Lessons and Carols

It's been fourteen years since I've been in a Lessons and Carols service. The very first time I walked into All Saints' Palo Alto on a Sunday morning was in December, and it so happened that they were doing Lessons and Carols. We did Lessons and Carols yesterday at St. John the Divine.

It was a bit different than my first experience. At All Saints' we simply alternated hymns sung by the congregation and the readings. There was no Eucharist that day.

Yesterday we had congregational hymns, music by the choir, and handbells. Magnificent! And we had Eucharist as well. I really appreciated that.

If this is how St. John's normally does Lessons and Carols, I'm very happy for it to be an annual event!