Christmas concert

Each year, the local secondary school holds a Christmas concert in St Mary's church. It is one of my favourite occasions during what it is my favourite time of year. There's a mixture of carols, readings, and performances from various choirs and music groups.

The church is a magnificent place and perfectly suited to an event like this. (The photo doesn't do it justice really but it was a hasty snap at the end of the concert.) I love the singing, particularly; no obscure hymns, just those great carols that you can belt out and really feel part of.

It's funny - because I haven't been a regular churchgoer for over thirty years - but I find the bible readings, telling the nativity story, more and more moving each year. They culminate with the headteacher reading the passage that starts John's gospel, The Mystery of the Incarnation, which I enjoy the most. It's partly down to the way in which it's read but it's also because, after all these years, I still like the stories of Jesus and I love the way he's introduced in those first verses. I guess he was my first hero. (I wrote a bit about this here almost three years ago.)