Christmas Carol Festival: A New Way to Reach Out
                       by John and Therese Boucher




According to Google and www.hitwise.com, "Christmas songs" and
"Christmas music" represent 71% of the most popular religious-
themed Internet searches during the last four weeks of 2006.

The website, www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com, that presents
the history, words and music of over 2,800 Christmas songs, is a
great success. In the first 15 months of this website’s existence,
over 7,000,000 visits were recorded.

Christmas Carols help us connect or re-connect with our Christian heritage, with the Church, and with God. Carols that describe the birth of Jesus and proclaim the Gospel message, help us relive the Scriptures and transport us back to Bethlehem. And Christmas carols draw us back to a community faith where we can sing together.

We propose a way to reach out to neighbors, friends, and family through Christmas music. We propose a project that help us reach out and include them in the celebration of Christ’s birth. At the heart of the Festival idea is Christmas carol singing, and it can happen in a variety of settings (neighborhood Christmas gatherings, birthday parties for Jesus; Christmas tree lightings, Christmas Caroling in local malls, and St. Nicholas breakfasts, the conclusion of Walk to Bethlehem, a display of Christmas creches.)

A parish “Christmas Carol Festival” event might look something like this: • The lighting of a Christmas tree and/or the blessing of the empty manger after Thanksgiving • Singing lots of Christ-centered Christmas carols (with words provided) • Brief sharings on the personal meaning of Christmas • More Christmas carols  • Reading of the Christmas Scriptures • Gathering around the empty manger • Birthday gifts for Jesus  • Refreshments• 

Would you be interested in hearing more?

1. Contact Therese Boucher at tmfboucher@yahoo.com

Bright Idea! During the Festival place an empty wrapped gift (with a slot in the top) near the manger so that people can put their birthday letters to Jesus inside. Keep it small enough that it doesn't upstage the baby. Larger gift wrapped boxes for larger crowds can be put on the floor instead.



Bright Idea! 1. Paint a star on a piece of blue cloth and hang it behind the manger. 2. Arrange a series of foamcore panels behind the baby. 3. Use 12 foot "scene setters" from a company in Elmira, NY 4. Use dim lighting and one spot light on the manger.
Christmas Carol Festival                       Festival Vision
Join the angels in song
2. Buy the guidebook or the CD Read an article. or news report from the Diocese of Trenton
Bright Idea! blessing of baby Jesus --Invite people to bring baby Jesus (from a nativity set) and offer a prayer of blessing. Don't forget to bless the parish baby Jesus also. One 30 something man bought a secondhand, yard-sized baby Jesus online just so he would have one to bring for the blessing.

Bright Idea! Use the walk to Betehlehem project before the Festival and then sponsor a Christmas Stroll to Bethlehem in your hall. We understand that there are several places towns that stroll --Nantucket, MA; Yuba City; Weaverville, NC; Elburn, IL; Red Lodge, MT; Sheridan, WY; Tampa, FL to name a few.
The Monitor.pdf
The Monitor.pdf





3. Watch a video about the Festival at St. David the King Parish in Princeton Junction

4. NEW Audio files of eight presenters from our diocesan training day are included on our CD. They range in length from 3:19 miniutes to 5:25 minutes. Parish settings include: suburban, inner city, sparse Catholic area, merged communities, vacation area and a civic venue.

5. Meet a small shepherd from way back when.
Bright Idea! Dress Joseph and Mary in 'bathrobe' costumes with Joseph's sleeves removed. Ask them to process to the manger as Luke's Christmas Gospel is read.

Bright Idea! Include a cookie bake -with half the goodies being donated to the parish food pantry, Christmas baskets, or the city homeless shelter.
photo by C. Sosa
Bright Idea -- Prayers to St. Padre Pio during your "Jesus in January" event, since the Catholic Enquiry Office in London proclaimed him as the patron of the most depressing day of the year, January 22.  The editors suggested that Jan 22 be "Don’t Worry Be Happy Day", in honor of Padre Pio’s famous advice: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.”