Carol services remain a popular part of Christmas for students.
Christian Unions (CUs) are uniquely placed in their universities to provide that festive celebration and share the good news of Christ incarnate in creative ways.
Throughout December, CUs held more than 100 carol services reaching at least 20,000 students. ‘I never tire of speaking at CU carol services,’ says Richard Cunningham, UCCF Director. ‘The crowds of unbelievers who come are incredibly open to hearing a clear, engaging message and each year hundreds of students make definite responses and join Uncover follow-up groups.’ Two years ago, Birmingham student Emma went along to the CU’s carol service. She donned a Christmas jumper and enjoyed singing well known carols. However, what she wasn’t counting on was hearing the life-changing message of the gospel. ‘In the space of a year I went from singing carols for the sake of tradition to singing carols knowing the truth of the words with joy in my heart’, she says. This is a story which was repeated many times in December.
Creative venues
Castles, caves, cathedrals and Cardiff Arms Park – CUs dreamt big and packed out large venues. Cardiff and Exeter CUs saw more than 3,000 students attend each of their carol services in local sports stadiums. Meanwhile, #CarolsintheCastle was flying around on Twitter in the lead up to Lancaster CU’s carol service, which was held in the city’s castle. Despite a huge downpour students came in their droves, perhaps spurred on by a message of good wishes to attendees from Buckingham Palace.
Live reindeer and flash mobs
And if that wasn’t enough to entice students along, live reindeer, local celebrities and flash mobs were all also used to advertise events. Other student societies were invited by CUs to be involved in their services, providing music, sound and lighting. Birmingham CU, who saw 1,600 students across their two carol services, were joined by a BBC2 talent-show winning acappella choir.
These services are carefully thought through by CUs, who seek to make them as accessible as possible. The London citywide CU carol service had a very international flavour to it, most evident in John 1.1-18 being read out in Portuguese, French, Russian, Arabic, Mandarin and Cantonese. Carol services also provide a strategic opportunity for CUs to prepare their members for Spring mission weeks and introduce their non-believing friends to a CU event.
Responses
Through these services many students came to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Many more have joined a follow-up course or now meet one-to-one to read the Bible with a CU member. Liverpool CUs had 900 students at their citywide carol service in the Anglican cathedral, 173 of whom indicated that they had prayed the response prayer and would like to discover more. At almost every carol service each person received an Uncover John Gospel to take away and read.
Living water
UCCF staff worker Rich Pitt got home from Birmingham CU’s carol service to find a Facebook message from a student who had been there. Having had some experience of God four years ago, she had come along to the carol service, taken home an Uncover John Gospel and now wanted to find out more. He replied, and met with her the following day, eventually looking at the woman at the well using the Uncover John Seeker Bible Study. The student could not believe her eyes or ears, swearing loudly at one point in the middle of the coffee shop! She finished the study by saying, ‘Jesus is saying the living water is him and he can give to anyone, even this woman. Even me!’
Rich says of Birmingham CU’s carol service: ‘In a redbrick university on a secular campus, hundreds of students heard and sung about the birth of Jesus Christ, and had huge fun in the meantime. This is why I’m involved in CUs. When the gospel goes out in creative, fun and edgy ways that only students could pull off, in a venue only students could book, with a level of participation and partnership that only students can show, it’s an unbelievable privilege. It’s been a night I shan’t forget!’
