Monday, 17 December 2007

Leaving for Bethlehem

A chilly start to the second part of Advent. Today the focus of the season shifts: we think not so much of Christ's second coming, but of preparing for the feast of His birth at Christmas. The spiritual preparations include daily sung Vespers with the ancient (and very beautiful) 'O antiphons' (in the Cathedral; Exposition and silent prayer at 5pm, sung Vespers at 5:30pm); meanwhile, preparations of a more practical nature are about to swing into action.

There are three figures hiding in this photo, all of them about to leave for Bethlehem...

...eight boxes of lights for three very large Christmas trees...

...and four bails of hay right inside the front door of Cathedral House. We're not opening a farm - but it will come in very handy in a week's time. Follow the progress here during the week.