Carol Singing in North Anston

North Anston carol singing – bringing Christmas joy

Three years ago, North Anston Methodist Church decided to try something new to tell of the love of God to their neighours at Christmas. Revd Angela Pothecary describes how combination of giving something new a try, being persistent, making small tweaks each year, and working in partnership with community groups resulted in bringing Christmas joy to new people.

Supporting congregations of all sizes to be revitalised – experimenting with fresh ways of being church and being quietly confident evangelists – is one of our strategic priorities as a district. Whilst we are still in the depths of winter, now is the time to be talking about simple ways your congregation get out of your building and take news of God’s unconditional love to your neighbours on Valentines Day or Easter.
Seed funding grants are available here

Revd Angela writes, “The previous two years we had gone
wider afield up into the council estate and even though we had advertised we
had felt we hadn't really been heard. So we decided, with some of our carollers
not able to walk too far, that we would focus our singing to the smaller estate
behind the chapel. This enabled more singers to come and join us, and it was
wonderful to include people from the several community groups that meet at the
church including Shoebox, Sing for Joy and Meet & Make groups. A true
coming together church and non church folk, some even bringing their friends.

"And "what a joy to behold" as the familiar popular Christmas song of old goes. We made sure that we strategically stood where we could see people in the houses. Rather than just outside the houses with Christmas lights but no one home. It worked a treat, and we had families and young children waving from bedroom windows and out on the doorsteps. Babies in the arms of their mums and dads stood on doorsteps despite the chilly night air. We reached more people and spoke to more people that night than we had in all the other two years we had done the singing. The young children smiling and waving made our night and it all worth while.
One lady came out and she said we had made her night as she had got ready to go out to her Christmas party she loved hearing the carols that we sang. She really appreciated it. Even an elderly lady came out and wanted to give us money. She was so touched when we said we were not collecting . To say we are not a choir we sounded pretty good I reckon.

"Once we had covered as many of the cul de sacs as possible we headed back to the chapel for hot chocolate marshmellows and cream and cakes and mince pies. The fellowship continued there for quite a while, no one rushing to go home. Holy spirit , the joy love and peace of Christmas alive and bring and excited buzz to our conversations.

"This has been a true from little acorns grow. From a suggestion made at an autumn church council about carol singing in the community by me, it became a reality that first Christmas and to think in three years how it has evolved is credit to the congregation who believe all things can be possible with God."