{"id":146515,"date":"2024-12-20T11:49:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T11:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=146515"},"modified":"2024-12-20T11:51:38","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T11:51:38","slug":"thomian-carol-service-the-festival-of-nine-lessons-and-carols-2024-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/thomian-carol-service-the-festival-of-nine-lessons-and-carols-2024-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomian Carol Service – The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thomian Carol Service –\u00a0<\/strong>The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, 2024<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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A Sacred Celebration of Advent and Tradition:\u00a0<\/strong>On the evening of November 30th, 2024, the All Saints Anglican Church in North Parramatta resonated with the sacred harmonies of the Sixteenth Thomian Carol Service, hosted by the S. Thomas’ College Old Boys’ Association of NSW\/ACT. A beautiful convergence of faith, tradition, and music, the event upheld the timeless legacy of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, a cherished tradition dating back to 1947 at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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A Legacy Rooted in Faith:\u00a0<\/strong>The origins of this service trace to Father Roy Henry Bowyer-Yin, an alumnus of King\u2019s College, Cambridge, who introduced the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols to S. Thomas\u2019 College. Inspired by Anglican traditions, the service is a profound synthesis of Scripture and song, capturing the essence of Adventus Domini, awaiting the coming of the Lord. Kumar Rasiah, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the enduring significance of this festival, noting its place within the rich Thomian heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Journey Through Scripture and Song: <\/strong>The service began with the traditional processional hymn,\u00a0Once in Royal David\u2019s City<\/em>, as Naomi and Nimeka\u2019s harmonious duet ushered in a spirit of reverence. The congregation, their voices united, embraced the solemnity and joy of worship. Guided by the majestic tones of the organ, the service transitioned seamlessly through nine Scriptural lessons, tracing salvation history from the \u2018Fall\u2019 in Genesis to the \u2018Word made flesh\u2019 in John\u2019s Gospel. The Bidding Prayer, in the words of Dean Eric Milner-White, called upon the congregation to “pray for all Christian people, that by this festival they may be renewed in the joy of the Incarnation.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Key moments included Isaiah\u2019s prophecy of the Messiah read in Sinhala, and the angel Gabriel\u2019s annunciation to Mary, delivered in Tamil, underscoring the universality of Christ\u2019s message. Each reading was complemented by carols performed with grace by the 29-strong choir, who delivered a repertoire that included:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Wake, O Wake<\/em>\u00a0(J.S. Bach)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Love Came Down at Christmas<\/em>\u00a0(John Rutter)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Here is the Little Door<\/em>\u00a0(Herbert Howells)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The Crown of Roses<\/em>\u00a0(Tchaikovsky)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The congregation joined in jubilant renditions of beloved hymns like\u00a0Hark! The Herald Angels Sing<\/em>, creating an atmosphere of communal worship.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Thomian Choir, A Symphony of Harmony and Dedication: <\/strong>Central to the Thomian Carol Service 2024 was the extraordinary performance of the choir, whose harmonious singing elevated the evening from a celebration of tradition to a profound spiritual experience. This remarkable achievement was a testament to the inspired leadership and unwavering commitment of David Sansoni, the Choir Master. His vision and dedication have been a cornerstone of the choir’s success, shaping them into a unified ensemble capable of delivering music that transcends mere performance to touch the soul.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    Supporting this sublime artistry was Nicholas Morley, the accomplished accompanist on the organ. His exquisite touch added layers of depth and beauty to every carol, making each note a vessel of grace that resonated throughout the church. Together, David and Nicholas brought out the best in the choir, creating a synergy of sound that was both heavenly and heartfelt.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To the Choristers, their dedication, unity, and heartfelt singing made the service a moment of profound meaning and inspiration. Each carol, from the poignant strains of The Crown of Roses to the jubilant Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, reflected not only your talent but your collective devotion to the spirit of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    In this sacred setting, the choir\u2019s performance became more than music\u2014it became worship, embodying the words of St. Augustine: “Qui bene cantat bis orat” (“He who sings well prays twice”). Through their voices, the Thomian Carol Service became a timeless act of praise and thanksgiving, leaving an indelible mark on all who attended.<\/span><\/p>\n

    May this harmony of voices continue to inspire, uplift, and echo the enduring spirit of the Thomian tradition for generations to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The service continued unannounced with the Nine Lessons read by representatives of schools closely associated with S. Thomas\u2019 College, most coming under the board of governance of CMS. The Bible Lessons were read by Luckshila Chelliah \u2013 Chundikuli Girls College Jaffna, Caryl Vellupillai \u2013 Bishops College, Shalini Gomes \u2013 Ladies College Colombo, Prashanthi Wijesinghe – St Paul’s Milagiriya, Charles Singham\u00a0 – St Johns College Jaffna,\u00a0Kesara Jayasuriya \u2013 Royal College Colombo, Dilip Kumar \u2013 Trinity College Kandy, Hemal Wickramasinghe \u2013 S. Thomas\u2019 College Mt Lavinia and President of STCOBANSW\/ACT.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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