Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols - Christ Church …€¦ · 2 About the Festival of Nine Lessons...

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Mary Jane Muir Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Christ Church Cathedral 4:00pm, December 21, 2014

Transcript of Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols - Christ Church …€¦ · 2 About the Festival of Nine Lessons...

Mary Jane Muir

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

Christ Church Cathedral4:00pm, December 21, 2014

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About the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a traditional Christmas service of Christian worship celebratingthe birth of Jesus. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is toldin nine short Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns, and choral pieces.

The original idea was drawn up by Edward White Benson, Bishop of Truro in Cornwall (laterArchbishop of Canterbury), for use on Christmas Eve 1880. It was based on an idea from the futureBishop of Edinburgh, George Walpole: tradition says that he organized a 10:00pm service on ChristmasEve using a temporary wooden shed for his cathedral, and that a key purpose of the service was to keeppeople out of pubs on Christmas Eve.

The original liturgy has since been adapted and used by churches all over the world. Traditionally an Anglicanservice, it has been adopted as part of the Christmas celebrations of many different denominations. The best-known version is broadcast annually from King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve, where it was firstcelebrated in 1918 (other than King’s College, Groton School, Massachusetts in the US has performed thefestival longer than any institution, holding its first Lessons and Carols in 1928). The King’s College versionwas conceived by its Dean, Eric Milner-White, whose experience as an army chaplain had led him to believethat more imaginative worship was needed by the Church of England. The music at the first service at King'swas directed by Arthur Henry Mann, working with a choir which had 16 trebles as specified in statutes laiddown by Henry VI. Until 1927 the men's voices were provided by choral scholars and lay clerks, while today14 undergraduates from the College Choir sing the men's parts.

The service was first broadcast by the BBC in 1928 and, except for 1930, has been broadcast every yearsince. During the 1930s the BBC began broadcasting the service on its overseas programmes. Eventhroughout WW II, despite the stained glass having been removed from the Chapel and the lack of heat-ing, the broadcasts continued. For security reasons, the name "King's" was not mentioned duringwartime broadcasts. Since World War II it has been estimated that each year there are millions of listen-ers worldwide who tune in to the service live on the BBC World Service.

Our cathedral was founded on December 23rd 1888, just 8 years after the first Service of Nine Lessonsand Carols. This Carol service has become part of our Christmas worship for many years and it has builtup a loyal congregation delighted by the beautiful music and the recitation of the greatest story ever told.

We are delighted that you have chosen to be part of this wonderful tradition and wish you a blessed andgrace-filled Christmas!

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Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Processional Once in Royal David’s City

Words: C.F. Alexander, Music: H.J. Gauntlett, Music: vs. 1-4 harmonized by A.H. Mann, vs. 5 descant and organ part by David Willcocks.

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Solo 1. 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 2. 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 3. And through all his wondrous childhoodHe would honour and obey,Love and watch the lowly maiden,In whose gentle arms he lay:Christian children all must beMild, obedient, good as he.

4. And our eyes at last shall see Him,Through His own redeeming love;For that Child so dear and gentleIs our Lord in heaven above,And He leads His children onTo the place where He is gone.

5. 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 crownedAll in white shall gather round.

Bidding PrayerOfficiant Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again

the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.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 the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all people; for unity and fellowship within the church he came to build, and especially in this, our diocese.And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon anothershore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number,

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whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we areone for ever more.

All Amen.

Please be seatedIn the Bleak Midwinter

Words: Christina Rossetti Music: Harold Darke

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; heav’n 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 beloved 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.

First Lesson Genesis 3

Noël NouvletWords: Trad. French CarolMusic: 16 c. French Carol arr. John Rutter

Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici,Devotes gens, crions a Dieu merci!Chantons Noël pour le Roi nouvelet, Noel!Noël nouvelet, Noël chantons ici!

L'ange disait! ‘pasteurs, partez d'ici!L’ame en répos et le couer réjoui;En Bethleem trouverez l'angelet.’ Noël nouvelet

En Bethléem, étant tous réunis,Trouverent l'enfant, Joseph, Marie aussi. La crèche était au lieu d’un bercelet Noël nouvelet

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Bientôt, les rois, par l'étoile éclaircis,De l’Orient dont ils étaient sortisA Bethléem vinrent un matinet. Noël nouvelet

Voici mon Dieu, mon Saveur Jésus ChristParqui sera le prodige accompliDe nous saveur par son sang vermiellet! Noël nouvelet

Translation Nowell, sing nowell good people gathered here,Offer thanks, ye faithful to the news give ear.Sing we nowell, a new King born today.Nowell, sing nowell good people gathered here.

Unto humble shepherds came the angel near;“Hence,” he said, “to Bethlehem, be ye of good cheer.Seek there the Lamb of God, love’s own pure ray.” Nowell sing, Nowell

When to Bethlehem they came in lowly fear, found they Joseph and Mary with her son so dear - Heaven’s mighty Lord all cradled in the hay. Nowell sing, Nowell

Eastern Sages seek him, in the darkness drearBy a star illumined shining forth so clear,Guiding them to Bethlehem far away. Nowell sing, Nowell

Now doth our Saviour Jesus Christ appear,Bringing salvation promised manny a yearBy his redeeming blood this happy day! Nowell sing, Nowell

Second Lesson Genesis 22

Frohlecket, ihr Völker auf ErdenWords: Translation from the German Protestant Church CalendarMusic: Felix Mendelssohn

Rejoice, give praise to the heavens and give thanks to God!The Saviour has been sent, as was promised by the Lord!He has revealed his righteousness to the world. Alleluia!

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Third Lesson Isaiah 9

This Endris Night

Words: 15th C EnglishMusic: 15th c English Carol, arr. Willi Zwozdesky

This endris night I saw a sightA star as bright as dayAnd 'ere among a maiden sangLullay bye bye lullay.

This lovely lady sat and sung,And to her child did say:"My son, my brother, father, dearWhy liest thou thus in hay?"

"My sweetest bird, thus 'tis required though thou be king veray;But nevertheless I will not cease to singbye bye lullay."

The child then spoke in his talking,And to his mother said:"Yea, I am known as heaven king,In crib though I be laid."

"For angels bright down to me light;thou knowest 'tis no nay; and for that sight thou mayst delight to singbye bye lullay.""Now, sweet son, since thou art a king,why art thou laid in a stall?"Why dost not order thy bedding in some great kinges hall?"

"Methinks 'tis right that king or knight should lie in good array;And then among, it were no wrongTo sing bye bye lullay."

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Fourth Lesson Isaiah 11

Verbum Caro Factum est de Virgine Maria

Words: Twelfth and Fourteenth Century Manuscripts

Refrain: The Word was made flesh by the Virgin Mary

O blessed woman, the glory of whose womb cleanses the sin of the whole world, by the Virgin Mary.

A star brings forth a Sun, the Sun brings salvation and take unto itself very flesh by the Virgin Mary.

A Source from its own river is born for the people, whom it has brought from prison by the Virgin Mary

Glory, honour, power be to the Lord God, Father, Son and to the Holy Ghost,by the Virgin Mary.

Please remain seated

Carol Huron Carol

Words: First Nations (Huron) - Jean de Brébeuf; English transl Jesse MiddletonMusic: 16th C French Carol, arr. Healey Willan, final vs Paul Halley

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1. Twas in the moon of wintertime, When all the birds had fled, That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead; Before their light the stars grew dim, And wondering hunters heard the hymn:

RefrainJesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.

2. Within a lodge of broken bark The tender babe was found, A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapped His beauty round; But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high: Refrain

3. The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair As was the ring of glory on The helpless Infant there. The chiefs from far before Him knelt With gifts of fox and beaver pelt. Refrain

4. O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou, The holy Child of earth and Heav’n Is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant Boy, Who brings you beauty, peace and joy. Refrain

High voices

All

Low voices

All

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Fifth Lesson Luke 1

Spanish Carol

Words: Traditional Spanish CarolMusic: Traditional Spanish Carol, arr. Andrew Carter

Tonight a babe is born amid the ice and snow. My babe, if only I could wrap you in velvet. Aleri, aleria, how delightful! Tonight a babe is born in a stable in Bethlehem. The Virgin is washing Him with a bit of soap. Her hands are chapped, hand of my heart.

Sixth Lesson Matthew 1

Polish Lullaby

Words & Music: Traditional Polish, arranged R.G. Lang

Lullaby Jesus, O cease from your crying,here on thy Mother’s warm breast softly lying.Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now my treasure,Mother is watching with love none can measure.

See how the world lies in sorrow and sadness;Give us Thy blessing, O bring Heaven’s gladness!Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now my treasure,Mother is watching with love none can measure

Please stand and join the choir in the singing of the carol.

Carol God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

Words & Music: Traditional English Carol, arranged by David Willcocks

1. 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 powerWhen we were gone astray:

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

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Seventh Lesson Luke 2

Masters in This Hall

Words: Traditional French Carol arr. David Willcocks

Masters in this hall, hear the news todaybrought from over sea, and ever I you pray:

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell sing we clear!Holpen are all folk on earth, Born is God's Son so dear:Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell sing we loud! God today hath poor folk raised,And cast a-down the proud!

Going through the hills, through the milk-white snow,Heard I ewes bleat while the wind did blow: Shepherds many-an one sat among the sheep,No man spake more word than they had been asleep:

Quoth I, “fellows mine, why this guise sit ye?Making but dull cheer, shepherds though ye be?Shepherds should of right leap and dance and sing,Thus to see ye sit, is a right strange thing”:

2. From God our heav’nly FatherA blesséd angel came,And unto certain shepherdsBrought tidings of the same,How that in Bethlehem was bornThe Son of God by name: Refrain. (All)

3. The shepherds at those tidingsRejoicéd much in mind,And left their flocks a-feedingIn tempest, storm and wind,And went to Bethlehem straightwayThis blesséd babe to find: Refrain. (All)

4. But when to Bethlehem they came,Whereat this infant lay,They found him in a mangerWhere oxen feed on hay;His mother Mary kneeling,Unto the Lord did pray. Refrain.

5. Now to the Lord sing praises,All you within this place,And with true love and brotherhoodEach other now embrace;This holy tide of ChristmasAll others doth efface: Refrain.

Low voices

High voices

Choir

All

(All)

over...

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Quoth these fellows then, “To Bethlehem we go,To see a mighty lord lie in manger low,”“How name ye this lord, shepherds?” then said I,“Very God,” they said, “Come from heaven high”:

This is Christ the Lord, Masters, be ye glad!Christmas is come in, and no folk should be sad

Eighth Lesson Matthew 2

Lux ArumqueWords: Edward Esch; Latin transl. Charles SilvestriMusic: Eric Whiteacre

Light, warm & heavy as pure goldand the angels sing softly to the new-born baby.

Lux,calida gravisque pura velut aurumet canunt angeli molliter modo natum.

Please stand

Ninth Lesson John 1

Christ Church Cathedral’s worship ministries are dependent on the free will offerings of those who attend. Yourfinancial gifts are gratefully received; cumulative identified gifts of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt.

Carol O Come All Ye Faithful (During which your offering will be gratefully received.)Words: Tr. F. Oakley, W.T. Brooke Music: Composer unknown, arranged by David Willcocks

1. 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.

High Voices 2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb: Very God, Begotten, not created; Refrain. (All)

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All 3. See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps. Refrain.

Low Voices 4. Lo! star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring, Offer him incense, gold and myrrh; We to the Christ Child Bring our hearts’ oblations: Refrain. (All)

All 5. 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? Refrain.

Choir 6. Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God In the highest; Refrain. (All)

All 7. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning; Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing; Refrain.

Collect for Christmas EveOfficiant Almighty God,All as we prepare with joy

to celebrate the gift of the Christ-child,embrace the earth with your gloryand be for us a living hopein Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers

Lord’s PrayerOfficiant Our Father,All who 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 those who trespass against us; And lead us not into tempation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,forever and ever. Amen.

Blessing

Postlude In Dulci Jubilo trad. 16th c German Carol arr. J.S. Bach

Please do not leave valuables unattended.All music for the liturgy is reproduced with permission under license #705, LicenSing — Copyright Cleared Music for Churches

Participants in the ServiceClergy Dean Peter Elliott, The Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark-King,

The Rev. Philippa Segrave-Pride, The Rev. Marnie PetersonThe Rev. Alisdair Smith

Servers Megan Otton, Mary Jane Carroll, Evan LandryMusic Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Rupert Lang, Organist & Director of MusicReaders Terry Kelly, Anna Hagan, The Rev. Alisdair Smith,

The Rev. Marnie Peterson, Bernard Cuffling, The Rev. Liz Hamel, Jonathan Sutton, Heather Redmond, John Innes

Welcomers Ron Jobe, Gins Doolittle, Andrea French, Robin Tavender, Jane Hope,Debora Rutherford