My congregation has a wonderful institutional history of Christmas caroling. As the story has been passed on down to me, there was a time when every Christmas Eve worship service was packed with families, and every moment in between Christmas Eve worship services was an opportunity for community caroling. We might not be certain when exactly this time was in our history, but we know it happened, we know that it was fantastic, and we profess our desire to return to such a time.

In these Christmas days of old, gangs of singers, gathered by age, relationship, and time choices made by family constraints, would bundle up in their winter warmest and brave the elements of the season, driving or walking from house to house, bringing cheer, the joy of music, and a wandering party atmosphere to each …