It was wonderful to start off 2017 at church! In place of our regular service (sermon and Eucharist) we did “Christmas Lessons and Carols with Holy Communion.” I have always loved Christmas songs, but my appreciation for Christmas hymns has grown over the past few years. During the offertory, our choir sang the “Sans Day Carol,” arranged by John Rutter. It is a lovely hymn that directly connects Christmas with Easter, and while I have listened to this song many times (I have the album), there’s always something special about hearing hymns in the context of a service, and followed by Holy Communion.
Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk:
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all:
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,
Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:
And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!