Revd Canon Joanna Udal, Senior Chaplain, Anglican Chaplaincy in Norway shares of an event that took place in the far north of the diocese:
“It’s bold to pray for ‘Christ to scatter the darkness’ amid the polar night which encompasses the Arctic regions throughout the season of Advent. Advent began particularly early on the islands of Svalbard at 78 degrees North in the High Arctic where the darkness of the previous few weeks made it hard to distinguish the precise start of the new liturgical season. But a courageous and youthful crowd were ready to trek across ice and snow to the Svalbard chaplaincy on the edge of Longyearbyen for our first Afternoon Tea and Carols in English held there by the Anglican Chaplaincy in Norway, kindly made possible by the Church of Norway’s resident Priest.
“The afternoon tea and cakes also seemed enticing to the chaplaincies resident polar bear, who thankfully didn’t make any closer advances! The warmth and light of the celebration indoors were in great contrast to the dark and cold outside. The hearty singing of traditional carols warmed us all. There was also a moment of intense concentration as letters were written to Santa to post at the dedicated Svalbard post-box, due to be collected the following day.
“New friendships were struck and new determination forged to put on the armour of light to be found in Christ’s coming, whatever the darkness of the polar night.”
