Today’s carol is “In the bleak midwinter”Today’s beautiful poem-carol lays out three different reactions to the arrival of God. The earth is hard, unresponsive, cold and bleak; the heavens are ablaze with angels singing “Holy, Holy, Hallelujahs”; but the mother of God holds the baby and kisses him.You don’t need to be high and holy to worship God, says Christina Rossetti. Be like Mary. Open your heart and love him.
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14. New Year’s Day: The hopes and fears of all the years
Today’s carol is “O little town of Bethlehem”The words in today’s reading are those spoken to John the Baptist when he was still in his mother’s womb proclaiming him the forerunner of Jesus.As we read them at the dawn of a new year, let’s ponder how Christ himself is a new dawn for the world.
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13. New Year’s Eve: Light and life to all he brings
Today’s carol is “Hark the herald angels sing”In our reading today Mary’s soul erupts into poetry as she looks to God her Saviour in preparation for the birth of Jesus.As we sit on the cusp of a new year, we meet God who turns our world’s values upside down to reveal his light and love to all.
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12. 30 December: O holy night!
Today’s carol is “O holy night!”God’s glory is seen in a beautiful sunset or landscape. God’s glory is known in the transcendence of worship or the stillness of prayer.God’s glory is revealed quietly and wonderfully in the birth of Jesus and the life of Jesus. God’s glory seen, fully, in a human being.
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11. 29 December: Sing, choirs of angels
Today’s carol is “O come, all ye faithful”“Come and behold him.” Come and see. Take time to look, and reflect on all that Jesus is and offers. That’s the invitation in today’s carol.In the reading from John’s Gospel there’s a promise. As we see, we trust. And as we trust, we receive. The gift God gives is love, now and eternally.
Comfort and Joy invites us to hear again the message of the angels – good news of God’s unfailing love for a world that is weary and hurting.
Taking inspiration from a traditional carol service, Comfort and Joy features weekly reflections throughout Advent, and daily reflections from Christmas day to the second of January, from Kate Bottley, Jonathan Bryan, Bob Chilcot, Martha Collison, Stephen Cottrell, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Chine McDonald, Sally Phillips and Justin Welby.
Beginning on Advent Sunday, each episode explores a Bible reading and a familiar carol, encouraging us to look with fresh eyes at how the timeless truth of Christmas might shape our lives in these extraordinary times.
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