CHRIST CHURCH, NEW MILL : CAROL SERVICE 2001
Readings from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible.
The service starts by the dimming of the lights.
A voice declaims [Luke 1: 26 – 38, abbrev.]:
The choir sings from the gallery:
Ave Maria (Music by Anton Bruckner [1824-96])
Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum,benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, mater Domini, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
(Greetings, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, you are blessed among women, and so is he who shall be born from you, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of the Lord, pray for us sinners now and to the end of our life. Amen).
Reading [Luke 1: 42-46a]:
[The choir sings immediately, in procession from the west end of the church:]
Magnificat (Words Luke 1: 46b – 55; Music by Charles Villiers Stanford [ ])
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
All stand to sing:
CAROL: The Angel Gabriel (Words by Revd. S. Baring-Gould; Music – Basque carol, arr. Edgar Pettman)
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary, -
Most highly favoured lady," Gloria!
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shell be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady," Gloria!
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His Holy name."
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say –
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
Prayer.
Reading Luke 2: 5-7:
The choir sings
Balulalow (Words James, John & Robert Wedderburn, ca. 1550. Music by Benjamin Britten [1913-76] from "A Ceremony of Carols")
O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit, prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee to my hert, and never mair from thee depart.
But I sall praise thee evermoir with sanges sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my hert sall I bow, and sing that richt Balulalow!
Reading: "Christmastide" by Kate McIlhagga
The choir sings
Infant holy, Infant lowly (Polish carol, trans. Edith M. Reed, Music arr. David Willcocks)
Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, little knowing Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Swift are winging, angels singing, nowells ringing, tidings bringing,
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping vigil till the morning new;
Saw the glory, heard the story, tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow, praises voicing, greet the morrow,
Christ the Babe was born for you!
CAROL: Silent night. (Words Joseph Mohr [1792-1849] trans. from German by John F. Young [1820-85]; Music by Franz Grüber [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.
Reading: Matthew 2: 1-11
The choir sings
The Three Kings (Words and music by Peter Cornelius[1824-74], using a chorale by Philipp Nicolai [1556-1608]. This arrangement by Ivor Atkins [1961].
Three kings from Persian lands afar,
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travellers three,
Where the newborn King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King:
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray:
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship bend the knee,
As Mary's child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King,
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
Thou child of man, lo to Bethlehem
The kings are travelling – travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place,
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.
Offer thy heart!
CAROL: We three kings (Words and music by John Henry Hopkins [1820-91])
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
Born a king on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring, to crown him again-
King for ever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign:
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a deity nigh:
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God most high:
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb:
Glorious now, behold Him arise,
King, and God, and sacrifice!
Heaven sings alleluya,
Alleluya the earth replies:
Reading: Matthew 2: 13-16, 19-23a:
CAROL: Unto us a boy is born (From "Piae Cantiones", 1582. Words trans. G.R. Woodward, music arr. Geoffrey Shaw & David Willcocks).
Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal:
See on earth his life begun, of lords the Lord eternal, of lords the Lord eternal.
Christ, from heaven descending low, comes on earth a stranger;
Ox and ass their owner know, becradled in the manger, becradled in the manger.
This did Herod sore affray, and grievously bewilder,
So he gave the word to slay, and slew the little childer, and slew the little childer.
Of his love and mercy mild, this the Christmas story;
And O that Mary's gentle child might lead us up to glory, might lead us up to glory.
O and A, and A and O, cum cantibus in choro,
Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino, Benedicamus Domino.
Reading: John 3: 16, Galations 4: 4
The choir sings
The blessed Son of God (Words by Miles Coverdale, after Martin Luther [1483-1546]. Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams [1872-1958])
The blessed son of God only in a crib full poor did lie;
With our poor flesh and our poor blood was clothed that everlasting good.
Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy)
The Lord Christ Jesu, God's son dear, was a guest and a stranger here;
Us for to bring from misery, that we might live eternally.
Kyrie eleison.
All this did he for us freely, for to declare his great mercy;
All Christendom be merry therefore, and give him thanks for evermore,
Kyrie eleison.
Intercessions
Lord of grace and truth, we confess our unworthiness to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus. Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour was born in poverty in a manger. Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The shepherds left their flocks to go to Bethlehem. Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star to fine Jesus the king. Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
Christ, who was born in a stable, give courage to all who are homeless.
In your mercy
hear our prayer.
Christ, who fled into Egypt, give comfort to all refugees.
In your mercy
hear our prayer.
Christ, who fasted in the desert, give relief to all who are starving.
In your mercy
hear our prayer.
Christ, who hung in agony on the cross, give strength to all who suffer.
In your mercy
hear our prayer.
Christ, who died to save us, give us your forgiveness.
In your mercy
hear our prayer.
Save us today, and use us in your loving purpose, to your glory. Amen.
Reading: Hebrews 2: 14a, 17; Luke 1: 68-76
The choir sings
Christ was born on Christmas Day (Words tr. from Latin.. Music by James W. Morgan [])
Christ was born on Christmas Day, sing with joyful pleasant lay
Faithful Sion sings today the birth of Him who cometh now to Mary.
Christ was born on Christmas Day, born on earth with us to stay,
Virgin-born this holy day, appears the Son begotten of Mary.
All together chant and sing - lift your voices, pluck the string
Praise to Him the babe, the new-born king, the Son of God, the holy son of Mary.
Sing and sing and praise the Lord the Saviour of the world adored,
sin is vanquished by the Word, the way, the light - the holy Son of Mary.
Now fulfilled are all things told, all the things of Gabriel,
God has come with us to dwell, clemency divine has bowed to Israel.
Christ was born for us today, born on earth with us to stay,
Virgin-born this holy day appears the Son begotten now of Mary,
Christ was born on Christmas Day, sing with joyful pleasant lay,
Faithful Sion sings today the birth of Him who cometh now to Mary.
Reading: Luke 2: 10b-11, 13-14:
The choir sings
Resonemus Laudibus (14th century carol, arranged by David Willcocks.)
Resonemus laudibus cum jocunditatibus ecclesiam fidelibus.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Deus fecit hominem ad suam imaginem et similitudinem.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria
Deus fecit omnia caelum, terram, maria, cunctaque nascentia.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Ergo nostra concio in chordis et organo benedicat Domino
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
Et Deo qui venias donat et laetitias nos eidem gratias.
Apparuit quem genuit Maria.
(Let us make the church resound with the merry praises of the faithful. He whom Mary bore has appeared.
God made man in his own image and likeness.
God made all things, heavens, earth, seas, and whatever has been born.
Therefore let our company bless the Lord with voices and organ,
And let it give thanks to the same God who gives us pardon and joys).
CAROL (offertory): O Come, all ye faithful.
(Words anon. trans. F. Oakeley [1802-80]. Music anon. ca. 1740. Descant by G. Lockwood [b.1950])
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;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
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:
Collect & Benediction
Holy Jesus, to deliver us from the power of darkness, you humbled yourself to be born among us and laid in a manger. Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts, and bring us at last to the joyful vision of your beauty, for you are now alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Amen.
CAROL: Hark! the herald angels sing (Words by Charles Wesley [1707-88]; music by F. Mendelssohn [1809-47])
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 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.’