St Carthage’s Nine Lessons and Carols

Last night, four Sisters were delighted to attend the service of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Lismore. We were invited to participate by good friends of the community, Dean Paul Draper and his wife Kathryn, and were warmly welcomed from the moment we arrived.

Nine Lessons and Carols is a traditionally Anglican service that celebrates the story of salvation through scripture and music. Nine short readings (“lessons”) from the Bible trace God’s saving plan for humanity; from the story of the Fall in Genesis, through God’s promises to Abraham and the prophets, and finally to the birth of Christ, the Incarnate Word, as proclaimed in Saint John’s Gospel. These readings are interwoven with hymns and carols, allowing us to reflect on the unfolding of salvation history.

Beginning with O Come, All Ye Faithful and concluding with Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, the service led us gently through the great mystery of Christmas, seen through the lives of biblical figures and expressed in well-known and much-loved hymns.

A schola of three Sisters had the joy of singing Hush, Be Still just before the ninth lesson. Below is a video of our practice before the event!

We were deeply heartened by the hospitality and kindness of all who helped organise the evening, edified by the congregational singing and very grateful for the goodness, welcome, and friendship that were so generously shared with us.