A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas.
The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.
The St. Dominic Catholic Church community in Taifa marked this event on Sunday, December 17 with perfomances by the various societies in the Church.
Performances were done in Enlglish, French, Twi and Ewe and was attended by the Parochial administrator of the Church, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe and Rev. Fr. Courage Senam Dogbey as well as a host of Church members.
Delivering a message at the ceremony, Mr. Ofusu Kwakye, an elder of the Church said the birth of children brings joy to families and as a Church, Christmas must bring about unity and good tidings.
He added that during christmas, sharing among people, especially the less privileged is emphatic.
He further stated that Christmas must be a season of joy, love, peace, patience and forgiveness. And above all, a moment that brings all together.
The Service of nine lessons and carols was first performed at King's College in 1918 as a way of the college celebrating the end of the First World War.
The new college Dean, Eric Milner-White, who had been an Army Chaplain in WWI, wanted a different and more positive way of celebrating Christmas for the choir and people in the college.
In 1919 he changed the opening hymn/carol to be ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ and set the main order and structure of the lessons/readings as it still is today.
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