Northstowe's Beer and Carols 2024
Note: While Northstowe Tap and Social will be selling alcoholic drinks for those who wish to indulge - drinks are not necessary to enjoy this festive community event!
Back by popular demand, on Friday 20th December, Northstowe will gather with a local Brass Band around the Christmas Tree by the light of (electronic) tea lights to sing favourite Carols interspersed with poems and readings from various community figures.
Where: The Christmas Tree on The Green, Pathfinder Way
When: Friday 20th Dec, Food from 5pm, Carols 7-7.45pm
Food and Drink
NEW THIS YEAR: We've booked the Assembly Rooms in the Cabin so you can stay warm and dry as you eat and drink before the main event!
We warmly invite you to bring along hot chocolates, teas, or coffee to keep those fingers warm as we sing! FREE hot chocolate is being served by Northstowe Hub from their stand outside The Cabin from 6.30 (while stocks last)
Or you might like to treat yourself to something from Northstowe Foodies’ Food Trucks who will be on the Green 5-8pm.
Or you might like to treat yourself to something from Northstowe Foodies’ Food Trucks who will be on the Green 5-8pm.
Northstowe Tap and Social 
Pigcasso
Cambridge Luxury Bakes - hot crumbles/bakes
Parking and Access
We very much hope that most people will be able to support our Eco aims by walking/cycling/taking the bus to join us. There is limited street parking on Pathfinder Way, including the spaces around the roundabout outside Pathfinder Primary. Or you can you use the Longstanton Park and Ride car park.The pedestrianised area at the front of the Cabin will be closed off to vehicles - if you need blue badge parking please let the Phoenix Event Stewards know and they will move the barriers to let you in.
Thank you to Phoenix Events (East) for supporting our event again this year! The team are providing First Aid support as well as event security.
Provisional Running Order
Assuming the weather holds, the Band will be playing from about 6.40, and again afterwards. Our collection of storytelling, poetry and brass-band led carols will last about 45 mins. We might shorten the event in the case of bad weather. The Carol Numbers and verse orders correspond to those in The Bethlehem Carol Sheet.Poem: God who loves to be with us
Margery Toller, published in Winter p. 179Once in Royal David’s City
Once in Royal David’s cityStood a lowly cattle-shed.
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from Heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all.
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall.
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour Holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor, lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in Heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high,
When, like stars, His children crowned
All in white, shall wait around.
Words: Public Domain
Poem: extract of “A Star for our Journey”
Avis Palmer, published in Winter p282.Can be sung to the tune of Away in a Manger, but today, we listen to it read.
Silent Night
Silent night! Holy night!All is calm, all is bright
round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in Heavenly peace!
sleep in Heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quail at the sight;
glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, Love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
WORDS: Public Domain
Luke tells the story: Jesus is born
Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, recorded in his Gospel. THE VOICE bibleAway in a manger
Children: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky,
looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
ALL: Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
Close by me for ever, and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with you there.
CCLI Song # 38583 James Ramsey Murray |
John Thomas McFarland | Martin Luther © Words: Public Domain
Poem: Christmas came simply
Ruth Burgess, published in WinterLuke continues the story
Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, recorded in his Gospel. THE VOICE bibleWe raise our glasses in a toast
to the soon-to-be-born King!
Cheers! Happy Christmas!
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
CCLI Song # 27738 Charles Wesley | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy © Words: Public Domain
Continuing with Matthew’s Account:
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, recorded in his Gospel. THE VOICE bibleWe three kings
We three kings of Orient areBearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, voices raising
Worshiping, God most high
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
Glorious now behold Him arise
King and God and Sacrifice
Alleluia, Alleluia
sounds through the earth and skies
CCLI Song # 38002 John Henry Hopkins Jr. © Words: Public Domain
Extracts “we have come, following a star”
Jan Sutch Pikard, published in WinterIn the bleak midwinter
In the bleak mid-winterFrosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Filled the air,
But His mother, lowly,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.
CCLI Song # 2399539 Christina Georgina Rossetti Public Domain
Poem: Star of Wonder
Thom Shuman, published in Winter
What next? Luke continues…
Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth, recorded in his Gospel. THE VOICE bible
A final poem: New roads
Ruth Burgess, published in Winter
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Glad tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
CCLI Song # 266537 Unknown © Words: Public Domain
About the musicians: The Punting Players - and friends!
We're honoured to be uniting local Northstowe musicians with a great group of brass players: The Punting Players busk traditional Christmas carols and songs around Cambridge this advent. They are called the Punting Players, as they started their journey playing carols whilst being punted up and down the river Cam!
PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS EVENT:
read more on our main website
Many of the poems shared tonight come from the collection "Winter" edited by Ruth Burgess and published by Wild Goose Publications.
Bible Readings are from THE VOICE bible translation
Bible Readings are from THE VOICE bible translation
You are welcome and invited to join our other special events this Advent and Christmas
Our Christmas Appeal
We invite Northstowe to join us in supporting three great charities. The local Northstowe Yuoth Hive (working with Northstowe's young people), Cambridge Churches Homeless Project (a collection of churches and a synagogue that work together to offer practical care and support to people who would otherwise be sleeping rough in our city each winter), and INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSON, a global organisation partnering with local justice systems to end violence against people living in poverty.Sign up to our weekly ENews to stay up to date:
