Roger Scoones' Monthly Dialogue
Rev Roger Scoones
Rev Roger Scoones is Rector of St Mary's Parish Church, Stockport and is a well known figure in the local community.
December
at St Mary's 2009
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Words of
the Prophet Isaiah set to music by George Frederick Handel in his great
oratorio Messiah and first performed in 1743, ring in my ears. Having
sat in the inspirational surroundings of Manchester’s superb Bridgewater
Hall, the home of the renowned Hallé orchestra, and listening with
wrapped attention to the Hallé Choir just below me (and rather wishing I
was standing among the basses, singing it myself) I was at once aware
not only of the beauty of the music and the Christmas Story, but also of
the fact that Christmas is with us again. It seems so familiar, the
cards arriving, the decorations going up, in Church and at home, the
carols floating through the town centre Mall, the presents needing to be
bought, the Christmas tree lights needing to be found before thinking of
decorating the tree – paraphernalia of Christmas!
St Mary’s, in the Marketplace in Stockport’s Historic Town Centre
reflects all these things at Christmas. Parishioners save the postage by
perching Christmas cards on a ledge, hoping their recipient will spot
their cards! The beautiful crib figures come out of their bubble-pack
wrapping after their quiet rest in a box in our spacious gallery. Tree
decorations, which much have been added to year by year, making the
magnificent fir tree (a generous gift from a market trader over many
years) look like a Victorian dessert of strawberries and cream, are
taken from boxes and bags where they had – it would appear, been
hurriedly put after last Christmas and New Year! So we are all ready for
another busy “festive season” as the world loves to call it – we call it
Advent!
Some years ago St Mary’s had but one Carol Service – sung by the Church
Choir. Now there are 26 services and concerts leading up to Christmas,
which falls on Friday this year. The programme begins with an upbeat
concert of late 20th century songs by a well known composer and
lyricist, Graham Kendrick. The musical is sung by a 70 strong choir –
United Christian Singers under the baton of Walter Brisk, a well known
figure in Christian music circles in the North West.
At the end of the programme there is another fine concert of choral
music given by the Maia Singers and Stockport Youth Choir – entitled
‘Sing Christmas’. It’s always an atmospheric concert, full of “seasonal”
Christmas charm and warmth. St Mary’s is not called “the Welcoming
Church” for nothing!
We welcome five Junior Schools for individual services and concerts as
well as the combined Senior Schools Choirs for their Christmas
Celebration, which is quite an undertaking for one Parish Church.
“Charity begins at home” they say, and St Mary’s extends a warm welcome
to Shopmobility Stockport, Age Concern, MENCAP, Rotary District 1050,
Wellspring and the Children’s Society. In recent years the Stockport
Police Division has established a Carol Service in its diary alongside
the Mayor of Stockport’s own Carol Service, and Carol Services for the
Business Community and shoppers too. In fact everyone and anyone is
welcome!
Before I came to St Mary’s 13 years ago only one school held a Carol
Service here, Stockport Grammar Junior School, and I’m glad to say they
still do so, maintaining a tenuous link between the school and the
Parish Church where the Grammar School was founded in 1483!
All this activity, which is unusual for one Parish Church to undertake
on its own, with only a Rector as staff, is dependent on the goodwill
and sheer hard work of a team of volunteers who turn up to help at each
occasion. They deserve the thanks and mince pies which invariably come
their way. By December 25th, which is a relatively quiet day in the life
of St Mary’s especially after 3 Carol Services on Christmas Eve – we
close for 2 weeks! Apart from Sundays, of course. Everyone is glad of a
rest, but happy that once again we have helped to bring the message of
Christmas to so many Citizens of Stockport, and visitors alike.
May I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
Rev. Roger Scoones
Rector of St Mary’s
Rev Roger Scoones Christmas Message to listen Click
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