ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN PARISH, MATAMATA – LESSONS AND CAROLS
All Saints Anglican Parish, 8 Hohaia Street, Matamata, 3400, New Zealand, held its annual Lessons and Carol Service on Sunday 15 December 2024.
A near-capacity congregation of many denominations were enthralled by this service and the wonderment and mystery of Christmas.
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was led by Venerable Andrew Evans, Vicar of All Saints and the music was under the direction of David Brookes, Chair of RSCM Waikato NZ.
Overall, there were 30 Choristers, 15 representing All Saints Church choir and 15 from the Matamata Ladies choir, plus guest performers.
The All-Saints Choir sang “May the Light”, conducted by David Brookes, pianist Clare Hitchcock and composed by New Zealander David Hamilton. The Ladies Choir sang “O Holy Night”, conducted by Aileen Crayford, pianist Nancy Cox, while the combined Choirs sang “We Three Kings”, conducted by Nancy Cox
and pianist Clare Hitchcock, also composed by David Hamilton.
A highlight of the service was six-year-old Georgia Hitchcock, accompanied by her father Steve on guitar, singing a solo “Away in a Manager. The innocence and clarity of this performance was truly inspirational.
A Choral group, the Brooky Whanau (Family) performed “A Child is Born” followed by a traditional Māori song “Me te Marie” (Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow). The harmony of this group, with Melody Brooky on trumpet, filled the church with rapture.
Organist for this service, David Brookes, accompanied eight congregational Carols, several of which the Choir sang the verses, and all joined in the refrain. There were nine lessons read by different people, each followed by the lighting of a candle.
The program variety and participation of the choirs, guest performances and the congregation were memorable. The final Carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” reminded us of the spirit and mystery of Christmas.
W Lindsay Tisch QSO, JP
