The PCC is the main decision-maker of a parish. Its members are clergy, churchwardens and others elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the parish. Its powers and duties are defined by legislation and can principally be found in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956. It has the responsibility, along with the incumbent to promote the mission of God in its parish. Legally, the PCC is responsible for the finances of the parish. It also has ultimate responsibility for the care and maintenance of all church buildings and their contents. Although these responsibilities are executed by the churchwardens, all PCC members must share in the oversight. It has a voice in the forms of Service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop on matters that affect the welfare of the parish. The newly elected members including the priest are: Rev. Fr. Dennis Obidiegwu - (Priest)Veere GreeneyPatrick Zeon Ezekiel VictorRonald WestPaul Irabor
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus.<sup id="cite_ref-Christmas_Eve_4-0">[4]</sup> Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society. Christmas celebrations in the denominations of Western Christianity have long begun on Christmas Eve, due in part to the Christian liturgical day starting at sunset,<sup id="cite_ref-Jerusalem_Center_5-0">[5]</sup> a practice inherited from Jewish tradition<sup id="cite_ref-Dictionary_6-0">[6]</sup> and based on the story of Creation in the Book of Genesis: "And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day."<sup id="cite_ref-Genesis_7-0">[7]</sup> Many churches still ring their church bells and hold prayers in the evening; for example, the Nordic Lutheran churches.<sup id="cite_ref-NE_8-0">[8]</sup> Since tradition holds that Jesus was born at night (based in Luke 2:6-8), Midnight Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve, traditionally at midnight, in commemoration of his birth.<sup id="cite_ref-Vatican_Today_9-0">[9]</sup> The idea of Jesus being born at night is reflected in the fact that Christmas Eve is referred to as Heilige Nacht (Holy Night) in German, Nochebuena (the Good Night) in Spanish and similarly in other expressions of Christmas spirituality, such as the song "Silent Night, Holy Night".
The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King's College, Cambridge, was held on Christmas Eve in 1918. During World War I the dean, Eric Milner-White, had served as army chaplain in the 7th Infantry Division and he was concerned that the distress of the "Great War" had hardened attitudes against religion. Taking advantage of the established choral tradition of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, he introduced Benson's carol service to King's as a means of attracting people back to Christian worship. The first Nine Lessons service in King's College Chapel was held on Christmas Eve, 1918, directed by Arthur Henry Mann who was the organist from 1876 to 1929.<sup id="cite_ref-King's_College_Chapel:_History_10-0">[10]</sup> The King's College service was immensely successful, and the following year Milner-White made some changes to Benson's original format, notably introducing the tradition of opening the service with a solo treble singing "Once in Royal David's City". This was then followed by a bidding prayer penned by Milner-White himself, and re-ordering the lessons.<sup id="cite_ref-McGrath_8-1">[8]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-11">[11]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-guardian-truro_4-2">[4]</sup> The choir had 16 trebles as specified in statutes laid down by Henry VI, and until 1927 the men's voices were provided by choral scholars and lay clerks. Today, 14 undergraduates from the choir sing the men's parts.<sup id="cite_ref-King's_College_Chapel:_History_10-1">[10]</sup> The popularity of the service was established when the service began to be broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation in 1928, and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every year since. During the 1930s the service reached a worldwide audience when the BBC began broadcasting the service on its Overseas Service. Even throughout the Second World War, despite the stained glass having been removed from the Chapel and the lack of heating, the broadcasts continued. For security reasons, the name "King's" was not mentioned during wartime broadcasts.<sup id="cite_ref-King's_College_Chapel:_History_10-2">[10]</sup>
Christians from the different churches of Tangier met together at St Andrew’s church on Monday evening to pray for the unity of God’s Church and for the needs of the world.We recalled together how Jesus prayed for all who would come after him, that we may be one, as he and the Father are one, so that the world may believe.Giving thanks that God has called us together we sang: Ubi Caritas et amor Deus ibi est - where there is charity and love, God is there.
