A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article appears below. Esther and Howard Mcllveen are involved in ministry at the Emmanuel Christian Community, Richmond, B.C. Esther is a frequent contributor to Channels.
A writer from the North Riding of Yorkshire states in the Gentleman’s Magazine for May, 1811 that he was awakened about six o’clock on Christmas Day “by a sweet singing under my window,” and looking out he saw “six young women and four men singing.”
Carolling isn’t as popular as it once was, so people treasure it even more. It can be done in shopping malls, hospitals, prisons, institutions for the aged and handicapped, or in the open air around residential areas.
Advent is the only time in the year when it is culturally acceptable to “invade” a neighbourhood or place with song and greetings. One can sing about “God and sinners reconciled” and greet people without intruding or being mistaken for a sect.
For the past three years a group of us from Emmanuel Christian Community have done Christmas carolling. Fortunately for us last year the rain stopped in time and so we met to pray. We had carol sheets (usually the local newspaper provides these), comfortable shoes, flashlights and some brochures with information about our church and some booklets on “How to Become a Christian.”
People responded with warmth, delight and surprise (especially that we were not doing it for money). One young man said, “I can’t believe this is happening.” Perhaps in a world devoid of caring and love, a carol choir is a gift. We discovered Catholics, Anglicans, Jews, Muslims, Mennonites, quasichurch-goers, and many who didn’t attend anywhere (to these we gave our E.C.C. brochures and told them that if we could help in any way, to give us a try). Many received our literature and a couple were open enough to receive the evangelistic booklets.
During our carolling, we discovered some helpful ways in which to enhance this unique ministry:
- Prepare by getting carol sheets with a reasonable variety of carols so that you don’t get bored singing the same pieces over and over again. Choose attractive literature and some information about your church with an address or phone number they can call, should they want to have further Dress warmly and remember flashlights.
- Work as a tightly-knit group (not spread out over a whole block). This makes the group more cohesive and produces stronger singing.
- Choose two people to “work the ” They should be people who enjoy spontaneous people contact and are good at it. (One can develop this art.) Teenagers are often too restless just to walk in a slow-walkingsinging group, therefore assign them to door-bell ringing, along with a mature person who can do the talking (teenagers enjoy action and can learn to join in the verbal greeting and witnessing).
- Someone in the singing group should be decisive in choosing the carols and should have a good sense of pitch. The singers should sing part of a carol while the door greeters are at the doors and then be open to swinging into “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” If the doorway conversation continues, because of the resident’s interest, sing the whole carol and more if need be.
- Where you’re on a crescent (cul-de-sac, etc.), you can ‘address’ two sides of the street at once. The crescent is ideal in that there is less auto traffic which means you can occupy the center of the road and because there is usually a greater openness to neighbourhood activity.
- If possible prepare a soloist, duet, trio or quartet who can add aesthetically to your presentation. (What would your reaction be to hearing a beautiful four-part harmonizing of “0 Come All Ye Faithful” outside your home some starry night?
- Be prepared for being invited into a home — either for cookies or for further singing — you set the time and agenda limits. Stay, if conversation or ministry opportunity justifies. Otherwise get back on the street.
- Some people may offer you money. You may want to predetermine a cause for which you will use it — in all likelihood, the people who give it will not be interested in how you use it. They may be more impressed if you don’t collect any!
- Pray with expectancy. Determine to bless and praise God — that gives you a freedom from wondering how or if people will respond. Bless the area in which you sing as you sing. You’ll be amazed at the opportunities that come.
Just as the carol was threatened to become extinct, in various periods of history, so is carolling. Let’s use the unique opportunity that Christmas brings, and spread the news with carolling that “The Lord Has Come!”