Community Carol Service

Putting on a carol service on a patch of grass on the estate on which you live is one of the most powerful ways you can give back to your community. When people come to a carol service, they expect certain things and sometimes it can feel constraining to worship in a style so different to the typical Sunday service but this is outreach and it is a chance to tell people who would never come to church about the amazing gift of Jesus in a way that they will enjoy and thank you for.

I have put on a carol service on a small grassy hillock (see the picture above) for the last few years and it has been great to involve members of the local community and is something that is really welcomed by around 70 people who attend. The first year took time to organise but now it is much quicker and to help you, I have put all the documents I use below.

Being Legal

You will need permission from the land owner. This might be the person adjacent to the grass or it might be the local council. Theoretically, my council charges for any event but I have never paid. The council will what you to be insured so you will need a copy of your church's public liability insurance. They will also ask you for risk assessments (see below), licences and tonnes of other stuff. Fill it all in and keep a copy for next year as the form won't change. As this is a "worship event" we were exempt from the requirement to obtain a licence for amplified music. Do this part at the start of November as the council have long turn around times.

Keep it simple and local

There are just over 400 houses on my estate so I focused solely on this area, emphasising that this was a local event. This is about bringing local people together and not a professional show at the O2 arena! People will forgive it being rough around the edges if you are sincere and generous. A keyboard player and a singer will suffice for a 'worship band'. In previous years, I have asked neighbours not connected to the church to help out. As you can see from the picture, I set up a gazeebo and borrow electricity from a house next to the park - I didn't know the people before I knocked on their door and asked if I could use their plug but people want to help. I do use proper outdoor speakers though as the sound disappears outside. I then decorate the place with tea lights in jam jars, fairy lights and an LED star on tap of a long metal pole. Members of out church give out mince pies, mini-yule logs, mulled wine and hot chocolate for free - no donations. This is our gift. See the list below for the full kit list.

Running Order and example script

This is up to you but I like to pack as many carols into as short as time as possible. My judgement is that people don't really want to hang around for more than thirty minutes on a cold night and want to sing their favourite carol. For this reason, we only sing two verses of each carol in order to fit as many in as possible. We also start at 6pm so that children can be there and it doesn't clash with other engagements - it's a busy time of year. The script below is what I used for the 2023 event.

Introduction

Good evening everyone and thank you so much for coming. Christmas is a time when we think about Jesus coming into the world as its saviour. God didn’t fix the world from a distant place, he came into the world. He lived in a family, he gathered twelve disciples around him. They gathered people around them and they met regularly. At the heart of the human condition isn’t just a yearning for God but a yearning for belonging. God loved the world so much that he formed a church where we could all belong. Although, we can experience spirituality on our own, true fellowship is when we are part of a community. Vary the age and sex of the people at the front so it is reflective of your community.

Please grab yourself a mince pie and hot chocolate or mulled wine from the table over there. We also have spare songsheets over there and we will sing through the carols in the order on the songsheet – if you’d prefer, all the words are on the Harwood Park Facebook page. We will start with a familiar reading from the Bible.

Reading 1

Luke 1: 26-33

First block of carols

Carol: O come, all ye faithful,

Carol: Hark! the herald angels sing:

Carol: In the bleak mid-winter

Reading 2

Luke 2 8-14

Second block of carols

Carol: Once in Royal David’s city

Carol: Away in a manger

Carol: We three kings of Orient are

Message

We’re going to have a quick vote. In a moment, I’m going to count down from three and you’re going to shout out your favourite carol. Make it loud so I can hear. 3,2,1.

I told someone the other day that my favourite carol was Hark the Herald Angels and they said “Ahh, the one with the controversial line.” I was a little surprised at this and asked what the line was that was so controversial. Does anyone know what it is? …

It’s “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see”. You might be wondering, “What’s wrong with that?”. You’re possibly wondering, “What does it even mean?” The complaint is similar to the one people have about the line “But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes” in the carol “Away in a Manger”.

Both of them confuse who Jesus really is. All human babies cry. It’s in their nature. It is their only way of getting the food and comfort they need. If a baby didn’t cry then you might question if he was really human. Similarly, the line “veiled in flesh” gives the idea that God decided to disguise himself by dressing up as a human – he draped a human flesh costume over his God body and passed himself off as human. But central to the Christian faith is the fact that Jesus was a real human being. Most historians agree that a man called Jesus existed. That he was born as a frail and helpless baby and went on to live a life that was so compelling that Christianity exploded into existence. People literally staked their lives on having seen Jesus with their own eyes. And we have thousands of ancient documents and fragments of documents written about this man. Before Jesus was born, there were no documents and then there are thousands of documents. It’s almost as if something actually happened! But what? It was this evidence that compelled me to take Christianity seriously when I was in my twenties.

Jesus left an evidence trail because he was a real human living in a real place at a given time. Jesus was fully man… but… time and time again, he himself made it clear that he was also fully God. Not a demi-God like you get in the Greek myths. Jesus was completely, 100% human and Jesus was completely, 100% God. And this is important because it means God can truly empathise with us. This isn’t a distant God in a far off place. It is a God who knows what it is to be a helpless child… and an adult who was hated by those in authority. A God who knows what it is to be betrayed by his friends, to mourn lost ones and to face the reality of death himself. After Jesus was executed, he was buried. But when his friends went to pay their respects, the body was gone.

He had risen from the dead. He’d said he was God and he proved he was God. He showed himself to thousands of people after the resurrection and those people told their stories and no one could disprove them. And his message was simple and is repeated in the carols we sing tonight. His message was “Follow me.”

“I will forgive you of everything you’ve ever done wrong - if you follow me.”

“No matter what it is that is dragging you down, I’ll take that burden - if you follow me.”

“No matter how worthless you feel, you can be part of my Holy family. I will call you my brother or sister – if you follow me.”

And that invitation still exists. It’s one I took up 25 years ago. And in every country, in every continent, people continue to follow him. There are people at Bromsgrove Baptist Church from Ukraine, China, the middle east, Africa, America and they even let me in from Essex.

Jesus will take your burden. He’ll forgive you. He’ll bring you into his family. And he’ll give you a new purpose for your life - if you follow him.

So as you sing carols this year, look out for the references to Jesus as man and God and look out for the invitation to follow him. And maybe consider taking him up on the offer.

Final block of carols

Carol: O little town of Bethlehem

Carol: Silent night

Carol: Joy to the world

Invite to future services

This event is put on by *** which is the church on the ****. We have a couple more events over the next few days that you might be interested in.

***List them, explain what happens at them and make them sound like something people would want to go to. ***

Finally, one week today it will be Christmas Day. Can we have a cheer for that! At 10am on Christmas morning, we will have a short service where we come together to celebrate the birth of our Saviour and to show people the new toys we got.

But we don’t just do Christmas. We meet every Sunday at *** and we always make new people feel at home. Or if you just want to make new friends, we have a group that meets on Thursdays between 10 and 2 where you can get a free meal and warm welcome. Just speak to someone wearing a purple tabard afterwards as we’d love to talk to you.

Prayer

We will now finish with a short prayer followed by a rendition of Jingle Bells which is on the back page. I invite you to echo the words of this prayer in your heart, as I read it out.

Thank you, God, for loving me before I ever loved you.

Thank you, Jesus, for coming into this world as a human baby and dying on the cross for me.

Thank you that you know me and love me completely and want me to be part of your plan for this world.

I know I have made mistakes and now I ask for your total forgiveness.

I turn away from everything I know is wrong and say yes to following you.

Amen.

Thank you for coming. Please stay and chat, Merry Christmas everyone.

Advertise

I use the local Facebook group to let people know what is going on several weeks in advance. I also print out A4 bifold song sheets with a front page that gives all the information about the event and a back page that advertises other events at the church over Christmas. I deliver one to every house on the estate a week ahead of the event. It takes about 40 minutes to deliver 100 leaflets but longer if you stop to chat to people as you go which I did as people were really interested in what we are doing. As well as that, I print out A3 posters and shorten them so that when I laminate them, the hole punch goes through the plastic only to make it water proof when I tie them to lamp posts around the estate and on the park. I then post on social media for people to look out for the sheets and keep them sage. The day of the event, I put the words to all the carols as a social media post for those who need a lit display to read from - and as an extra reminder!

Risk Assessment

Risk:	Coronavirus transmission between individuals
Persons at risk	Attendees, musicians, speakers, others involved in the running of the event.
Risk Rating before control measures	Likelihood	1	Risk Rating after control measures	Likelihood	1
	Severity	4		Severity	4
	Overall Risk	4		Overall Risk	4

Control Measures	Control in place (Y/N)	Person Responsible	Comments
1. Outdoor event where risk of transmission is low. Levels of infection in Bromsgrove are currently 1 per week. Link to covid data	Y	CS
2. Location chosen so there is sufficient space and invitees mostly live within walking distance.	Y	CS
3. Lyrics delivered in advance to all households to prevent person to person contact when handing out carol sheets.	Y	CS
4. Volunteers to follow any government advice in place at the time and inform others to do so.	Y	CS

Risk:	Food poisoning
Persons at risk	Attendees, musicians, speakers, others involved in the running of the event.
Risk Rating before control measures	Likelihood	5	Risk Rating after control measures	Likelihood	3
	Severity	3		Severity	3
	Overall Risk	15		Overall Risk	9

Control Measures	Control in place (Y/N)	Person Responsible	Comments
1. Pre-bought mince pies will be handed out from trays. FSA guidance will be followed and overseen by someone with level 2 food hygiene and safety certificate. Volunteers will wash hands. Hand gel will be available.	Y	CS
2. Hot chocolate and pre-bottled mulled wine will be handed out from trays in single use cups. FSA guidance will be followed and overseen by someone with level 2 food hygiene and safety certificate. Volunteers will wash hands. Guests will be asked to take rubbish home with them.	Y	CS

Risk:	Physical injury
Persons at risk	Attendees, musicians, speakers, others involved in the running of the event.
Risk Rating before control measures	Likelihood	5	Risk Rating after control measures	Likelihood	3
	Severity	3		Severity	2
	Overall Risk	15		Overall Risk	6

Control Measures	Control in place (Y/N)	Person Responsible	Comments
1. Trailing wires will be tidied away and walkways kept clear. Performance area lit.	Y	CS
2. Area inspected and any trip hazards removed before sunset (3pm).	Y	CS
3. Small gazebo securely tethered using plastic and guy ropes.	Y	CS

Risk:	Crowd management
Persons at risk	Attendees, musicians, speakers
Risk Rating before control measures	Likelihood	2	Risk Rating after control measures	Likelihood	1
	Severity	1		Severity	1
	Overall Risk	2		Overall Risk	1

Control Measures	Control in place (Y/N)	Person Responsible	Comments
1. Publicity will be limited to the Harwood Park residents Facebook group and leaflets/flyers around Harwood Park to maintain a small attendance.	Y	CS
2. Marshalls in clearly identifiable tabards will be available.	Y	CS
3. Marshalls will be aware of lost children and road safety issues.	Y	CS

List of items needed

Before the day:

450 song sheets delivered to every house on the estate and available on the night

6 A3 laminated posters

During set up:

Tent/gazebo

Star

Steel pole

Duck Tape

30m Extension lead

Table & chair for PA controller

Keyboard and stool

Amp/PA & Speakers

Microphone & stand

Wooden blocks for levelling

Light for inside gazebo so musicians can see

Extension leads

Christmas lights to decorate gazebo entrance

Tables for drinks

For the event:

8 bottles of mulled wine

Oranges cut into little slices for mulled wine

10 boxes of mince pies

30 mini rolls

2 packs of hot chocolate

100 Paper cups

Purple tabards identifying marshals

Bin bags

Trays

People needed

Keyboard player

Singer

PA/sound etc.

Person to welcome/compare

2 readers

Person to do talk

First Aider

4 servers

The above will also be marshals

Song Sheet

My song sheet is an A4 piece of paper that is folded in half to make a folding leaflet. The front page is a bright invitation to the event with a picture from previous years and a small map detailing exactly where to go. It is important that people can visualise themselves there and know exactly what to expect. The song words are inside the leaflet and the back page contains adverts of the church's other events. The back page also contains information about who we are, the church we are from and details of how to get there.

O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels;

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, Glory in the highest;

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

Hark! the herald angels sing:

"Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With angelic hosts proclaim:

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! the herald angels sing:

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the Heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! the herald angels sing:

"Glory to the newborn King!"

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

Give my heart.

Once in Royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed.

Where a mother laid her baby

In a manger for His bed.

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ that little child.

He came down to earth from Heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all.

And his shelter was a stable,

And his cradle was a stall.

With the poor and mean and lowly,

Lived on earth our Saviour Holy.

Away in a manger

No crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down his sweet head

The stars in the bright sky

Looked down where he lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing

The Baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side,

'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me for ever

And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And fit us for Heaven

To live with Thee there

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar.

Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night,

Star with royal beauty bright,

Westward leading, still proceeding,

Guide us to thy perfect Light.

Glorious now behold Him arise,

King and God and Sacrifice.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Sounds through the earth and skies.

O little town of Bethlehem

How still we see thee lie

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting Light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently

The wondrous Gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven

No ear may hear His coming

But in this world of sin

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in

Silent night, Holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother and child

Holy infant, tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night

Son of God, love's pure light

Radiant beams from thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love,

and wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His love

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