Anglo-German Christmas service in Paderborn Cathedral – A celebration of community and music worldwide
The traditional Anglo-German Christmas Carol Service in Paderborn Cathedral is once again a special highlight of the Advent season this year. The Anglo-German Club Paderborn, together with the Paderborn Metropolitan Chapter, cordially invites you to this festive occasion on Thursday 12 December at 19:00.
Musical highlight with the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland
A highlight of this year’s service will be the solemn musical performance by the military Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, conducted by Major Brenden Wheeler. With its powerful and impressive music, the band of the British Army will make a significant contribution to the festive atmosphere. Paderborn’s choir Zwischentöne supported by friends will also perform.
The ecumenical service will be led by a high-level Church representatives: The Anglican Reverend Nicholas ‘Nick’ Adley, the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Matthias König and the Protestant pastor Dr Eckhard Düker will deliver the sermon and prayers. The readings from the Old and New Testaments are read alternately in German and English, and this emphasises the international and ecumenical significance of this service. They tell the story of salvation and culminate in the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Festive music, profound readings and an appeal for solidarity
The service is musically framed with German Advent carols and English Christmas carols and immerses visitors in an atmosphere of peace and anticipation of Christmas. The readings from the Bible and the music invite people to experience the true meaning of Christmas in community.
Worldwide broadcast and fundraising campaign
The Anglo-German Christmas Carol Service will not only be celebrated in Paderborn Cathedral, but will also be made accessible worldwide: interested parties can follow the service live via the YouTube channel of the Archdiocese of Paderborn and the Facebook page of the British radio station BFBS. This will turn the service into a global event that connects people all over the world.
Once again this year, the Anglo-German Christmas Carol Service in Paderborn Cathedral will be accompanied by a fundraising campaign: The proceeds will go equally to the Bahnhofsmission Paderborn and the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) in the UK. Both organisations do valuable work: the Bahnhofsmission supports travellers requiring help and homeless people, while the ABF helps soldiers, veterans and their families in need.
The programme booklet, which will be available from 3 December on the websites of the Anglo-German Club Paderborn (available here) and the Archdiocese of Paderborn (www.erzbistum-paderborn.de), contains all the information about the donation accounts and the song lyrics.
Invitation to participate and thank you
“‘We are delighted to be opening the doors of Paderborn Cathedral again this year for all those who would like to join us on our journey into Christmas,” says Angie Reeh, Chairwoman of the Anglo-German Club Paderborn. “And those who accompany us worldwide via the stream are also very welcome to join us in thought and prayer. A big thank you also goes to Monsignor Joachim Göbel, the cathedral’s provost, who is supporting us as the cathedral’s landlord.”
Be there – whether on site in Paderborn Cathedral or online – and experience an unforgettable evening full of music, fellowship and contemplative moments.
Donation accounts:
Bahnhofsmission Paderborn
Diakonie Paderborn-Höxter e.V.
IBAN: DE86 3506 0190 2105 0390 10
Verwendungszweck: „Bahnhofsmission Paderborn Schlafsäcke und Isomatten CCS 2024“
Army Benevolent Fund (ABF)
Barclay Bank
IBAN: GB22 BARC20000073122158
Reference: CCS 2024 Paderborn
Photo:
Looking forward to many participants in the cathedral and online: (from left to right) Pastor Dr Eckhard Düker, Reverend Nick Adley, Angie Reeh (Anglo-German Club Paderborn), Colonel Michael Foster-Brown (British Army Germany), Auxiliary Bishop Matthias König and choirmaster Christian Nolden | Photo: Maria Aßhauer, Erzbischöfliches Generalvikariat