# 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: # 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
# 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
UNISON 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. #
We gather again this Christmas Eve to celebrate
the birth of the Christ child,
God's gift of love to the human race,
and to celebrate that good news with joy and delight.
We trace in the words of Scripture the familiar story of angels
and shepherds, mother and child and ponder in our hearts
not only what this gift means, but how we might respond to it.
The faith we celebrate at Christmas is that God is with us
as our friend and companion - a companion who brings
the fullness of God's Grace into the realities of flesh and blood,
into our pain and distress, into our personal hopes and common fears...
..a companion, who, by sharing our life with us,
heals and reconciles through his endless gift of love.
# In dulci jubilo
# Let us our homage shew
# Our heart's joy reclineth
# In praesepio
# And like a bright star shineth
# Matris in gremio
# Alpha es et O
# O Jesu parvule
# I yearn for thee alway
# Comfort my heart's blindness
# O Puer optime
# With all thy loving kindness
# O Princeps gloriae
# Trahe me post te
- # O Patris caritas - O Patris caritas
- # O Nati lenitas - O Patris caritas
- # Deeply were we stained - Deep were we stained
- # Per nostra crimina - Deep were we stained
# But thou for us hast gaines
- # Coelorum gaudia - Coelorum gaudia
- # Oh, that we were there - Oh, that we were there
- # Obusint gaudia - Obusint gaudia
# In any place but there
- # There are angels singing - There are angels singing
# Inova cantica
# And there the bells are ringing
# In regis curia
- # Oh, that we were there - Oh, that we were there
- # There are angels singing - And there the bells are ringing
# In regis curia
- # Oh, that we were there - Oh, that we were there. #
The angel Gabriel brings astonishing news to the Virgin Mary.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to
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 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 for ever,
"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?"
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.
# The angel Gabriel from heaven came
# His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame
# "All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary
# "Most highly favoured lady"
# Gloria!
# "For know 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! #
TREBLES AND TENORS IN UNISON:
# Out of your sleep arise and wake For God mankind now hath y-take
# All of a maid without any make
# Of all women she beareth the bell
FULL, HARMONY: # And through a maide fair and wise
# Now man is made of full great price
# Now angels kneelen to man's service
UNISON: # And at this time all this befell
TREBLES AND TENORS IN UNISON: # Now man is brighter than the sun
# Now man in heav'n on high shall won
# Blessed be God, this game is begun
# And his mother the empress of hell
FULL, HARMONY: # That ever was thrall, now is he free
# That ever was small, now great is she
# Now shall God deem both thee and me
UNISON: # Unto his bliss if we do well
# Now man, he may to heaven wend
# Now heaven and earth, to him they bend
# He that was foe now is our friend
# This is no nay that I you tell
# Now, blessed brother, grant us grace
# At doomes day to see thy face
# And in thy court to have a place
UNISON: # That we may there sing thee nowell. #
The poet Elizabeth Jennings explores the intimacy
and anticipation of the encounter between Mary and her cousin.
She had not held her secret long enough
To covet it
but wished it shared as though
Telling it would tame the terrifying moment
When she, most calm in her own afternoon,
Felt the intrepid angel, heard
His beating wings, his voice across her prayer.
This was the thing she needed to impart
The uncalm moment, the strange interruption,
The angel bringing pain disguised as joy,
But mixed with this was something she could share
And not abandon, simply how
A child sprang in her like the first of seeds.
And in the stillness of that other day
The afternoon exposed its emptiness,
Shadows adrift from light, the long road turning
In a dry sequence of the sun.
And she No apprehensive figure seemed,
Only a moving silence through the land.
And all her journeying was a caressing
Within her mind of secrets to be spoken.
The simple fact of birth soon overshadowed
The shadow of the angel.
When she came Close to her cousin's house she kept
Only the message of her happiness.
And those two women in their quick embrace
Gazed at each other with looks undisturbed
By men or miracles.
It was the child
Who laid his shadow on their afternoon
By stirring suddenly, by bringing
Back the broad echoes of those beating wings.
# Angelus ad Virginem Sub intrans in conclave
# Virginis formidinem Demulcens, inquit: Ave!
# Ave regina virginum; Caeli terraeque Dominum
# Concipies Et paries intacta
# Salutem hominum; Tu porta caeli facta
# Medela criminum
# Quomodo conciperem Quae virum non cognovi?
# Qualiter infringerem Quod firma mente vovi?
# Spiritus Sancti gratia Perficiet haec omnia
# Ne timeas
# Sed gaudeas, secura Quod castimonia
# Manebit in te pura
# Dei potentia
# Ad haec virgo nobilis
# Respondens inquit ei
# Ancilla sum humilis Omnipotentis Dei
# Tibi caelesti nuntio
# Tanti secreti conscio
# Consentiens, Et cupiens videre
# Factum quod audio
# Parata sum parere
# Dei consilio
# Eia mater Domini, Quae pacem redidisti
# Angelis et homini
# Cum Christum genuisti
# Tuum exora filium
# Ut se nobis propitium
# Exhibeat, Et deleat peccata
# Praestans auxilium
# Vita frui beata
# Post hoc exsilium. #
# There is no rose
# Of such virtue
# As is the rose
# That bear Jesu
# Alleluia
- # For in this rose contained was - For in this rose contained was
- # Heav'n and earth - Heav'n and earth
# In little space
# Res miranda
- # By that rose - By that rose
# We may well see
# There be one God
# In persons three
# Pares forma
# Then leave we all
# This worldly mirth
# And follow we
# This joyous birth
FULL: # Transeamus. #
Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem.
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, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,
into Judaea, into 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.
ORGAN PLAYS INTRODUCTION
# Dormi, Jesu
# Mater ridet
# Quae tam dulcem somnum videt
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
- # Dormi, Jesu - Dormi
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
MEN IN UNISON: # Si non dormis
# Mater plorat
HARMONY: # Inter fila
# Cantans orat
# Blande veni
FULL: # Blande veni somnule
MEN IN HARMONY: # Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
FULL: # Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
# Sleep, sweet baby
# My cares beguiling
# Mother sits beside thee smiling
# Sleep, my darling
# Sleep, my darling, tenderly
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
# Dormi, Jesu
# Dormi, Jesu, blandule
- # Blandule - Blandule
- # Blandule - Dormi
# Jesu. #
# Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
# I would my true love did so chance
# To see the legend of my play
# To call my true love to my dance
# Sing, oh! My love, oh! My love, my love, my love
# This have I done for my true love
# Then was I born of a virgin pure
# Of her I took fleshly substance
# Thus was I knit to man's nature
# To call my true love to my dance
# Sing, oh! My love, oh! My love, my love, my love
# This have I done for my true love
# In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
# So very poor, this was my chance
# Betwixt an ox and a silly, poor ass
# To call my true love to my dance
# Sing, oh! My love, oh! My love, my love, my love
# This have I done for my true love
# Then afterwards baptised I was
# The Holy Ghost on me did glance
# My father's voice heard from above
# To call my true love to my dance
# Sing, oh! My love, oh! My love, my love, my love
# This have I done for my true love
# For my true love. #
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
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
- MEN: # 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. #
The good news of Christ's birth is announced to shepherds
and the heavens are filled with the song of angels.
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.
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. #
# In hoc anni circulo
# Vita datur seculo
# Nato nobis paruulo
# De virgine Maria
# Verbum caro factum est
# De virgine Maria
# O beata femina
# Cuius ventris gloria
# Mundi lauat crimina
# De virgine Maria
# Verbum caro factum est
# De virgine Maria
# Stella solem protulit
# Sol salutem contulit
# Carnem veram abstulit
# De virgine Maria
# Verbum caro factum est
# De virgine Maria
# Fons de suo riuulo
# Nascitur pro populo
# Quem tulit de vinculo
# De virgine Maria
# Verbum caro factum est
# De virgine Maria
# Laus, honor, virtus, Domino
# Deo Patri e Filio
# Sancto simul Parcleto
# De virgine Maria
# Verbum caro factum est
# De virgine Maria
# De virgine Maria. #
Thomas Merton invites us to ponder
on the glory of God revealed in the Christ child.
Flocks feed by darkness with a noise of whispers
In the dry grass of pastures
And lull the solemn night with their weak bells.
The little towns upon the rocky hills
Look down as meek as children
Because they have seen come this holy time.
God's glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight
Under the rafters of a barn.
Eternal Peace is sleeping in the hay
And Wisdom's born in secret in a straw-roofed stable.
And O! Make holy music in the stars, you happy angels
You shepherds, gather on the hill
Look up, you timid flocks
Where the three kings Are coming through the wintry trees
While we unnumbered children of the wicked centuries
Come after with our penances and prayers
And lay them down in the sweet-smelling hay
Beside the wise men's golden jars.
# Quittez, pasteurs
# Vos brebis, vos houlettes
# Votre hameau Et le soin du troupeau
# Changez vos pleurs
# En une joie parfaite
# Allez tous adorer
# Un Dieu, un Dieu, un Dieu qui vient vous consoler
# Un Dieu, un Dieu, un Dieu
# Un Dieu qui vient vous consoler
# Vous le verrez
# Couche dans une etable
# Comme un enfant
# Nu, pauvre, languissant
# Reconnaissez son amour ineffable
# Pour nous venir chercher
# Il est, il est Il est le fidele berger
# Il est, il est, il est le fidele berger
# Rois d'Orient L'etoile vous eclaire
# A ce grand roi Rendez hommage et foi
# L'astre brillant
# Vous mene a la lumiere
# De ce soleil naissant
# Offrez, offrez, offrez l'or, la myrrhe et l'encens
# Esprit divin
# A qui tout est possible
# Percez nos coeurs
# De vos douces ardeurs
# Notre destin Par vous devient paisible
# Dieu, pretend nous donner
# Le ciel, le ciel, le ciel en venant s'incarner
# Le ciel, le ciel, le ciel en venant s'incarner. #
# O holy night
# The stars are brightly shining
# It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth
# Long lay the world
# In sin and error pining
# Till he appeared
# And the soul felt its worth
# A thrill of hope
# The weary world rejoices
# For yonder breaks
# A new and glorious morn
LOWER PARTS "AH" # Fall on your knees
# Oh, hear the angel voices
- # O night divine - O night divine
- # O night when Christ was born - O night when Christ was born
- # O night divine - O night divine
# O night divine O night, O night divine
- MEN IN UNISON: - # Led by the light
- # Of faith serenely beaming - HARMONY: A-a-ah
# With glowing hearts
- # By his cradle we stand - A-a-ah
# By his cradle we stand
# So, led by light
- # Of a star sweetly gleaming - A-a-ah
- # Here came the wise men from the Orient land - A-a-ah
# The Orient land
- # The King of Kings - The King of Kings
- # Lay thus in lowly manger - Lay in lowly manger
- # In all our trials - Lay in lowly manger
- # Born to be our friend - Our friend
- # He knows our need - A-a-ah
- # To our weakness no stranger - A-a-ah
- # Behold your King - Behold, behold your King
- # Before him lowly bend - Before him lowly bend
- # Behold your King - Behold your King
# Your King
- # Before him bend - Before him bend
FULL, HARMONY: # Truly he taught us
# To love one another
# His law is love and his Gospel is peace
# Chains shall he break
# For the slave is our brother
# And in his name
# All oppression shall cease
# Sweet hymns of joy
# In grateful chorus raise we
# Let all within us
# Praise his holy name
# Christ is the Lord
# Then ever, ever praise we
# His power and glory
# Ever, evermore proclaim
- # His power and glory - His power and glory
# Ever, evermore proclaim. #
Christina Rossetti invites us
to respond with our whole heart to the sweet music of God's love.
They have brought gold and spices to my King,
Incense and precious stuffs and ivory;
O Holy Mother mine, what can I bring
That so my Lord may deign to look on me?
They sing a sweeter song than I can sing,
All crowned and glorified exceedingly;
I, bound on Earth, weep for my trespassing,
They sing the song of love in Heaven, set free.
Then answered me my Mother, and her voice
Spake to my heart, yea, answered in my heart;
Sing, saith He, to the Heavens, to Earth, Rejoice;
Thou, also, lift thy heart to Him above;
He seeks not thine, but thee, such as thou art,
For Lo! His banner over thee is Love.
MEN IN UNISON, WITH ORGAN: # Love came down at Christmas
# Love all lovely, love divine
# Love was born at Christmas
# Star and angels gave the sign
# Worship we the Godhead
# Love incarnate, love divine
# Worship we our Jesus
# But wherewith for sacred sign?
FULL, IN UNISON: # Love shall be our token
# Love be yours and love be mine
# Love to God and all men
# Love for plea and gift and sign. #
# What sweeter music can we bring
# Than a carol
# For to sing
# The birth of this our heav'nly King?
# Awake the voice!
# Awake the string!
MEN IN UNISON: # Dark and dull night fly hence away
HARMONY: # And give the honour to this day
# That sees December turn'd to May
FULL, HARMONY: # That sees December turn'd to May
MEN IN UNISON: # Why does the chilling winter's morn
# Smile like a field beset with corn
# Or smell like a meadow newly shorn
HARMONY: # Thus on a sudden?
# Come and see
# The cause why things thus fragrant be
TREBLES AND ALTOS IN HARMONY: # 'Tis he is born, whose quick'ning birth
# Gives life and lustre, public mirth
# To heaven and the under-earth
FULL, HARMONY: # We see him come and know him ours
# Who, with his sunshine and his showers
# Turns all the patient ground to flow'rs
TREBLES, ALTOS, TENORS IN HARMONY: # The darling of the world is come
# And fit it is we find a room
# To welcome him
MEN IN HARMONY: # The nobler part of all the house here is the heart
FULL, HARMONY: # Which we will give him and bequeath
# This holly and this ivy wreath
MEN IN HARMONY: # To do him honour who's our King
ALTOS, TENORS, BASSES IN HARMONY: # And Lord of all this revelling
ORGAN, FULL, UNISON: # What sweeter music can we bring
# Than a carol
# For to sing
HARMONY: # The birth of this our heav'nly King?
# The birth of this
# Our heavenly King. #
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.
VERY SLOWLY, ONE SYLLABLE AT A TIME, WITH SOLEMNITY:
# O
# Magnum
HARMONY, WITH CELLO: # Mysterium
# O
# Magnum
# Mysterium
VOICES SOAR AND INTERMINGLE: # Magnum
# Mysterium
# Et
# Admirabile
# Sacramentum
# Ut
# Animalia
# Viderent
# Dominum
# Natum
# Jacentem
# In
# Praesepio!
# Beata
# Virgo
# Cujus
# Viscera
# Meruerunt
# Magnum
# Mysterium
# Portare
# Dominum
# Christum
# Alleluia. #
Christ, who, by his incarnation,
gathered into one things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with peace and goodwill
and make you partake 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.
- Amen. - Amen.
ALL: # 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!
UNISON: # 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!
UNISON: # 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!
# O come, let us adore him
# Christ the Lord!
# Yea, Lord, we greet thee
# Born this happy morning
# Jesu, to thee be glory given
# Word of the Father
# Now in flesh appearing
# O come, let us adore him!
# Christ the Lord. #