Hallo again to all.

We have just returned from attending the children's pageant at a local parish. This parish chooses to have their pageant between Christmas and Epiphany. It's a bit different, but it has been a good thing for young families who juggle so many church and home activities on Christmas Eve. Between traveling at Christmastide to be with relatives and our own angels and sheep having attained adulthood years ago, it has been at least a decade since we have seen a church school pageant. We were able to sit and fully enjoy the spectacle.

The first thing we noticed as we picked a pew in which to alight was the large number of babies! When people tell us church membership is greying, we can fall into 'woe betide us' hand-wringing with the best of them. The evidence this morning did not speak of an aging congregation. Instead, we saw a thorough mix of ages from three-weeks-old to nonagenarians. And, even better, at the end of the service, we could see the older members of the congregation smiling and talking with the children and their parents.

The priest and church school teachers had wisely chosen to incorporate the pageant as the Liturgy of the Word for the Eucharist. The stories of the prophets, the birth in Bethlehem, the adoration of the shepherds, and finally the journey of the Magi, were read in pieces. A verse or two of a related familiar Christmas carol was sung by all between readings while the appropriate characters walked down the aisle to the chancel. By the time the priest read the Gospel, the children had created a full manger scene in front of the altar.

After the Gospel, the children processed down the aisle, removed their costumes in the narthex, and returned to their families in the pews. We saw lots of smiles and happy faces on young and old alike.

The Eucharist that followed was joyful. We found the entire experience to be uplifting and reaffirming.

We left for home thinking, 'Parish life is such a gift.'

We have been reflecting (nay, 'dwelling' is probably more accurate) on the past year with all its changes, chosen or imposed. 2014 was 'character building' – to say the least – for us at AO. After being enfolded in this morning's worship-cum-pageant, we resolved to let this new year be truly New. An epiphany to prepare for the Epiphany.

Won't you join us in singing A New Year Carol* (score) (audio)?

Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with, this happy new year;
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine.

Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her toe;
Open you the west door and turn the old year go;
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine.

Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her chin.
Open you the east door and let the new year in!
Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine,
With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine.

See you next week.

All of us at Anglicans Online

4 January 2015
http://anglicansonline.org

* Words: Traditional, collected by Walter de la Mare in his anthology Tom Tiddler's Ground.
This recording and score are Benjamin Britten's arrangement of the traditional tune in his collection 'Friday Afternoons'.
Other arrangements or performances we like:

• Oakham School
• Cambridge Singers
• Tim Hawthorn
• The Watersons
• An arrangement for SATB by Paul Stetsenko (PDF)

Another site we like for New Year meditation: Dunblane Cathedral's 'Take a Moment' page.