Advent Messiah at Farm Street Church

Farm Street Church in central London will be presenting an Advent Reflection this weekend, with music from The Messiah.

The Farm Street Singers, under their Musical Director, David Graham, will be performing arias and choruses from Handel's famous oratorio, alongside readings from Scripture and reflections for the season of Advent.

This has become a regular event for the beginning of Advent at the Jesuit church in Mayfair and is very popular among parishioners and the local community.

The Messiah was written in 1741 in Handel's house at 25 Brook Street - several hundred yards from Farm Street Church, although the church itself was not opened until 1849.  Handel completed the work in the space of about three weeks, using texts selected by Charles Jennens (1700 - 1773), who was a literary scholar and an editor of the plays of Shakespeare.  They encapsulate the central beliefs of Christianity, from the Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah through to the Nativity and crucifixion of Jesus, the Resurrection and Ascension, and the belief in final victory over sin, death and decay.  So although The Messiah is often thought of these days as a Christmas piece, it was originally associated with Easter too.

The Advent Reflection will take place this Sunday, 28 November 2010, starting at 5pm.  All will be welcome.