The Carol Service
Service will be livestreamed and available on our YouTube site from 6.25pm Sunday 22nd December at
https://www.youtube.com/live/Wd9QPxkD_Ag
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
Solo
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love,
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high;
Where like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
THE BIDDING PRAYER
We have come together as the family of God, and in God’s presence, to celebrate the festival of Christmas.
So at this time, let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels; to receive the good news of the birth of Christ; to go, in heart and mind, to the stable in Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass.
But first, as we gather together in the name of God, let us pray for the needs of the world which Christ came to save, and for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for the church, that she may be enabled to share the good news of God’s love to this generation; and because this above all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember in Christ’s name all those who are in any kind of need this night: the cold and the hungry; the poor and the oppressed; the sick and the lonely; the fearful and the bereaved; that the peace and light of the Christ-child may bring hope and healing to all the dark places of our world. Finally, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but on another shore and in a greater light, and with whom, in Christ, we are one for evermore. Let us commend all whom we love, and all who have asked for our prayers, to the mercy and protection of God this night, in the words which Jesus himself taught us:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, which art in heaven
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom
the Power and the Glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
ANTHEM And the Glory of the Lord from “Messiah”
(G.F. Handel 1685-1759)
And the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5
FIRST LESSON
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed the of woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.
Genesis 3:8—15.
ANTHEM Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
(Elizabeth Poston 1905-1987)
The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be, Compared with Christ the Apple Tree. His beauty doth all things excel, By faith I know but ne'er can tell The glory which I now can see, In Jesus Christ the Apple tree. For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed of all but now I see 'Tis found in Christ the Apple tree. I'm weary with my former toil - Here I will sit and rest awhile, Under the shadow I will be, Of Jesus Christ the Apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the Apple tree. 18th century anon.
SECOND LESSON
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 22:15–18.
HYMN
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.
choir only
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and people free
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee,
Son of the Mother mild;
Where Charity stands watching
And Faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray!
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
THIRD LESSON
Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.
Isaiah 9:2,6–7
ANTHEM In the Bleak Midwinter (Harold Darke 188-1976))
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. Enough for Him, whom cherubim Worship night and day, A breastful of milk And a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels Fall down before, The ox and ass and camel Which adore. 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.
Christina Rossetti (1830-1864)
FOURTH LESSON
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.
Isaiah 11:1–9.
HYMN
Of the Father's heart begotten,
Ere the world from chaos rose,
He is Alpha, from that Fountain
All that is and hath been flows;
He is Omega, of all things,
Yet to come the mystic Close,
Evermore and evermore.
By His Word was all created
He commanded and 'twas done;
Earth and sky and boundless ocean,
Universe of three in one,
All that sees the moon's soft radiance,
All that breathes beneath the sun,
Evermore and evermore.
O how blest that wondrous birthday,
When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Brought to birth mankind's salvation
By the Holy Ghost conceived,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer
In her loving arms received,
Evermore and evermore.
Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;
Angels and Archangels, sing!
Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful,
Let your joyous anthems ring,
Every tongue his name confessing,
Countless voices answering,
Evermore and evermore.
FIFTH LESSON
The angel Gabriel salutes the virgin Mary.
Luke 1:26–38.
ANTHEM Myn Liking (RR Terry 1864-1938)
I saw a fair mayden syttin and sing. She lulled a lyttel childe, a sweetè lording. Lullay myn lyking, my dere sonne, my sweeting. Lullay my dere herte, myn own dere derling. That same Lord is he that made allè thing Of allè lord is He is Lord of allè kynges Kyng. There was a mickle melody at that chylde’s birth. All that were in heav’nly bliss, they made mickle mirth. Angels bright sang their song to that chyld; Blyssid be thou, and so be she, so meek and so mild.
SIXTH LESSON
Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–23.
HYMN
The first Nowell, the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought,
And with his blood mankind has bought:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born is the King of Israel!
SEVENTH LESSON
The shepherds go to the manger.
Luke 2:8–16.
ANTHEM Masters in this Hall
(Marin Marais 1656-1728 arr. David Wilcocks 1919-2015)
Masters in this hall, hear ye news today. Brought from over sea and ever I you pray Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel sing we clear! Holpen are all folk on Earth, born is God’s Son so dear Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel sing we loud God today hath poor folk raised and cast a-down the proud Going o’er the hills, through the milk-white snow Heard the lambs to bleat and saw the wind to blow. Shepherds, many a one, sat among the sheep No man spoke more word than they had been asleep. Shepherds should of right leap and dance and sing Wherefore do you sit before this wondrous thing. Then to Bethle’m town, went we two by two Saw the new-born babe laid in a manger low This is Christ the Lord, masters be ye glad Christmas is come in, and no man should be sad. William Morris 1834-1896
EIGHTH LESSON
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
Matthew 2:1–11
ANTHEM The wise men and the star (Oliver Tarney b.1984)
Sovereign scholars, weary of waiting, startled by starlight that kindles the sky. Eager for answers, destiny drives them, watching with wonder they follow the star. Passing by palaces, greedy and golden, threading the byways of winter and cold, come to a doorway, lowbuilt and lamplit, Eagerly enter under the star. Source of all starlight, simply they see him, laid in a manger and haloed with hay. Bright in his beauty, shrouded with shadows. Steady the star shines, follow the star. Lucy Quinault b.1969
NINTH LESSON
John unfolds the great mystery of the incarnation.
John 1:1–14
ANTHEM Salvation is Created
(Pavel Chesnokov 1877-1944)
Salvation is created in the midst of the earth. Alleluia.
THE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only Son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our Redeemer, so we may, with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our Judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
BLESSING
May the joy of the angels.
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Mary and Joseph
and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
come down upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
RECESSIONAL HYMN
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled:
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem:
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel:
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings;
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth:
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
ORGAN VOLUNTARY