Community Sings Carols by Candlelight
 

A spectacular turnout of 2,000 people attended Carols by Candlelight held on the evening of Saturday 9 December 2006 at St John’s Park High School oval to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

An army of helpers from the Ss. Peter and Paul English-speaking parish successfully staged the event on behalf of the Assyrian Church of the East for the local Fairfield community.

Children enjoyed lots of games, getting involved in activities such as face painting, a colouring-in competition, jumping castle and a petting farm. Everybody had fun while eating cotton candy, traditional kebabs, falafel, and corn - the snow cones were a delight as well!

The evening began with Parish Priest, Reverend Genard Lazar dedicating the evening to our Lord Jesus with a inspiring speech and prayer, reminding us that “Christmas isn’t about what gifts we give to others but rather the precious gift God gave to us.”

The crowd cheered our beloved St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School kindergarten students after their fantastic performance of the renowned carol Away in a Manger. They brought smiles and hope to all who attended, showing once again that the seeds of Christ’s love planted by His Church will always be fruitful.

Beautiful violin performances set the stage for the Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Choir to sing the Story of Christ’s Birth. The oval was filled with a sea of candles and the atmosphere was filled with anticipation and joy. The night overflowed with amazing carols like O’Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel, Little Drummer Boy and much more.

Later in the evening, all the kids – big and small – were so excited by the surprise visit of Santa, who handed out prizes to the winners of the colouring competition and raffle draw. Santa also gave a moving message to the children about the deserving glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, saying “Christmas is about love. It is about sharing the love that Jesus Christ gave to us with our family and friends. It is about stopping to thank God for his Son and for the forgiveness he gave us all."

The summer night’s sky was flooded with wonderful colours as fireworks ended the night’s celebration.
 

Overall it was a beautiful event with festive singing amongst family and friends in celebration of the birth of Christ. The positive response from the community convinced organisers to make this an annual event.
 

Special thanks to all our business sponsors and many volunteers, their contributions and support made the Carols a major success.

Article courtesy of the Assyrian Church of the East (Diocese of Australia and New Zealand).

Posted: 13/12/2006