Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Carolling to Christmas
As Advent comes to an end and in anticipation of Christmas the season of carol singing is in full swing in churches and cathedrals throughout the Church of Ireland.
There will be Carols by Candlelight in St John’s church, Park Avenue, Sandymount tomorrow (Saturday) at 4pm. Admission is free and all are welcome. There will be a voluntary collection for the charities Focus Ireland and MSF–Doctors without Borders.
On Sunday at the 11am Sung Eucharist in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, the final Advent address will be given by Professor Cathriona Russell who was a horticulturalist before becoming a theologian. She lectures in the School of Religion, Theology and Peace Studies at TCD. Her areas of specialization include environmental ethics, science and religion, cosmologies and creation theologies.
In St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, there will be a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 3.15pm and the famed Christmas Eve Nine Lessons and Carols will be at 4pm. Entrance to the Christmas Eve service is by ticket only but the service will be broadcast live. The Archbishop of Dublin will preside at the the Dublin Civic Carols Service which will be held in St Ann’s church, Dawson Streetm at 7pm. Guests from politics, media, sport, and charities will read the lessons, and the parish choir and organist will lead the singing of much–loved carols.
On Monday evening in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, there will be a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6pm
For an historical take on the Nine Lessons & Carols, see the RCB Library’s Christmas presentation, ‘The Nine Lessons & Carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and the role of Dean David F.R. Wilson’ which can be viewed here.
On Christmas Day, by tradition, the bishops will preach in their diocesan cathedrals. The Dean of St Patrick’s cathedral. Dublin, will preach on Christmas Day and in St Anne’s cathedral, Belfast, the Christmas Day preacher will be the Dean of Belfast, the Very Revd Stephen Forde.
A Christmas Day Service of Holy Communion on RTÉ One television at 11.00am will be led by Canon Gillian Wharton and the choir and congregation of St Philip & St James church, Booterstown–Blackrock, and St Thomas church, Mount Merrion. The programme can be played back after broadcast on the RTÉ Player at www.rte.ie/player
In a special Christmas Morning Service, Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle listeners will join the parishioners and children at Knockbreda Parish Church in South Belfast for their annual nativity service. The service will be led by the rector, Canon Bill Press, and the Musical Director is Elspeth Thompson. The nativity play has been written and directed by Ruth Jennings. The service will be broadcast at 9.03am on Christmas Day and at the same time on the following Sunday (28th December).
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times