KICKING off Advent in the traditional way, St Mary Magdalene Church in Launceston welcomed all to its Advent Carols service on Sunday, December 1.

James Wonnacott led the service for the Advent carol service which attracted a good congregation augmented by friends from the Methodist Church.

The service opened with Advent Responsory music by Palestrina followed by the congregational hymn, ”Come, thou Redeemer of the earth” and after the bidding prayer the first lesson from Isaiah was read by Don Sharpe.

The choir then sang an arrangement of “Adam lay y bounden” by Philip Ledger followed by the second lesson from Jeremiah read by Sarah Cooke and then the congregational carol, “Come , thou long expected Jesus”.

Stephen Parsons read the third lesson from Luke about the message of John the Baptist after which the choir sang, “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry” and then Mr Wonnacott read the 4th lesson from Haggai.

The congregation sang, “ Lo, he comes with clouds descending” before the Rev David Millar, from Central Methodist Church, read the 5th lesson from Isaiah.

The choir then sang J S Bach’s arrangement of “Zion hears the watchmen’s voices” before the sixth lesson read by the choir director, Dr Sean Sweeney. The final choir item directed by Dr Sweeney was “The Angel Gabriel” arranged by Malcolm Archer.

Rev Dr Michael Dobson read the final lesson from Luke before the final congregational carol, “O come, o come Emmanuel” accompanied on the organ by guest organist Josh Hughes who after the final prayers, played an organ fugue in C by J S Bach which kept the congregation in their seats.

The choir is looking forward to the service of nine lessons and carols at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve followed by the first communion of Christmas (Midnight Mass) at 11.30pm and a family service at 10.30am on Christmas morning.