Advent Lessons & Carols

This past Sunday, our church hosted a special Advent Lessons & Carols service. The music was absolutely incredible this year, if I do say so myself. (I wish you could have been there!) Our music director recruited some outside help (from colleagues and students in the music department at the local college), plus our handbells played for the first time in about nine years! Too bad we didn't think to get a picture of three generations of ringers: Mom, Miss A., and me. A. worked very hard to learn her part. (DH enjoyed the gentle nudges she got from me when she was supposed to ring, though most of the time she didn't even need them.) The Choristers sang "The Angel Gabriel" and though they started out like the Three Stooges, they made a joyful noise for the Lord. The best part of all (to this proud mom) was A's solo! Yes, that nine year old sang an a capella solo (the first verse of "Once in Royal David's City") with the full choir joining in for the rest of the verses as they processed out the church. Ah, the music of angels!