Advent calendar 2020

Advent 12 - Thursday 10th December 2020

Where has all the music gone?

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength so they soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Being middle age and grumpy, there is one aspect of Christmas that I do not enjoy. It is being subjected to non-stop Christmas music. This can be traced back to my early years. Just after finishing Catering College I started working front of house (restaurant & functions) in a hotel. When it came to Christmas, we all worked flat out with several functions each day and the restaurant booked out.

Whilst it was hard but enjoyable work, the main drawback was the hotel music system. It had only one cassette of Christmas music which was played nonstop from breakfast, through lunch and dinner until late on in the evening. Regretfully, my oft repeated prayer for the machine to break down or tape to get tangled up went unanswered.

This year, however, things appear to be different. Last year the torment began with Frosty the Snow Man, broadcast at Argos, Inverurie in the middle of October. But what about this year? Where has all the music gone? What has happened to Frosty the Snow Man? And where is Noddy Holder of the pop group Slade shouting out ‘Its Christmas?’

The same is true in church. This time of year, allows us to sing and some of the finest songs, hymns and carols, especially my two favourites ‘O Come O come Emmanuel’ and ‘Still the night.’ But not this year. At Cruden Parish Church our choir has gone silent. (They are a particularly good choir!) Whilst we can still listen to the organ, we are restricted to merely reading the words from either the hymn book or the AV screens. The reason of course is Covid-19. The official advice from the government is that singing significantly increases the possibility of spreading the virus.

I also wonder if the lack of Christmas music in public places reflects how people are feeling. That amid the pandemic we are feeling low and emotionally wrung out. It is here that Bible Reading from Isaiah offers hope and a renewal of strength. It may not be a passage that we associate with the season, but here is a reminder of the blessing of placing our hope in the Lord. A renewal of vision and hope, strength and purpose.

Rev Sean Swindells
Cruden Parish Church

Prayer

Even if we cannot gather in person
Emmanuel, God with us
Even if some Christmas traditions have had to go
Emmanuel, God with us
Even if we might not get to hug family and friends
Emmanuel, God with us
Even if we cannot sing carols beside each other
Emmanuel, God with us
Even if Christmas cheer is harder this year
Emmanuel, God with us
Surely God’s salvation is at hand for those who fear God,
That his glory may dwell in our land
Lord God, Your word is not distant,
Your love is not rationed,
Your grace is at hand, for You are present with Your people as we call upon You.
We come to bless You as our Creator.
We come to honour You as our God.
You are our heavenly Father, revealed through Jesus Christ Your Son, and we have come to delight in Your word and be transformed by Your love.
Amen

(Rev Jock Stein)

Blessing

May the coming of the day of God be your earnest desire:
and the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be upon you and those dear to you,
this day and every day that remains to us
Amen

Christy Nockels -The Thrill of Hope - Advent Hymn

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