The Church invites us to prepare ourselves during the Advent Season, because the Nativity of the Lord is both an important event as well as a great mystery, for the Word of God of Love 'became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth,...from his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace.' (John 1:14-16)

　Christmas is indeed full of joy, however, the source of the joy should be Jesus Christ the Lord, not Santa Clouse, nor Christmas tree. Each year, during the Advent Season, the Church invites us to contemplate on the mystery of the Word made flesh, and we Christians, accompanied with the Gospel authors' writings, 'walk into' this great mystery and witness, scene by scene, how God mysteriously intervenes human history: the root of Jesse, the Annunciation, humble birth of Jesus Christ, angels' proclamation to the shepherds, magis' following the star and their offers of worship ...etc. All of these records remind us a simple fact, that is: God is in love with us, and is with us! Jesus is God who saves, and Emmanuel means: God is with us. When we contemplate on these thoughts, mysterious enough, godly joy and spiritual consolation will overflow our hearts.

　The beautiful liturgy 'Nine Lessons and Carols' comes from the Anglican tradition, it can be traced back to the late nineteen century. In 1918, the 34-year-old dean of the King' s College, Cambridge, Rev. Eric-Milner-White first employed this liturgy to the College on the Christmas Eve. It was so welcomed that this service becomes a tradition of the College since then. In 1928, BBC started broadcast the service via radio, which further made this campus liturgy a country-wide, and later on a world-wide, Christmas liturgy. Today, the 'Nine Lessons and Carols' is so important that it has to be mentioned when an academic dictionary define the word 'carol.' I am very lucky to become one of the singers and instrumentalists of the service when I was studying in School of Theology at Boston University. The service is fully ecumenical, and presided by priests from all denominations in campus. I was deeply moved. Now, the liturgy is not only an international one, but also an ecumenical one.

　The backbones of the 'Nine Lessons and Carols' are prayers and the readings. Milner-White himself says, 'its liturgical order and pattern is the strength of the service; the main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God, from the Creation to the Incarnation, through the windows and words of the Bible: the scriptures, not the carols, are the backbone.' (S. Cleobur, 1999, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols). Although this CD is designed according to King's College's Nine Lessons and Carols, it has to be noted that the Biding Prayer in this CD is revised so that it can be fit into the culture of the Chinese-speaking communities around the globe. (Prayers for the Queen, the United Kingdom, the City of Cambridge and the College are hence replaced with prayers for the leaders, the country, the university and school, and our work places.) The selection of music in this CD, however, follows the tradition of the College: while remaining traditional carols, some newly rearranged ones are also included.

　This is a significant CD, a very rare one in Taiwan: although it is presented by non-professional parish young musicians (age from 12 to 20's), the result of the efforts is amazing! Not only because the efforts and practices devoted by the young church musicians, but also because we have employed one of the best music production companies in Taiwan, i.e. HMP. Their highly professional digital recording and post-production (mixing and mastering) techniques make this CD high-qualified to professional listeners' ears. We are doing this because we want the Grace bestowed on our talented church musicians becomes a blessing to the listeners through the CD; we want this CD a wonderful tool, during the Advent Season, for both Christians and non-Christians to prepare and celebrate the Nativity of the Lord, and to anticipate the glorious Coming of the Lord.

　May the Lord Christ who is the Word made flesh, with His almighty power and mercy, unite us as one. Amen!

【NOEL: Advent and Nativity of the Lord】CD Producer
Paulus-Petrus I. CHANG
Chiormaster, St. Paul's Catholic Church, Taipei Archdiocese, Taiwan
Member, Liturgical Commission, Taipei Archdiocese
2007.11.1