CAROL (processional, V1 solo): Once in royal David's city.

(Words: Mrs. C. F. Alexander, 1823-95; Music H.J. Gauntlett, 1805-76; Descant Philip Ledger)

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 meek and lowly

Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood

He would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lowly mother

In whose gentle arms He lay.

Christian children all should be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood’s pattern:

Day by day like us He grew;

He was little, weak and helpless;

Tears and smiles like us He knew:

And He feeleth for our sadness,

And He shareth in our gladness.

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;

When like stars His children crowned,

All in white shall wait around.

We are gathered together on this Christmas Eve to proclaim and receive in our hearts the good news of the coming of God's Kingdom, and to remember and celebrate with confidence and joy the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We pray that we may respond in penitence and faith to the glory of his Kingdom, its works of justice and its promise of peace, its blessing and its hope.

Let us then celebrate this coming with our carols and hymns of praise, that our lives may be charged with his life; that we may bear witness to his glory and so bring light to those who sit in darkness. But first we pray for those among whom the Christ was born: the poor and helpless, the aged and young children; the cold, the hungry, and the homeless; the victims of poverty, injustice, and oppression, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved; those in despair or in the shadow of death.

Then, as we hear again the message of peace on earth and goodwill among all his people, we pray for the leaders of the nations, that all may be inspired to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom, and peace the world over.

And that we may bear true witness to this hope in a divided world, we pray for the peace and unity of Christ's body, the Church universal, that the whole earth may live to praise his name.

Finally, as we rejoice with the saints in heaven and on earth, we remember all who have gone before us with the sign of faith, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we offer up our prayers for the coming of his Kingdom, in the words he himself has taught us, saying:

Reading: Ezekiel 43: 1-5; 44: 1-2.

Choir: Gaudete

(From Piae Cantiones, 1582) translation

Gaudete, Gaudete! Christus est natus,

Ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete!

Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus;

Carmina laetitiae devote reddamus.

Deus homo factus est, natura mirante;

Mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante

Ezechielis porta, clausa pertransitur;

Unde lux est orta, salus invenitur.

Ergo nostra concio, psallat jam in lustro;

Benedicat Domino: salus regi nostro.

Reading: Isaiah 7: 14

Choir : Blessed be that maid Marie

(Traditional carol, arr. Charles Wood, 1866-1926)

Blessed be that maid Marie; born he was of her body;

Very God ere time began, born in time the Son of Man.

Eya! Jesus hodie, natus est de Virgine. (Rejoice! Jesus is born today of the Virgin)

In a manger of an ass Jesu laid and lulled was;

Born to die upon the Tree, pro peccante homine (for sinful man)

Sweet and blissful was the song chanted of the Angel throng,

"Peace on earth," Alleluia, in excelsis gloria (glory in the highest)

Make we merry on this fest in quo Christus natus est; (on which Christ was born)

On this Child I pray you call, to absolve and save us all.

Reading: Luke 1: 26-35

CAROL: Silent night

(words J. Mohr 1792-1849, trans. J.F. Young, 1820-85; Music F.X. Gruber, 1787-1863)

Silent night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright,

Round yon virgin and her child, Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night, shepherds quail at the sight;

Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia!

Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, Holy night, Son of God, love's pure light;

Radiant beams Thy holy face with the dawn of saving grace,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Choir: O little town of Bethlehem (Congregation join in the last verse, please; remain seated).

(Words: Phillips Brooks, 1835-93; Music - the first tune to be set to these words, by Louis Redner 1831-1908)

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 tonight.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,

And peace to men on earth;

For Christ is born of Mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

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.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in;

Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Immanuel!

Reading: Luke 2: 1-7

Choir: Away in a manger

(Words: attrib. American Lutherans ca. 1883; Music: Paul Chamberlain)

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;

The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay;

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,

But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes:

I love You, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky

And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask You to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in Your tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with You there.

Reading: "Christmastide" (Kate McIlhagga) (see No. 55, p.49 in "No Empty Phrases, Donald Hilton)

CAROL: In the bleak midwinter (Words: Christina Rossetti, 1830-94); Music: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934)

In the bleak midwinter,

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 midwinter,

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 midwinter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty,

Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air.

But His mother only,

In her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the Belovèd

With a kiss.

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.

Choir: When Christ was born

(Words: 15th century, ed. R.R. Chope 1877; Music: H.S. Irons)

When Christ was born of pure Marie, in Bethlehem, that fair citie,

The Angels sang with mirth and glee, in excelsis gloria.

Herdmen beheld those Angels bright, to them appeared they with great light,

And said God's Son is born this night, in excelsis gloria.

This King is come to save mankind, in scripture promised as we find,

Therefore this song have we in mind, in excelsis gloria.

Grant us, O Lord, for Thy great grace, in heaven the bliss to see Thy face,

Where we may sing to Thy solace, in excelsis gloria.

Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-16

Choir: Sing, Sing for Christmas

(Words: J.H. Egar; Music: J.S.B. Hodges; from Chope's carols, 1894)

Sing, sing for Christmas! Welcome, happy day!

For Christ is born our Saviour, to take our sins away.

Sing, sing a joyful song, loud and clear today;

To praise our Lord and Saviour, who in a manger lay.

Sing, sing for Christmas! Welcome, happy day!

For Christ is born our Saviour, to take our sins away.

Tell, tell the story of the wondrous night,

When shepherds who were watching their flocks till morning light,

Saw angel hosts from heaven, heard the angel voice,

And so were told the tidings which makes the world rejoice.

Soft, softly shining, stars were in the sky,

And silver fell the moonlight on hill and mountain high,

When suddenly the night outshone the bright midday,

With angel hosts who herald the reign of peace for aye.

Hark, hear them singing, singing in the sky,

Be worship, honour, glory, and praise to God on high!

Peace, peace, goodwill to men! Born the Child from heaven!

The Christ, the Lord, the Saviour, the Son to you is given!

Reading: Luke 2: 8-16

CAROL: While shepherds watched their flocks by night.

(Words: attrib. N. Tate, 1652-1715; Music: G. Kirbye, 1592, from Tye, 1500-73)

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

All seated on the ground,

The angel of the Lord came down

And glory shone around.

‘Fear not’ said he, for mighty dread

Had seized their troubled mind;

‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring

To you and all mankind.

‘To you in David’s town this day

Is born of David’s line

A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord,

And this shall be the sign.

‘The heavenly babe you there shall find

To human view displayed,

All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands,

And in a manger laid.’

Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng

Of angels, praising God, who thus

Addressed their joyful song:

‘All glory be to God on high

And on the earth be peace;

Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men

Begin and never cease.’

Choir: The Lamb

(Words: William Blake, 1757-1827; Music: John Tavener, 1976)

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, & bid thee feed

By the stream & o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, wooly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,

Little lamb, I'll tell thee:

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek & he is mild;

He became a little child.

I, a child, & thou a lamb,

We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Reading: Hebrews 1: 1-4

Choir: In Dulci Jubilo

(Old German carol, arr. R.L. Pearsall, 1795-1856)

In dulci jubilo, let us our homage shew;

Our heart's joy reclineth in praesepio,

And like a bright star shineth, matris in gremio

Alpha es et O, alpha es et O.

O Jesu parvule, I yearn for thee always!

Hear me I beseech thee, O puer optime!

My prayer let it reach thee, O Princeps gloriae!

Trahe me post te, trahe me post te!

O patris caritas, O nati lenitas!

Deep were we stained per nostra crimina

But thou hast for us gained Coelorum gaudia.

O that we were there, O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia, where, if that they be not there?

There are angels singing nova cantica,

There the bells are ringing in regis curia;

O that we were there! O that we were there!

Reading: John 1: 1-14

CAROL: O come all ye faithful

(Words: J.F. Wade, trans. F. Oakeley 1802-80; Melody: J.F. Wade; Descant: P. Ledger)

O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of angels;

God of God,

Light of light,

Lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;

Very God,

Begotten, not created:

Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;

Glory to God

In the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning,

Jesus, to Thee be glory given;

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing:

Almighty God, who has given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same spirit, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours (ours) this Christmas.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you (us) and remain with you (us) always.

Amen.

CAROL: (Recessional) Hark, the herald angels sing

(Words: C. Wesley, 1707-88; Music: F. Mendelssohn, 1809-47; Descant: P. Ledger)

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 th' 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 Immanuel.

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 men 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.’