Christmas Celebration

We adore thee O Christ and we bless thee
Because by thy wonderful nativity
Thou hast given us new birth

On 12th December, some members of the Ertegun House community gathered together to celebrate Advent. Maikki Aakko and Friar Andrew Hochstedler led us through a traditional liturgy known as “The Stations of the Nativity”, which comprised readings from Christian Scripture and reflections on the events leading up to the birth of Christ. We were aided by a variety of beautiful objects and artworks from different places and time-periods depicting Biblical scenes. Special mention must go to the delightfully adorable figurine of baby Jesus.

In light of prevailing Covid-19 restrictions, we made every effort to ensure that the event was carried out in a safe way. We wore masks, kept two metres apart, and used lots of hand sanitiser. Nonetheless, despite all these measures, the gathering was a welcome time of contemplation and peace at the end of a stressful and exhausting year for many of us. Moreover, the event represented the lovely ecumenism of the Ertegun House community. Those at the event came from a wide variety of religious denominations and traditions, yet were unified by a common desire to celebrate and reflect upon the meaning of Advent and the unique story of Christ’s incarnation.

The participants enjoying a celebratory Advent meal together

The event ended with all of us sharing a simple (and very sugary) meal together in the Ertegun House annexe. We were blessed with lots of laughter, honest conversation, and quiet hopes for the new year.

Noel Cheong