treasurer, but not the time of the Carols!
2. Start with a Carol people know
First impressions count. Why start with a song that "we've been learning here over the last few sundays"?
3. Sing Carols people know
OK it's a lot like number 2. But i know a fair few Christmas Carols, and yet i was completely stumped until the 7th Carol of the evening. I also knew numbers 11, 12 and 15. But being bemused and lost for three-quarters of the evening isn't too much fun.
4. If there must be an offering, explain it
Church people know that setting foot inside the building involves being prodded for money, but normal people might not. This event had a collection for Christmas Bowl, which is fair enough - it's a good cause. But explain what that means. To normal people a 'christmas bowl' is something you eat christmas pudding out of. Oh, and make it clear that it is voluntary - the church already has enough of a reputation of asking for money all the time.
Obviously, there's a lot to do in organising an event like this, but if we can be aware of these things, hopefully it can be a bit more people-friendly.
Now, you might reckon that if any event in the church's calendar could be attended by someone outside of the church tribe, it should be the Christmas Eve Carols. But for some reason (possibly force-of-habit) even this night seems designed purely for the 'insiders'.
So here are some tips for churches doing a Christmas Carols Night
1. Let people know it's on
For all the hours of rehearsal and preparation that went into the night, somebody could have taken 5 minutes to put the details online. This church's website can tell me the name of the church treasurer, but not the time of the Carols!
2. Start with a Carol people know
First impressions count. Why start with a song that "we've been learning here over the last few sundays"?
3. Sing Carols people know
OK it's a lot like number 2. But i know a fair few Christmas Carols, and yet i was completely stumped until the 7th Carol of the evening. I also knew numbers 11, 12 and 15. But being bemused and lost for three-quarters of the evening isn't too much fun.
4. If there must be an offering, explain it
Church people know that setting foot inside the building involves being prodded for money, but normal people might not. This event had a collection for Christmas Bowl, which is fair enough - it's a good cause. But explain what that means. To normal people a 'christmas bowl' is something you eat christmas pudding out of. Oh, and make it clear that it is voluntary - the church already has enough of a reputation of asking for money all the time.
Obviously, there's a lot to do in organising an event like this, but if we can be aware of these things, hopefully it can be a bit more people-friendly.
Tuesday 22 December 2009
"Losing My Religion"
Caught a podcast from ABC radio. Tom Frame (author of "losing my religion") was being interviewed about the lack of 'religion' in Australia. Some very interesting discussion points, including:
- There is a general 'crisis' of belonging not restricted to churches. It also affects political parties, sporting organisations, rotary clubs etc.
- There's been more change in the last 20-30 years than almost in all of Christian history. The church has not been ready for what happened. Things happened in the 60s, churches didn't realise it until the 80s, started measuring it in the 90s, and now they are beginning to formulate a response.
- People who were faithful pew-sitters for 30 years, switched off their brains, and then were invited to switch them on again in the 90s.... those who don't like the uncertainty and confusion retreat to an infallible book or infallible church.
- The lack of credibility of churches/denominations who refuse to accept the basics of science (for example).
It's a fairly interesting discussion, but what does the church do about all this???
- There is a general 'crisis' of belonging not restricted to churches. It also affects political parties, sporting organisations, rotary clubs etc.
- There's been more change in the last 20-30 years than almost in all of Christian history. The church has not been ready for what happened. Things happened in the 60s, churches didn't realise it until the 80s, started measuring it in the 90s, and now they are beginning to formulate a response.
- People who were faithful pew-sitters for 30 years, switched off their brains, and then were invited to switch them on again in the 90s.... those who don't like the uncertainty and confusion retreat to an infallible book or infallible church.
- The lack of credibility of churches/denominations who refuse to accept the basics of science (for example).
It's a fairly interesting discussion, but what does the church do about all this???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)