A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols

A pottery nativity, made in Bethlehem by a Little Sister of Jesus

The Choir of Holy Trinity Anglican Church Directed by Mark Charles Organist: Federico Terzi

Cathédrale de St Pierre, Genève Friday, 24th December, 2021

17h30

Organ recital 17h00

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Welcome to St. Peter’s Cathedral, Geneva, for this very special moment in our

Christmas celebrations. This booklet gives details of tonight’s service. Please do take

it away with you afterwards to help you reflect on the message of the Christmas

Season.

Before the service, there will be an Organ Recital.

Organist: FEDERICO TERZI

Programme for the Recital:

C. Balbastre (1724-1799) Noël Votre bonté, grand Dieu

A. Rowley (1892-1958) Fantasia on Veni Emmanuel

A. Guilmant (1837-1911) Pastorale from Sonata n. 1, op. 42

F. Castelli (b. 1939) Variazioni per organo sopra Adeste fideles Although we understand that people may be arriving during this recital, we ask you to

please keep as quiet as possible to enable others to enjoy listening to the music.

After the recital, there will be a brief pause before the service begins, with the singing

of the carol Once in Royal David’s City – please REMAIN SEATED until the Officiant

indicates that you STAND.

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The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Officiant: The Revd Canon Dr Daphne Green, Holy Trinity Church Assisted by: Pasteur Laurence Mottier, Eglise Protestante de Genève The Reverend Laurence Twaddle, Church of Scotland Choir: Holy Trinity Church Choir and guest singers Direction: Mark Charles Organist: Federico Terzi

The first service of Nine Lessons and Carols took place on Christmas Eve 1880 in a temporary building which served at the time as Truro Cathedral. This tradition has since spread around the world. The service has been held in the Cathédrale de St. Pierre since 1982, when it moved from Holy Trinity Church.

Holy Trinity Church relies on donations from the public to maintain its ministry. It costs around CHF 7’000 every WEEK to effectively maintain the Church’s ministry. The raising of this money has been made more challenging by the Pandemic.

During the Carol after the Ninth lesson there will be a collection. Please give generously. The suggested donation for tonight is CHF 20 per adult but please give what you can. You might also like to think about a one-off ‘Christmas gift’. All donations are gratefully received. Thank you! If it is more convenient, you can also donate through direct payment to our bank (details below), or donate online via https://holytrinitygeneva.org/appeals/giving-online_donation/, or via TWINT by scanning the QR code below. Most of all, thank you for being with here tonight at this wonderful moment of celebration.

Bank details: Bank Raiffeisen de la Versoix – 1290 Versoix

IBAN: CH73 8021 5000 0006 8881 6 SWIFT Code: RAIFCH 22215

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Carol, Once in Royal David’s City: Please STAND

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.

Choir only: 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.

All: And through all his wondrous childhood He would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must 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.

Tune: Irby – H J Gauntlett (1805-1876), Descant – James O’Donnell (b 1961)

Words: Mrs C F Alexander (1818-1895)

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Bidding Prayer: Please REMAIN STANDING

Priest: Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmas Eve our care and delight to prepare

ourselves to hear again the message of the angels: in heart and mind to

go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and

with the shepherds and Wise Men adore the Child lying in

his mother's arms.

Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving

purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious

Redemption brought us by this Holy Child.

But first let us pray for the needs of His whole world; for peace and

goodwill over all the earth; among all His people; unity and fellowship

within the Church He came to build, especially in this City and Canton of

Geneva. And because it would rejoice His heart, let us remember, in His

name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the

sick in body and in mind and them that mourn; the lonely and the unloved;

the aged and the little children; and all who know not the Lord Jesus.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon

another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which none can

number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the

Lord Jesus we are one for evermore.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven,

in the words which Christ Himself hath taught us:

All: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on 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.

Priest: The Almighty God bless us with His grace: Christ give us the joys of

everlasting life: and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King

of Angels bring us all.

All: Amen.

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In Dulci Jubilo, Arr. Pearsall (1795-1856), Sung by the Choir Please SIT

First Lesson:

God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent's head. 8 And the man and the woman heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 3:8-15

Thanks be to God. The traditional story, or myth, of the Fall reminds us of where we are as human beings. We are not evil – but we make wrong decisions which take us away from God and God’s purposes. In the process, we blame one another for our own mistakes. We need help.

1. In dulci jubilo [In quiet joy] Let us our homage show Our heart’s joy reclineth In praesepio [in a manger] And like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio [in the mother's lap] Alpha es et O. [Thou art Alpha & Omega]

2. O Jesu parvule [O tiny Jesus] I yearn for thee always! Hear me, I beseech thee, O Puer optime! [O best of boys] My prayer let it reach thee, O Princeps gloriæ! [Prince of glory] Trahe me post te [draw me unto thee]

3. O patris caritas [O father's caring] O nati lenitas [O newborn's mildness] Deep were we stained Per nostra crimina [by our crimes] But thou hast for us gained Coelorum gaudia [heavenly joy] O that we were there.

4. Ubi sunt gaudia [where be joys] If that they be not there There are angels singing Nova cantica [new songs] There the bells are ringing In regis curia [at the king's court] O that we were there.

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E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come, Paul Manz (1919-2009), Sung by the Choir Peace be to you and grace from him Who freed us from our sins, Who loved us all and shed his blood That we might saved be. Sing holy, holy to our Lord, The Lord, Almighty God, Who was and is and is to come; Sing holy, holy, Lord!

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, For Christ is coming, is coming soon, For Christ is coming soon! E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, And night shall be no more; They need no light nor lamp nor sun, For Christ will be their All

Words: from the Book of Revelation, adapted by Ruth Manz

Second Lesson:

God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Genesis 22:15-18

Thanks be to God. Abraham’s faith – which was ready even to give up the son he had longed to have – is the foundation on which God’s chosen people Israel is to be set. This people will bring blessing to all the nations of the earth – a promise we see fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah.

O Radiant Dawn, James MacMillan (b. 1959), Sung by the Choir

O Radiant Dawn, O Radiant Dawn, O Radiant Dawn Splendour of Eternal Light Sun of Justice, Sun of Justice, Sun of Justice Come, come, come, come, come, Come shine on those who dwell

in darkness And the shadow of death

Isaiah had prophesied, ′The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone'

Amen

'The Jesse Tree’ in the 13th Century Scherenberg psalter.

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Carol, Of the Father’s Heart Begotten:

Please STAND

Third Lesson: Please SIT

The prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour.

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Thanks be to God.

In this passage, the prophet continues a theme begun in a previous chapter rejoicing in the birth of one who is to be a new King, who will be a true leader, a lover of justice, and one who brings God’s reign. So much so that (from the earlier chapter) his name will be Emmanuel – God-is-with-us. The promise fulfilled for us in the birth of Christ our Lord.

1. 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.

2. 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,

3. He assumed this mortal body, Frail and feeble, doomed to die, That the race from dust created Might not perish utterly, Which the dreadful Law had sentenced In the depths of hell to lie,

4. 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,

5. This is he, whom seer and sibyl Sang in ages long gone by; This is he of old revealèd In the page of prophecy; Lo! he comes, the promised Saviour; Let the world his praises cry!

6. 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.

Tune: Divinum Mysterium – from Piae Cantiones 1582, Descant David Willcocks (1919-2015) Words: Latin, Prudentius (348-413) tr R F Davis (1866-1937)

9 English Traditional Carol,

Arr. D. Willcocks (1919-2015) Descant D. Willcocks

Carol, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen: Please STAND

God rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s power

When we were gone astray:

Refrain: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy. Choir only: From God our heavenly Father

A blessèd angel came, And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name:

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoicèd much in mind, and left their flocks a-feeding, In tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway This blessèd Babe to find:

Choir only: But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereat this infant lay, They found him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray:

Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy

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Fourth Lesson: Please SIT

La paix que le Christ amènera est prédite. 1 Puis un rameau sortira du tronc d'Isaï, Et un rejeton

naîtra de ses racines. 2 L'Esprit de l'Éternel reposera sur lui: Esprit de

sagesse et d'intelligence, Esprit de conseil et de force,

Esprit de connaissance et de crainte de l'Éternel.3 Il

respirera la crainte de l'Éternel; Il ne jugera point sur

l'apparence, Il ne prononcera point sur un ouï-dire.4

Mais il jugera les pauvres avec équité, Et il prononcera

avec droiture sur les malheureux de la terre; Il frappera

la terre de sa parole comme d'une verge, Et du souffle

de ses lèvres il fera mourir le méchant.5 La justice sera

la ceinture de ses flancs, Et la fidélité la ceinture de

ses reins.6 Le loup habitera avec l'agneau, Et la

panthère se couchera avec le chevreau; Le veau, le

lionceau, et le bétail qu'on engraisse, seront ensemble, Et un petit enfant les conduira. 7 La vache et l'ourse auront un même pâturage, Leurs petits un même gîte; Et le lion,

comme le boeuf, mangera de la paille. 8 Le nourrisson s'ébattra sur l'antre de la vipère,

Et l'enfant sevré mettra sa main dans la caverne du basilic.9 Il ne se fera ni tort ni

dommage Sur toute ma montagne sainte; Car la terre sera remplie de la

connaissance de l'Éternel, Comme le fond de la mer par les eaux qui le couvrent.

Esaïe 11:1-9

Nous rendons grâce à Dieu. The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of The LORD rests, a spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and power, a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of The LORD. (The fear of the LORD is his breath.) He does not judge by appearances, he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity, and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. The wolf lives with the lamb, the panther lies down with the kid, calf and lion cub feed together with a little boy to lead them. The cow and the bear make friends, their young lie down together. The lion eats straw like the ox. The infant plays over the cobra's hole; into the viper's lair the young child puts his hand. They do no hurt, no harm, on all my holy mountain, for the country is filled with the knowledge of The LORD as the waters swell the sea.

Isaiah 11:1-9

Thanks be to God.

Probably this passage comes from a later period in the prophet’s ministry and again has a message of profound hope for his people – the hope that from the apparently dead stump of the family tree of Jesse (if he was writing after the collapse of the Davidic dynasty in 587 BC this has added poignancy) will come new life. It reminds us that new life can be found in the least promising places.

‘The Peaceable Kingdom’, John August Swanson, California (b. 1938). The

picture draws on the vivid images of a peaceful world offered in Isaiah 11.

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A Spotless Rose, Herbert Howells (1892-1983), Sung by the Choir

Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem:

Please STAND

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by.

Ye 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 wond’ring love.

How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heav’n. 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 Emmanuel.

A spotless Rose is blowing Sprung from a tender root, Of ancient seers’ foreshowing, Of Jesse promised fruit; Its fairest bud unfolds to light Amid the cold, cold winter And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing, Whereof Isaiah said, Is from its sweet root springing In Mary, purest Maid; For through our God’s great love and might The Blessed Babe she bare us In a cold, cold winter’s night.

Tune: English traditional – Descant David Hill (b. 1957) Words: Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

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Fifth Lesson: Please SIT

The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,27 to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

S. Luke 1:26-38

Thanks be to God. S. Luke tells the story of the Annunciation by an angel to Blessed Mary that she is to bear the Holy Child. However we interpret this passage, the important message is that in the work of our salvation from the bonds of that original sin of which we heard in the first reading, it is always God who takes the initiative. The theological doctrine that Mary conceived Christ as a virgin expresses this profound truth.

The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy, Arr. Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967), Sung

by the Choir

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,

And they say that his name was Jesus

He comes from the glory, He comes from the glorious kingdom,

He comes from the glory, He comes from the glorious kingdom.

Oh, yes, believer! Oh, yes, believer!

He comes from the glory, He comes from the glorious kingdom.

Oh! Lord!

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Sixth Lesson:

St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)5 to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

S. Luke 2:1,3-7

Thanks be to God.

S. Luke ties the birth of Jesus to a particular time in our history and one that is verified by some other completely independent historians. The Roman occupying powers are seen by S. Luke ironically as responsible for Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the Davidic city, but the birth place is one that immediately identifies this King with the poor and oppressed.

Carol, Silent Night: Please STAND

1. Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright 'Round yon virgin Mother and Child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace

Choir Only: 2. Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight! Glories stream from heaven afar; Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Saviour is born

Christ the Saviour is born

3. Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiance beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord at Thy birth Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Choir Only: Christ the Saviour is born. Christ the Saviour is born!

‘Nativity’, Joseph Mulamba-Mandangi Democratic Republic of Congo, (b. 1964)

Tune: Franz Gruber (1787-1863) Arr: Donald Hunt (1930-2018)

Words: Joseph Mohr (1792-1848)

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Seventh Lesson:

The shepherds go to the manger. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

S. Luke 2:8-16

Thanks be to God. At the heart of S. Luke’s understanding of the redemption wrought by Christ, is the way in which the excluded and downtrodden are restored and included. The shepherds are the ones in Luke’s Gospel who first hear the good news of the holy birth – by the time of Jesus, shepherding was a despised occupation, even though the great king David had been called from it to rule.

Carol, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night: Please STAND

1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around.

2. ‘Fear not,’ said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind); ‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind.

3. ‘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:

4. ‘The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid.’

5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith

Appeared a shining throng Of angels praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song:

6. ‘All glory be to God on high, And on the earth be peace; Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease.’

Tune: Winchester Old – Thomas Este’s Psalter 1592, arr Sir David Willcocks (1919-2015) Descant: Clement McWilliam (1934-2007)

Words: Nahum Tate (1652-1715)

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O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943), Sung by the Choir Please SIT

O magnum mysterium Et admirabile sacramentum

O magnum mysterium Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum Jacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo cujus viscera Meruerunt portare Dominum Christum Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Et admirabile sacramentum

Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum Jacentem in praesepio! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O great mystery, And wonderful sacrament,

O great mystery, That animals should see the new-born Lord Lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin, whose womb Was worthy to bear Christ the Lord Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! And wonderful sacrament

That animals should see the new-born Lord Lying in a manger! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Eighth Lesson:

The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,6 and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

S. Matthew 2:1-11

Thanks be to God.

In contrast to S. Luke, S. Matthew has the birth of Jesus disclosed to sages – probably Zoroastrian priests – who come with symbolic gifts: incense as to a god, myrrh as an analgesic, gold as a royal gift. The reality is that the Saviour is born for us all – high and low, rich and poor, clever and simple – it matters not from whence we journey, rather that we arrive – and worship.

Mosaic of the Magi in the nave of the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

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All Bells in Paradise, John Rutter (b. 1945), Sung by the Choir

Ninth Lesson, The Gospel Please STAND

St Jean dévoile le grand mystère de l’incarnation.

1 Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.2 Elle était au commencement avec Dieu.3 Toutes choses ont été faites par elle, et rien de ce qui a été fait n'a été fait sans elle.4 En elle était la vie, et la vie était la lumière des hommes.5 La lumière luit dans les ténèbres, et les ténèbres ne l'ont point reçue.6 Il y eut un homme envoyé de Dieu: son nom était Jean.7 Il vint pour servir de témoin, pour rendre témoignage à la lumière, afin que tous crussent par lui.8 Il n'était pas la lumière, mais il parut pour rendre témoignage à la lumière.9 Cette lumière était la véritable lumière, qui, en venant dans le monde, éclaire tout homme.10 Elle était dans le monde, et le monde a été fait par elle, et le monde ne l'a point connue.11 Elle est venue chez les siens, et les siens ne l'ont point reçue.12 Mais à tous ceux qui l'ont reçue, à ceux qui croient en son nom, elle a donné le pouvoir de devenir enfants de Dieu, lesquels sont nés,13 non du sang, ni de la volonté de la chair, ni de la volonté de l'homme, mais de Dieu.14 Et la parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous, pleine de grâce et de vérité; et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, une gloire comme la gloire du Fils unique, venu du Père.

S. Jean 1:1-14

Nous rendons grâce à Dieu.

1. Deep in the cold of winter, Darkness and silence were everywhere; Softly and clearly, there came through the stillness A wonderful sound to hear: All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Sounding in majesty the news that they bring; All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth a heavenly King. All bells in paradise I heard them ring: 'Glory to God on high' the angel voices sing.

2. Lost in awe and wonder, Doubting I asked what this sign might be: Christ our Messiah revealed in a stable, A marvellous sight to see. All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Sounding in majesty the news that they bring; All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth a heavenly King.

3. He comes down in peace, a child in humility, The keys to his kingdom belong to the poor; Before him shall kneel the kings with their treasures, Gold incense and myrrh. All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Sounding in majesty the news that they bring; All bells in paradise I heard them ring, Welcoming our Saviour, born on earth a heavenly King. All bells in paradise I heard them ring: 'Glory to God on high' the angel voices sweetly sing.

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Gospel Acclamation, Colm Carey, Sung by the Choir

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

The Gospel is then read in English: S. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 The same was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

S. John 1:1-14

Thanks be to God S. John in his Gospel ponders the deeper significance of Christ’s coming amongst us. He speaks of the presence of the Word of God, the Son of God, with the Father before anything came into being. This Word of God, God’s purposive and creative Presence, is now with us in the new-born Jesus. Looking at him, living with him now risen and glorious, we discover the creative, redemptive and sanctifying power of God. What we see and experience in Jesus is totally transparent to the reality of this God.

Frontispiece for the Gospel of St John in ‘The St John’s Bible’, Collegeville

Minnesota

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Carol, O Come, All Ye Faithful During the carol a collection for the work of the Church will be taken. Please see page 3 for

alternative ways of giving.

Please STAND

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:

Refrain: 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:

See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle,

Leaving their flocks draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither

Bend our joyful footsteps:

Lo! star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,

Offer him incense, gold and myrrh; We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations:

Child for us sinners Poor and in the manger,

Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love; Who would not love thee,

Loving us so dearly?

Sing, choirs of angels. Sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God in the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning,

Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n, Word of the Father, in flesh appearing:

Tune: Adeste Fideles – probably by J F Wade (1711-1786)

Descant: D. Willcocks Words: Latin, 18th century, tr Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880) et al.

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The Prayers Please REMAIN STANDING

Priest: The Lord be with you All: And with thy spirit

Priest: Let us pray. O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine 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.

All: Amen.

The BLESSING follows:

May he who by his holy Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill; and may Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen Priest: Go in the peace and joy of this Christmastide. All: Thanks be to God!

Carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

1. 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.

2. Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb: Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail th’incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King.

3. Hail the heav’n-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.

Tune: Mendelssohn – Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847), Descant: David Hill (b. 1957)

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) et al

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Please REMAIN STANDING whilst the Choir and Clergy leave. The service shall conclude with the Final Voluntary – Finale from Symphonie n. 6, op 42/2, by C.M. Widor (1944-1937).

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Chaplain: The Revd Canon Dr Daphne Green, chaplain@holytrinitygeneva.org

Director of Music: Mark Charles, mark.gwynfil.charles@gmail.com Church Office: Michèle Walker, Secretary

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(Mon, Tues, Thurs, Friday 8h30-12h30)