Tune in to Christmas Radio
This Christmas, there is a great deal of excellent, religious broadcasting on the radio, for which we should, as Christians, be truly grateful. Our own Ballyholme Parish broadcasts on Christmas Day morning and Canon Noel Battye hosts ‘Sounds Sacred’ in the afternoon. Enjoy!
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols: Christmas Eve at 15:00 on BBC Radio 4
For many people around the world, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, live from the candlelit chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, marks the beginning of Christmas. It is based around nine Bible readings which tell the story of the loving purposes of God. They are interspersed with carols old and new, sung by the world famous chapel choir who also lead the congregation in traditional Christmas hymns. Repeated on Radio 3 at 2pm on Christmas Day.
Midnight Mass: Christmas Eve at 23:30 on BBC Radio 4
Live from York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, celebrates the First Mass of Christmas and gives the homily. Richard Shephard’s Mass of the Nativity is sung by the St William’s Singers accompanied by the York Young Soloists Orchestra, led by Sophie Lockett and under the direction of the composer. Traditional carols include ‘It came upon the midnight clear’, ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ and ‘O come all ye faithful.’ The readings are Isaiah 52 vv7–10 and John 1 vv1–14. The Organist is York Minster’s Assistant Director of Music, David Pipe.
Music of the King James Bible: Christmas Eve at 12:15 on BBC Radio 3
The Revd Richard Coles assesses the influence that the King James Bible has had on music during the past 400 years. With the help of composers, writers and musicians he follows the trail of the King James translation from madrigals to missionaries and from Handel to hip–hop.
He considers the problems and rewards of setting the sometimes–difficult language of the 1611 version in choral anthems and oratorios. But he also tracks its journey into the American gospel tradition and discovers its central importance in the lyrics of Bob Dylan.
Christmas Day Service from St Columbanus, Ballyholme: At 9.00 on BBC Radio Ulster
Family Carols in the church and a devotional thought from the clergy of the area, pre–recorded on Ballyholme beach.
Rector, Canon Simon Doogan, will be joined in his reflections by Peter Lyle the minister of Ballyholme Presbyterian and Baird Lewis the minister of Ballyholme Methodist.
Sounds Sacred: Christmas Day at 17:03 on BBC Radio Ulster
In a special Christmas edition of Sounds Sacred, Noel Battye introduces listeners’ request for their favourite festive sacred music.