The First Lincolnshire Farmers’ Carol Service was held at Bailgate Methodist Church on Sunday 22nd December 2024 at 3 pm. Rev’d Canon Alan Robson presided over the service. There was music and singing from a local choir before the service.

The first carol was Once in Royal David’s City followed by the Welcome and Introduction by Rev’d Canon Alan Robson. Hark the Herald Angels Sing was next followed by the first Reading Isiah Chapter 9 verses 2 -7 read by Alex Albone. 

Bart Albone then lit one candle for departed friends of the farming community. Junior members of the congregation helped Alan light the candles of the advent ring. Followed by the carol O Come all ye Faithful.

Ian Watson read the poem BC – AD by U A Fanthorpe, Kelly Hewson-Fisher led the prayers of joy and thanksgiving including the Lord’s Prayer.

The Carol O Little Town of Bethlehem was followed by Luke Chapter 2 verses 1-7 read by Annie Ward, then Amy Thomas and her daughter Pip read parts of the poem 2 women by Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Emma Blandford read Luke Chapter 2 verses 8 -14.

A Christmas Medley by singers and Musicians.

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night followed by Matthew Chapter 2 verses 7 -12 read by the High Sheriff Philip Dymoke.

Sermon – Would you like to hold the baby?

On 27th April weighing at 6lb 100z at 2.36 Faye was born – after 13 hrs labour and the nurse asked, “Do you want to hold your baby”? Do you want to hold the Baby?

Oh I wanted to say yes, because I like babies and it is wonderful to hold a little child.  But she was so small. So fragile. So precious. I know you’re supposed to support the baby’s head but wasn’t sure how. But the nurse she smiled, and gently handed the baby to me and showed me what to do.

And it was lovely to hold this tiny thing. And wonderful. And although I suppose we all know a newborn baby is really the most ordinary thing in the world as well as being ordinary each birth is also miraculous and perfect. As parents, and even as onlookers and friends, we experience the birth as a glorious thing, we do marvel at a new child’s fragile beauty. Those tiny hands. Those tiny feet. Those very, very tiny fingernails and eyelashes. A little person and a little miracle. And even though we know so much about how babies are born and where they come from, nevertheless ‘miracle’, ‘wonder’, ‘astonishment’, ‘delight’ is the language we use and certainly the emotions we feel.

At this Carol service, I wonder, is God asking us the same question? ‘Would you like to hold the baby?’

Is this the invitation of the Christian faith? Because if this child is God’s gift to us of God’s own life, now emptied into and made visible in human life. And if God is going to show us what our humanity can be. Show us how to care for and hold each other. It will be in receiving and holding this child that we will learn lessons of peace and of “life and life in all it’s fullness; how we are to love one another, treat others as we would like others to treat us – the things our world so urgently needs to learn and receive this Christmas.

Perhaps we are being invited tonight.

‘Would you like to hold the child?’, is God, if God exists saying this to us now this coming Christmas Day?

 ‘Well,’, God says, ‘if you’re going to hold this baby, you’re going to have to put down all that other stuff you’re holding first.’ 

We look into our arms and suddenly see as if for the first time, with horror and embarrassment just how much stuff is there and how it gets in the way of holding babies, of holding on to the idea of God.

So, does God say, wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever the reason you’re here put down your phone. Silence its jabbering chatter. Close your ipad. Your laptop. Switch them off. Unplug them. Take off your headphones. Put down your magazines, your newspapers, your wisdom, your opinions, your prejudices and your fears.

Put down your knife and fork. Put down your spoon. Put down all those other knives and guns and shields and weapons you’re holding onto thinking they can save you and secure you. In fact, put down all your defences. They can’t protect you. And they keep love at bay. Put down your greed. Put down your anger. Put down your bitterness. Put down the idea that you cannot be loved, and have no love left for anyone else. Put down the notion that things can’t change, that this is just the way it is, that dog eats dog. Put down your clever put downs. Put down your cynicism. Your carefully rehearsed positions on everything. Put down your inflexible certainties. They are strangling you. Unsaddle your high horse.. Put down your delight in other people’s failings. Put down your low opinion of yourself. Put down the regret that gnaws inside you and prevents you moving forward.

Put down the things you thought you needed. Your coat, your hat, your brolly, your scarf, your gloves, your wallet, your armour, your second pair of everything, your security. Put down that inverted pride that makes you think you are not worthy and would never be asked to hold onto God in the first place.

Because dear farming Friends and neighbours, is God really wanting to speak with you? Is God holding out his Christ to you? Perhaps he is?

Then. Unclench your fist. Open eyes. Hold out empty hands, like you do when you receive communion.

‘Now’, perhaps God is saying, ‘you are ready: would you like to hold the baby?’   That’ll do … Amen.

Rev’d Canon Alan Robson

Silent Night Holy Night and Away in a Manger were sung followed by the Last Part of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens read by Sean Dunderdale and Rev’d Canon Alan Robson.

Musicians and Singers with more festive music.

Who would think that what we needed carol followed by the last reading John Chapter 1 verse 1-14 read by Lord Lieutenant Toby Dennis

Prayers of invocation

Grace Blessing together before the final Hymn, In the Bleak Midwinter. Then Santa arrived with presents for the children.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Alan and the trustees of Lincolnshire Rural & Agricultural Chaplaincy Charity.