A Carol Service candle tale

Thinking about Mary continued throughout Sunday as my reading of the Denise Levertov's Annunciation at the 9 am Communion (to a select congregation of me, the vicar, a churchwarden and one other – a moment of peace in a bright quiet church awaiting the Christingle and Carol Service hordes) was followed by a wonderful Carol Service which mixed the old favourites with a telling of the story from Mary’s point of view, a comic shepherd’s monologue and an inspired dance sequence for the magi (I was very nervous about this as I don’t usually like spiritual dance – but I saw it twice and it was stunning, with every movement echoing and reinforcing words and mood). 

Our curate, who was an actor before taking up curating, wrote, choreographed, directed and was Mary….. no wonder she needed a large plate of chips and a stiff drink afterwards (I had no such excuse but they were excellent chips…).  The service was altogether wonderful, with so many people involved, the church turned from the traditional layout to in the round, and a brilliant mix of proper production values and informality (children all over the place, a scratch choir of amazing diversity, and all the usual drama with dripping candles - but see here for real drama).  My abiding memories will be of Nat as Mary “recalling” her relationship with Jesus the man, and of S, our music leader, gesturing to the candlelit congregation to stand with an enormous, beaming smile on her face, as we all realised how special this whole evening was.

The only slight hitch involved me and the candle that represented the baby Jesus.  It was in the middle of the dais and after Mary had reached the point of arrival at the stable, and we had sung O Little Town, all the lights went out (it was really pitch black), and I was supposed to move forward and light it, then with three others pass the light to the congregation so that it flowed out from the Christ child – very theologically proper.  And no, I didn’t trip over the dais, or drop the match, and the candle lit, and the light began to be passed – but then there was a hissing of

“Mary – it’s gone out”. 

And so it had – the Christ candle had expired with its wick submerged in a puddle of wax.  After the statutory moment’s panic I was heading for the vestry to see what else I could find before the choir finished Rutter's Candlelight Carol when I realised that the musicians had a large and beautiful triple wick candle lighting their music.  Not any more they didn’t – as quickly as was consistent with safety and dignity I swapped the Son for the full Trinity and the service proceeded despite the somewhat disjointed theology…. except when I had to move the candle again to make room for the dancers and one Person was temporarily extinguished.  Afterwards it became clear that no one had noticed any of this, and some people thought the triple wick had been deliberate! 

So all was well that ended well - but I’m adding candles to my list of scary things to work with in church. Until now the list has been quite high tech (cd players, radio mikes, PowerPoint etc) so it’s disappointing to find I can’t manage low tech either.

But it was a wonderful evening, up to and including the chips (that’s fries to any American readers).

Comments

[Jane]

You forgot to mention the garlic mayonnaise.... :o)

[Jackie]

That sounds wonderful - I wish I'd been there.