We’re not sure whether we’ll be able to sing at the Christmas service this year. But we thought it would be nice to have a socially-distanced church choir to lead one of our songs at the carol service. The idea is to have as many videos as possible of people singing this carol. And we’ll edit it together and make it look and sound nice.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the best voice in the world – your voice won’t be heard above the others.

Top tips for making a great recording:

• Listen to the backing track on headphones. Then use a different phone to record yourself.
• Warm up your voice first – do a couple of practise runs in the car when no-one is listening!
• Prop your phone up against something so it stays still.
• Make your video in “portrait” (keep your phone vertical).
• If you have a choice of resolution, set your phone to the highest quality it can do.
• Try to make sure there’s more light on your face than behind you. That way you’ll avoid being in sillouette.
• Try to smile: you’ll look better on camera, and you’ll sing much better too!
• Send your recording to Jon or Patch by WhatsApp or email.

Easy backing track

More tricky backing tracks for those who are more confident

Lyrics

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty 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
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
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.