A Seasonal Celebration at the SMUS Carol Service

Families from across the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools came together for the annual SMUS Carol Service at Christ Church Cathedral, filling the space with music, shared moments and a sense of togetherness. More than 400 students performed throughout the evening, alongside readings and seasonal messages that added depth and meaning to the celebration.

Both live and virtual audiences enjoyed an uplifting program that showcased the warmth and community spirit of this long-standing tradition.

2025 Carol Service Messages

Interwoven with the musical performances were reflections from Middle School students on holiday traditions and the spirit of goodwill that characterizes this time of year. Below, you can read the messages they shared.

Remy and Kate (Grade 8)

Remy
There’s something we want you to know right from the beginning. Our writing group understands that our community celebrates this time of year in many different ways. Even when we talk about the “big day”, it’s not the same day for the six of us, and certainly not for all of our classmates. Some celebrate Hanukkah, some Christmas, others have already lit fireworks for Diwali, still others follow a combination of traditions unattached to their origins. For them, it’s more about the seasonal vibe: gatherings and presents and Mariah Carey.

Whenever that big day might be, half the fun is the anticipation of it. In fact, for some of us, the very peak of the whole experience happens the day before, actually the evening before, when we’re lying in bed, thinking about what lies ahead.

Kate
Here are a couple of glimpses of what the big day often entails.

For one of us, the day starts with stockings, then presents, then a big breakfast with pancakes and hashbrowns, then grandma’s house, then waiting for everyone to arrive, then more presents, then lunch.

For another of us, the night before the big day you’re told to be in bed by 9pm otherwise Santa won’t come. The next morning you wake up and then entertain yourself in your bedroom because you can’t leave your room until a designated time. Then you wait until your parents get their coffee (ugh), and then it’s present time.

Yet another of us (and, parents, we suggest that you listen to this one carefully). One of us opens presents at the end of the big day. But before that happens, the kids help wash the dishes, take care of the laundry, and clean up the garden. All you parents who’d like to adopt this last one, cheer!

Remy
We may have different ways to take on the big day, but a meal with loved ones is a common thread.

Again, there are differences. One of us has a huge gathering with 24 people around the table, while another is simply a group of four. For some it’s all family (parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents), for others it’s friends who are like family because we’ve known them since forever. We’re best friends. Our moms are best friends. It’s like having extra siblings.

And even though we might see some of these people every day, it’s different for this meal, special.

Kate
You might think it’s the food that makes it special. Yes and no. The meal can be almost anything, but should include some form of mashed potatoes with salty gravy and bits of bacon. Past that, though, it could be turkey, ham, dumplings, butter chicken. Butter chicken with extra chicken and only just enough sauce. Spicy, but not too spicy.

You might think it’s about where the meal is eaten. Again, yes and no. It might take place here at home or at a ski lodge or across the world in a parent’s hometown.

You might think it has something to do with the presents. Yes, but also again no. Certainly it would be nice to get the crushed ice machine we’ve been hinting about. At the same time, our group talked about what it means to receive some kind of shared experience or something old that’s been passed down the family. Something that connects us.

Remy
Yes, something that connects us. We ask you to hold on to that thought about connection, because it’s what we’re going to talk about in the second half of our message. For now, though, it’s time to hear a piece from our grade sevens.

Ahlia and Jimmy (Grade 7)

Ahlia
In the first half of our message, we talked about some of the similarities and differences in how we celebrate this time of year. We ended with the idea that this season is a time of connection.

Of course, there are a lot of points of connection at play. It might be to a place, to certain kinds of music, but mainly we’re thinking people: parents, friends, cousins, siblings, (do pets count?).

When we began to talk about the people to whom we’re connected, especially at this time of year, there’s a certain group that we spent that got the honourable mention. Actually, they became our main focus.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the older folk in our lives. It could be grandparents and great grandparents, but it could also be the older friends of the family.

Jimmy
Why in the world would we want to hang out with people who are so much older than us? They don’t talk like us. They haven’t watched K-pop Demon Hunters or The Summer I Turned Pretty. Some of them constantly ask us to speak more slowly and more loudly. And they’re not gamers. Well, most of them don’t game. In one of our families, everyone has a Switch. It’s awesome.

Here’s what’s kind of cool about spending time with older people. First of all, you get to know your background, where you came from. And it’s not just about a particular place. Sometimes you find threads. When your family has produced generations of musicians or actors or scholars or engineers or soccer players, it kind of weaves into your own interests. Suddenly, you’re part of something larger than yourself. Something that stretches back in time.

Ahlia
From those older family and friends, we also learn skills that we don’t have, like in our group, how to catch fish with your hands or find sea snails or eels or turtles. Cool stuff! By the way, turtles taste a little like fatty pork. Along with exotic experiences, there are also practical lessons on how to make moon cakes and dumplings; cookies, muffins, gorgeous soup, bread.

Sometimes the food isn’t even that tasty, but the moment’s still great because older people can be very funny. They tell old people jokes. Forget about dad jokes. These are dad’s dad jokes.

And, sometimes, sometimes there’s a whole other level of conversation. They share stories about their lives. What it was like for them growing up. How there was only one phone in the house, attached to the wall with a cord. Stuff like that. They’ve had a lot of experiences, so they’re full of wisdom about things like what it means to be a good person. And they want us to be good, happy people.

Jimmy
We know that not everyone has these kinds of connections with grandparents or older friends. Sometimes family relationships are tough. Sometimes our grandparents aren’t with us for very long. For those who do have older folk around, we know our time with them is precious, and that spending time with them is a privilege, especially at this time of year.

We want to end by expressing our gratitude. Gratitude for the memories we build at this time of year. Memories of all the people, old and young, who make this season bright.

We may celebrate this season in many different ways, but we’re lucky that the spirit lying at its heart connects us all.

James and Lucille (Grade 6)

James
At the beginning of our message, we recognized that our classmates celebrate this season in different ways.

Lucille
Whether we think of Diwali [Divali] with its stories of resilience and return, or Hanukkah with its reminder about courage and taking a stand, or Christmas with its message of good news expressed through the birth of a child, this is the season of light, where we’re reminded of the power of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, light over darkness.

It’s also a season of connection.

With loved ones in mind, we’re going to invite you to join us in prayer. Please interpret our words in ways that are meaningful to you.

Let us pray.

James
Gracious God,

We are thankful for our families and our friends, especially the oldest among us.
We’re looking forward to sitting with them around festive tables,
perhaps with mashed potatoes or not-too-spicy buttered chicken.

We know that sometimes we take these gatherings for granted,
not even imagining how different our lives would be without them.

And so we’ll take this moment to remember those who aren’t as fortunate as us.

Lucille
We think of those who are living in poverty, especially those without a home:
And we hope that there is a way for them to have a roof over their heads,
along with healthy food and clean water.

We think of those who won’t be gathering with their friends and family this season:
And we hope that other doors will be opened for them by people who are willing
to welcome them in a way that leaves no-one out.

We think of those who live in conflict zones,
And we hope that they experience safety and rest and warmth -
a chance to be with family and friends,
creating happy memories to carry them forward.

James
Of course, God, it is one thing to hold these hopes for others; it’s another thing to act.

May we each in our own way reach out and make a difference:
letting our families and friends know what they mean to us,
letting them know that we care about what’s happening for others in this world.

Along with projects at school like our Food Hampers
and doing chores to raise funds for Janeese Place,
may we create other outward-looking traditions,
like supporting charities, helping out at pancake breakfasts,
or just being sure to smile as we pass people on the street.

Lucille
Before we close, a final word of gratitude:
for all the festivals and traditions of this season,
for how they connect us to each other,
and for the difference we can make in the lives beyond our own circles,
We are thankful.

Lucille and James
So we pray. Amen.