By Andy Hirst
Christmas services at Huddersfield Parish Church have had to change due to Coronavirus with one now online and another outside.
The rapid onset of the Omicron variant means the Carols by Candlelight this Sunday (December 19) at 3pm will now be solely online via the church’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDnuuwT-yGPu8EbkjpxlcWg)
The Christmas Eve Service will now be a Carols in the Park event in St Peter’s Gardens next to the church at 4pm instead of the planned nativity service inside the church.
The main Christmas services will still be held in the church with enhanced Covid precautions and people will be required to wear a mask. These are midnight mass on Christmas Eve starting at 11.30pm, Christmas Day at 10am and Boxing Day (the Feast of Stephen) at 10am.
The vicar, Rev Canon Rachel Firth, said: “The Carols in the Park will be just half-an hour-with some simple prayers and lots of short versions of everyone’s favourite carols – and all done quickly so we don’t freeze! We are adapting to circumstances but still want to help everyone have a good Christmas.”
Sunday’s online Carols by Candlelight service will tell the Christmas story in words and music with carols from the church choir and the best traditional carols for everyone to join in with.
Rachel added: “The service will be full of life and music, mystery, peace and joy. Our readings will be shared by representatives from across the communities of Huddersfield, including the Mayor of Kirklees Clr Nigel Patrick.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to connect in the candlelight to the true meaning of Christmas – the peace, joy, love and hope that Christians see in Jesus, light of the world.”
