Old Fashioned Sunday School (December 1, 2024) – on Lessons & Carols, with Dr. David Pacini

The Cathedral of St. Philip: Sermons & Classes

“The Inbreaking of the Reign of God: Reflections on the History of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols and its Various Lyrical Theologies” part 3
Dr. David S. Pacini, Professor Emeritus of Historical and Philosophical Theology at the Candler School of Theology, presents a three part series on the history of the Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.
The service is among the best-beloved services of the church year. Millions of people beyond the Anglican Communion listen to its annual worldwide broadcast from Kings College, Cambridge. Elegant in its simplicity, the service attests to the love of God around which its sequence of narratives and carols revolve.
Notwithstanding the service's popularity, many remain unaware of its history, numerous versions, and differing lyrical theological emphases.
In this series, we ask what the "true meaning" of the 1918 Kings College, Cambridge service and the 1880 Truro Cathedral service is. We will continually probe the contours of "true meaning" and conclude with reflections on its significance for the 2024 iteration of the Cathedral of St. Philip's Festal Service of Lessons and Carols.