- UNACCOMPANIED: - # 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
UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # 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 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
ORGAN AND CONGREGATION JOIN IN: # 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
WITH DESCANT: # 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. #
Beloved in Christ, we gather this Christmas Eve
to hear the message of Gabriel,
to journey with the shepherds
and with the magi to kneel in awe and adoration
before the gift of the Light of the World.
In words and in music,
we seek to understand and to marvel at the wonder of the Incarnation.
As we meet to offer our praises and our prayers to the Christ child,
let us pray first for the needs of the world,
for the poor, the hungry, the homeless,
for the persecuted and for the bereaved.
Let us, too, remember all those whom we have loved but see no longer,
those whose lives have influenced and enriched our own
and who now rejoice with us, but on another shore,
and with a greater understanding.
We pray that we may, this night, be so filled with the love of God
that our lives may reflect the light of His glory
and of His infinite compassion.
UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # In dulci jubilo
# Let us our homage show
# Our heart's joy reclineth
# In praesepio
# And like a bright star shineth
# Matris in gremio
# Alpha es et O
# O Jesu parvule
# I yearn for thee alway
# Listen to my ditty
# O Puer optime
# Have pity on me, pity
# O Princeps gloriae
# Trahe me post te
# O Patris caritas
O Patris caritas
- # O Nati lenitas - O Nati lenitas
# Deeply were we stained
- # Per nostra crimina - Per nostra crimina
# But thou hast for us gained
- # Coelorum gaudia - Coelorum gaudia
# O that we were there
O that we were there
# O that we were there
# Ubi sunt gaudia
Ubi sunt gaudia, where
# Where, if they be not there?
If they be not there?
# There are angels singing
There are angels singing
- # Nova cantica - There are angels singing
- # There the bells are ringing - There the bells are ringing
- # In Regis curia - In Regis curia
# O that we were there
O that we were there
# There are angels singing
There are angels singing
# There the bells are ringing
# The bells are ringing
# In Regis curia
# O that we were there
# O that we were there. #
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God
unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth,
to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
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."
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying,
and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her,
"Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God.
"And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
"and shalt call His name Jesus.
"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.
"And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever,
"and of His kingdom there shall be no end."
Then said Mary unto the angel,
"How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
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.
"And behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth,
"she hath also conceived a son in her old age,
"and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
"be it unto me according to thy word."
And the angel departed from her.
Thanks be to God.
UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY # The angel Gabriel from heaven came
# His wings as drifted snow His eyes as flame
# "All hail," said he
# "Thou lowly maiden Mary
# "Most highly favoured lady"
# Gloria
# "For known a blessed mother thou shalt be
# "All generations laud and honour thee
# "Thy son shall be Emmanuel
# "By seers foretold
# "Most highly favoured lady"
# Gloria
# Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
# "To me be as it pleaseth God," she said
# "My soul shall laud and magnify his Holy Name
# "Most highly favoured lady"
# Gloria
# Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
# In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn
# And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
# "Most highly favoured lady"
# Gloria! #
# Angelus ad virginem
# Subintrans in conclave
# Virginis formidinum
# Demulcens inquit Ave
# Ave regina virginum
# Coeliteraeque dominum
# Concipies
# Et paries
# Intacta
# Salutem hominum
# Tu porta coeli facta
# Medella criminum
# Quomodo conciperem
# Quae virum non cognovi?
# Qualiter infringerem
# Quae firma mente vovi?
# Spiritus sancti gratia
# Perficiet haec omnia
# Ne timaes, sed gaudeas
# Secura, quod castimonia
# Manebit in te pura Dei potentia
# Ad haec virgo nobilis
# Respondens inquit ei
# Ancilla sum humilis
# Omnipotentis Dei
# Tibi coelesti nuntio
# Tanta secreti conscio
# Consentiens et cupiens videre
# Factum quod audio
# Parata sum parere
# Dei consilio
# Eia Mater Domini
# Quae pacem reddidisti
# Angelis et homini
# Cum Christum genuisti
# Tuem exora filium
# Ut se nobis propitium
# Exhibeat et deleat peccata
# Praestans auxilium
# Vita frui beta
# Post hoc exsilium. #
Edwin Muir contrasts the vastness
and the intimacy of the Annunciation.
The angel and the girl are met
Earth was the only meeting place
For the embodied never yet
Travelled beyond the shore of space
The eternal spirits in freedom go
See, they have come together, see
While the destroying minutes flow
Each reflects the other's face
Till heaven in hers and earth in his
Shine steady there
He's come to her
From far beyond the farthest star
Feathered through time
Immediacy of strangest strangeness is the bliss
That from their limbs all movement takes
Yet the increasing rapture brings
So great a wonder that it makes
Each feather tremble on his wings
Outside the window, footsteps fall
Into the ordinary day
And with the sun along the wall
Pursue their unreturning way
Sound's perpetual roundabout
Rolls its numbered octaves out
And hoarsely grinds its battered tune
But through the endless afternoon
These neither speak nor movement make
But stare into their deepening trance
As if their gaze would never break.
# Of one that is so fair and bright
# Velut maris stella
# Brighter than the day is light
# Parens et puella
# I cry to thee
# Thou see to me
# Lady, pray thy Son for me
# Tam pia
# That I may come to thee
# Maria
# All this world was forlorn
# Eva peccatrice
# Till our Lord was y-born
# De te genetrice
# With ave it went away
# Darkest night
# And comes the day
# Salutis
# The well springeth out of thee
# Virtutis
# Lady, flow'r of ev'ry thing
# Rosa sine spina
# Thou bare Jesu, heaven's King
# Gratia divina
# Of all thou bear'st the prize
# Lady, queen of paradise
# Electa
# Maid
# Maid mild, mother
# Es effecta
# Effecta. #
# Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia
# Blagodatnaya Mariye
# Ghospod s'Toboyu
# Blagodatnaya Mariye
# Ghospod s'Toboyu
# Blagoslovenna Ti v'zhenah
# I blagosloven Plod chreva Tvoyego
# Yako Spasa rodila, yesi dush nashih
# Yako Spasa rodila
# Yesi dush nashih
# Bogoroditse Devo, raduysia
# Blagodatnaya Mariye
# Ghospod s'Toboyu
# Blagoslovenna Ti v'zhenah
# I blagosloven Plod chreva Tvoyego
# Yako Spasa rodila
# Yesi dush nashih. #
St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
And it came to pass, in those days,
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.
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 -
to be taxed, with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Thanks be to God.
# 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 - A Spotless Rose
- # Whereof Isaiah said - Is blowing
- # Is from its sweet root springing - Sprung from a tender root
- # In Mary, purest maid - Sprung from a tender root
# For through our God's great love and might
# Its bud unfolds The Blessed Babe she bare us
- # In the dark midnight - In a cold
# Cold
# Winter's night
# 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. #
# Ding dong, ding dong
# Ding dong! Merrily on high
# In heav'n the bells are ringing
# Ding dong! Verily the sky
# Is riv'n with angels singing
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria
# Hosanna in excelsis
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria
# Hosanna in excelsis
# E'en so here below, below
# Let steeple bells be swungen
# And i-o, i-o, i-o
# By priest and people sungen
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria
# Hosanna in excelsis
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria - Glo-o-o-ria
# Hosanna in excelsis
# Pray you, dutifully prime
# Your matin chime, ye ringers
# May you beautifully rhyme
# Your evetime song, ye singers
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Gloria
# Hosannah in excelsis
- # Glo-o-o-ria - Gloria
# Hosannah in excelsis. #
ALL, ACCOMPANIED: # 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
CHOIR, UNACCOMPANIED: # 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
ALL, ACCOMPANIED: # 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. #
The poet GK Chesterton reflects on the concept of home
in the narrative of the Nativity.
There fared a mother driven forth
Out of an inn to roam
In the place where she was homeless
All men are at home
The crazy stable close at hand
With shaking timber and shifting sand
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand
Than the square stones of Rome
For men are homesick in their homes
And strangers under the sun
And they lay their heads in a foreign land
Whenever the day is done
Here we have battle and blazing eyes
And chance and honour and high surprise
But our homes are under miraculous skies
Where the Yule tale was begun
A Child in a foul stable
Where the beasts feed and foam
Only where He was homeless
Are you and I at home
We have hands that fashion and heads that know
But our hearts we lost - how long ago
In a place no chart nor ship can show
Under the sky's dome
This world is wild as an old wives' tale
And strange the plain things are
The earth is enough and the air is enough
For our wonder and our war
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings
And our peace is put in impossible things
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings
Round an incredible star
To an open house in the evening
Home shall all men come
To an older place than Eden
And a taller town than Rome
To the end of the way of the wandering star
To the things that cannot be and that are
To the place where God was homeless
And all men are at home.
# Little Jesus, sweetly sleep
# Do not stir
# We will lend a coat of fur
# We will rock you
# Rock you, rock you
# We will rock you
# Rock you, rock you
# See the fur to keep you warm
# Snugly round your tiny form
# Mary's little baby sleep
# Sweetly sleep
# Sleep in comfort, slumber deep
# We will rock you
# Rock you, rock you
# We will rock you
# Rock you, rock you
# We will serve you all we can
# Darling, darling little man. #
# A virgin most pure as the prophets do tell
# Hath brought forth a baby as it hath befell
- # To be our Redeemer - Redeemer
# From death, hell and sin
# Which Adam's transgression had wrapped us in
# Aye, and therefore be you merry
# Rejoice and be you merry
# Set sorrow aside
# Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide
# In Bethlehem Jewry a city there was
# Where Joseph and Mary together did pass
# And there to be taxed
# With many one more
# For Caesar commanded the same should be so
# Aye, and therefore be you merry
# Rejoice and be you merry
# Set sorrow aside
# Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide
- # But when they had entered - They entered
# The city so fair
# The number of people so mighty was there
# That Joseph and Mary
TREBLES AND ALTOS: # Whose substance was small
# Could find in the inn there no lodging at all
ALL: # Aye, and therefore
# Be you merry
# Rejoice and be you merry
# Set sorrow aside
# Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide
TENORS AND BASSES, UNISON: # Then were they constrained
# In a stable to lie
# Where horses and asses they used for to tie
# Their lodging so simple
- # They took it no scorn - Took it no scorn
ALL: # But against the next morning
# Our Saviour was born
WITH ORGAN: # Aye, and therefore
- # Be you merry - Be merry
WITH DESCANT: # Rejoice and be you merry
# Set sorrow aside
# Christ Jesus our Saviour
# Was born on this tide. #
The shepherds go to the manger.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
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.
And the angel said unto them,
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
"which shall be to all people.
"For unto you is born this day
"in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
"And this shall be a sign unto you -
"ye shall find the babe
"wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
And suddenly, there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest,
"and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
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 has come to pass,
"which the Lord hath made known unto us."
And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph
and the babe lying in a manger.
Thanks be to God.
# Angels from the realms of glory
# Wing your flight o'er all the earth
# Ye who sang creation's story
# Now proclaim Messiah's birth
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Shepherds in the fields abiding
# Watching o'er your flocks by night
# God with man is now residing
# Yonder shines the infant light
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Saints before the altar bending
# Watching long in hope and fear
# Suddenly the Lord, descending
# In His temple shall appear
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Though an infant now we view him
# He shall fill his Father's throne
# Gather all the nations to him
# Every knee shall then bow down
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo
# Gloria
# In excelsis Deo. #
# We stood on the hills, Lady
# Our day's work done
# Watching the frosted meadows
- # That winter had won - Calm, calm
- ALTOS IN TWO PARTS: - # Calm, calm
# The evening was calm, Lady
TREBLES AND ALTOS: # Calm, calm
# The air so still
- # Silence more lovely than music - Silence
- # Folded the hill - Silence, silence
ALL HUM
- # There was a star, Lady - There
- # Shone in the night - A star
- # Shone - Larger than Venus it was
- # And bright, so bright - And bright, so bright
# Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady
# It seemed to us then
- # Telling of God being born - God being born
- # In the world of men - Lady
# Lady
ALL HUM
# And so we have come, Lady
# Our day's work done
- # Our love, our hopes, ourselves - Love, ourselves
- # We give to your son - Lady, Lady
ALL HUM
ALL IN UNISON: # 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
# O tidings of comfort and joy
# Comfort and joy
# O tidings of comfort and joy
UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # From God our heavenly Father
# A blessed angel came
# And unto certain shepherds
# Brought tidings of the same
# How that in Bethlehem was born
# The Son of God by name
ALL IN UNISON, WITH ORGAN: # O tidings of comfort and joy
# Comfort and joy
# O tidings of comfort and joy
ALL IN UNISON: # The shepherds at those tidings
# Rejoiced much in mind
# And left their flocks a-feeding
# In tempest, storm and wind
# And went to Bethlehem straightway
# This blessed babe to find
# O tidings of comfort and joy
# Comfort and joy
# O tidings of comfort and joy
UNACCOMPANIED, HARMONY: # 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
ALL IN UNISON, WITH ORGAN: # O tidings of comfort and joy
# Comfort and joy
# O tidings of comfort and joy
- # Now to the Lord sing praises - Ah-ah-ah-ah
- # All you within this place - Ah-ah-ah-ah
- # And with true love and brotherhood - Ah-ah-ah-ah
- # Each other now embrace - Ah-ah-ah-ah
- # This holy tide of Christmas - Ah-ah-ah-ah
- # All others doth deface - Ah-ah-ah
ALL: # O tidings of comfort and joy
# Comfort and joy
# O tidings of comfort and joy. #
Ben Jonson challenges us with the complexities of the Nativity.
I sing the birth was born to-night
The author both of life and light
The angels so did sound it
And like the ravish'd shepherds said
Who saw the light, and were afraid
Yet search'd, and true they found it
The Son of God, the Eternal King
That did us all salvation bring
And freed the soul from danger
He whom the whole world could not take
The Word, which heaven and earth did make
Was now laid in a manger
The Father's wisdom will'd it so
The Son's obedience knew no no
Both wills were in one stature
And as that wisdom had decreed
The Word was now made flesh indeed
And took on him our nature
What comfort by him do we win
Who made himself the place of sin
To make us heirs of glory
To see this Babe, all innocence
A martyr born in our defence
Can man forget this story?
UNACCOMPANIED HARMONY: # 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 Thee, Lord Jesus
# Look down from the sky
# And stay by my side
# Until morning is nigh
# Be near me, Lord Jesus
# I ask Thee to stay
# Close by me forever
# And love me, I pray
# Bless all the dear children
# In Thy tender care
# And fit us for heaven
# To live with Thee there. #
# On Christmas night all Christians sing
# To hear the news the angels bring
MEN IN UNISON: # On Christmas night
# All Christians sing
# To hear the news the angels bring
FULL, HARMONY: # News of great joy
# News of great mirth
# News of our merciful King's birth
# Then why should men on earth be so sad
# Ah, ah, ah, ah
- # Since our Redeemer made us glad? - Ah, ah, ah, ah
# Then why should men on earth be so sad
# Ah, ah, ah, ah
# Since our Redeemer made us glad?
# Ah, ah, ah, ah
FULL, HARMONY: # When from our sin He set us free
# All for to gain our liberty
- # When sin departs before His grace - When sin
# Then life and health come in its place
# Departs before his grace
- # When sin departs before His grace - Then life and health
# Then life and health come
- # In its place - Come in its place
- # Angels and men with joy may sing - Angels may sing
- # All for to see the newborn King - All for to see the King
FULL, UNISON: # All out of darkness we have light
# Which made the angels sing this night
# All out of darkness we have light
# Which made the angels sing this night
HARMONY: # Glory to God and peace to men
# Now and for evermore
# Evermore, amen. #
St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness,
and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light,
that all men through him might believe.
He was not that light,
but was sent to bear witness of that light.
That was the true light,
which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.
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,
which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God.
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.
Thanks be to God.
# O magnum mysterium
# Et admirabile
# Sacramentum
# Et admirabile
# Sacramentum
# O magnum mysterium
# Ut animalia
# Viderent Dominum
# Ut animalia
# Viderent Dominum natum
# Jacentem in praesepio
# Beata Virgo
# Cujus viscera meruerunt
# Beata Virgo
# Portare Dominum Christum
# Alleluia
# Et admirabile
# Sacramentum
# Ut animalia
# Viderent Dominum natum
# Jacentem in praesepio
# Alleluia
# Alleluia. #
Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of Thy one true light,
bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of Thy heavenly glory.
Through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with Thee
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
ALL: Amen.
Christ, who by His Incarnation gathered into one
things earthly and heavenly, fill you with peace and goodwill,
and make you partakers of the Divine nature.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be amongst you and remain with you always.
ALL: Amen.
# 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
CHOIR, EXCEPT BASSES: # O come, let us adore Him
ALL: # 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
# O come, let us adore Him
ALL: # O come, let us adore Him
# Christ the Lord
UNISON WITH DESCANT: # Sing, choirs of angels
# Sing in exultation
# Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above
# Glory to God in the highest
# O come, let us adore Him
# Christ the Lord
# Yea, Lord, we greet Thee
# Born this happy morning
# Jesus, to Thee be glory given
# Word of the Father
# Now in flesh appearing
# O come, let us adore Him
ALL: # O come, let us adore Him
# Christ the Lord! #