From The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell
“The First Nowell, the angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay.”
If you were asked to name your favourite Christmas carol, this isn’t going to be the first one that comes to mind. It’s much more likely to be Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas is You, or Wham’s Last Christmas. As two of the most played Christmas songs of all time, they’re sure to have you humming along, no matter what you think of them! Singing has always been central to how we celebrate the good news of Christmas — it accompanies our shopping trips, blares from the speakers at Christmas Markets and lights up the traditional carol services that people will be attending in churches big and small across our city. Some will feature candles, some donkeys, while some will be enjoying minced pies and mulled wine, but all will be singing loudly!
This year, the Church of England are inviting people in singing groups, choirs and schools
to join in by singing ‘The First Nowell’. This is a great way to tell the Christmas story — by once again sharing the good news of the birth of Jesus.
“In Luke’s telling of the Christmas story, we read that
The shepherds went back,
singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen;
it had been just as the angel had told them.”
(Luke 2:20 GNB)
In the story of the first Christmas, the shepherds are astonished to find the night sky filled with countless voices singing God’s praise. Amazed as they are, the shepherds take up the angel’s invitation and hurry to Bethlehem. It isn’t long before the shepherds are singing too, praising God and sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth.
It’s important that we add our voices to this timeless song — in our different places and different ways. Whichever song you choose, I encourage you to sing loudly and boldly! Sing with joy! Sing with others!
Christmas is a time for being together — at this time when there is so much disruption, devastation and cruelty in the world, we need to remember to pause, to listen to the angels’ song of peace and joy and hope because our lives are linked to those around us, near and far.
This is the message that I am going to be talking about this Christmas — by remembering the message the angels told to the shepherds that first Christmas, I am going to try to do little things that make peace a reality for those around me. We all need a little bit of kindness, a little bit of peace, and a little bit of joy. And this begins with us. Each one of us, where we are, can do little things that can make a difference for someone else.
So join in with the song this Christmas! Find a church near you where you can add your voice to the song that will echo through the centuries. But also join in the song by doing little things (or big things!) for someone else, that will make their life a little brighter.
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