Darkness to Light 

 

The service of Darkness to Light is a traditional choral service to mark the beginning of Advent.

Join  us on Sunday 3rd December at 6:00pm in St Bartholomew's Church.



The service order revolves around some of the Advent prayers known as the O Antiphons.  The early church developed a custom of praying these seven great prayers, calling afresh on Christ to come, addressing him by the mysterious titles found in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah:

“O Wisdom!” “O Root!” “O Key!” “O King of the Nations”.   

Each begins with the invocation “O” and then calls on Christ, although never by name but using some of the mysterious titles and emblems given to him in the pages of the Old Testament, touching our deepest needs and intuitions.  Finally, each antiphon prays the great Advent verb, Veni, “Come!”  

As well as the O antiphons and other music we will be using a series of readings, both sacred and secular, to help us go more deeply into the mystery and wonder of the Advent season.  The service begins in darkness, after which candles will be lit and the lights will come on as the service proceeds.

Darkness to Light is a wonderful curtain raiser for the Advent Season, do please join us that evening.