An evening of light, music, and community – Hinde Street’s chapel looked amazing in candlelight at last night’s Carol Service!
Around 70 people came, some whom were just passing by and were drawn to join in by the festive atmosphere and music.
The Methodist Christmas theme, ‘Hush the Noise’ was woven throughout the evening’s reflections and activities. You can check out what it means to quieten down for Christmas here. Below, you can also read a reflection read at the service by Rev Peter Cornick.
Hush the noise
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing!
This is a line from the carol, ‘It came upon a midnight clear.’ In the verse which has, Oh hush the noise, the world is depicted as one which has been at war, full of strife, suffering and anguish. If only, the carol ponders, if only we could hush the noise, we might allow ourselves to hear the angels sing – hear God’s voice call us. What would we hear the angels sing? What would be God’s call?
This year, the presence of conflict across the middle east, Ukraine and Sudan, has drowned out any calls for peace; has drowned out the need for humanitarian aid; the world is more noisy than at any time in recent years. If only we could hush the noise, in those places of strife, to allow the ordinary people to hear the angels sing. To hear God cry, peace!
Hush the noise.
But we too need to hush the noise. These days, the phones in our pockets cry out to us; buy this, invest here; follow this celebrity; click on this tempting website. The noise is intense. Our lives are crowded with noise making us anxious and addicted. Is it any wonder we cannot hear God speaking – the angels singing?
In the Christmas story, we hear about angels, singing to shepherds, whilst they are minding their sheep. Rough, workers of the field, these people were not much liked by the townspeople. Down to earth types shepherds, who were hardly going to be fooled by some out of this world experience. Not ones for bright lights and gimmicks, shepherds. So, what they heard that night, must have been so impressive, it stirred them. What they were told, to hurry to Bethlehem to see this thing which has come to pass, raised them from their daily labour – moved them from the security of what they knew – sheep and fields. Compelled them to journey to Bethlehem.
What would be so impressive, stir us, compel us, to leave our phones, to cease our shopping, and go and see this thing which has come to pass. How will we hush the noise, to hear the angels sing?
Tonight, if only for a brief moment in our Christmas rush, we hear God’s story, from creation and human’s fall from grace in it – a modern theme if ever there was one – we hear the hope of prophets for a saviour to guide us from the self-made chaos. And then we hear the noise hushed. Stillness in a field of sheep. To certain poor shepherds, God’s voice; listen; a child is born not far from here. Hurry, go and see.
The angels sing of a baby, who will bring peace on earth and glory to God on high. This is not what was expected. How can a baby do anything about the years of strife – the current strife? But into the world, a child. God acts unexpectedly. God appears, to a peasant girl in an out-building.
It is in the most everyday place, to the least remarkable people, that God appears.
The story reminds us that when our lives are full of noise, we are unlikely to hear God. And perhaps we look for God in the wrong places. For in this story, God appears and has a message for some very unlikely people.
If we could, for a moment, hush the noise, perhaps we would hear God say to us, you are valuable, just as you are – without all the tinsel and wrapping. And I love you.
If we could, for a moment, hush the noise, perhaps we would hear the angles sing, of a child, born to bring God’s peace; a peace which the world cannot bring.
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.
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Thank you all for joining in!