Carol, 'a joyful song, especially a Christmas hymn' says the Oxford dictionary, and this says it all.  We caroled joyfully on the evening of December 12, accompanied by the Manama Singers who lent weight and solo voices to the occasion.

The evening was in the traditional manner of nine readings and carols and we were once again reminded in music and word of the Biblical story which led to the birth of Christ.  Our readers provided the narrative, and we heard again those wonderful words of the Bible, beginning with the fall of Adam and Eve, through the foretelling of Christ's birth by the prophet Isaiah and the announcement to Mary that she was the chosen mother of God's son, culminating in St. John's unfolding of the mystery of the Incarnation.

The congregation accompanied by the Manama Singers, lent musical colour, as well as testimony, to the miracle of the birth of Jesus through the traditional carols of Christmas tide.

This year under their leader, Alistair Auld, the Manama Singers presented us with eight carols from all over the world featuring the full choir and some of their excellent solo voices.  These carols were chosen to complement the readings and the carols sung by the congregation.

At the end of the service, we were all able to partake of Christmas cheer in the form of mulled wine and mince pies provided by members of the congregation.

To finish as we began, with the Oxford Dictionary, the word 'chorus' is defined as something spoken or sung by many people together, and the example of 'a chorus of approval' is what we all gave to the congregation and the Manama Singers at the end of the service of worship.