Service Booklet - 2020-12-24 (First Communion Of Christmas 2020)

The First Communion of Christmas 24 December 2020 21.00

Welcome to Bradford Cathedral The seat of the Bishop of Leeds and a Centre of Worship and Mission One of three Cathedrals in the Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Our purpose is serving Christ and transforming lives through welcome, worship and encounter.

❖ Please join in at home, and in the cathedral, by saying the words in bold type in this order of service. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, members of the public in the cathedral may not sing. ❖ For those at home, unable to receive Holy Communion: The term ‘Spiritual Communion’ has been used historically to describe the means of grace by which a person, prevented for some serious reason from sharing in a celebration of the Eucharist, nonetheless shares in the communion of Jesus Christ. The Church of which we are members is not defined by the walls of a building but by the Body of Christ of which we are members. In making our communion spiritually, we are joining with Christians everywhere to be nourished by the one who tells us, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. ❖ Please note that this service will be broadcast live on YouTube and be available for the following two weeks.  The choral setting is C.V. Stanford’s Communion Service in B♭ and F. The Cathedral Choir lead this evening’s worship.  If you use a hearing aid, please turn the setting to ‘T’ in order to take advantage of the induction loop in the cathedral.  Please check that you have switched off your mobile phone.  Lavatories, including disabled facilities, are available towards the rear of the building on the South Side.  In the event of an emergency, please remain calm and seated. Stewards will direct you out of the cathedral.  The Cathedral Close is an historic conservation area. The nature of the site means that many of the surfaces and steps are uneven and can be slippery when wet. Please take care when leaving the cathedral, use the handrails where provided and report anything that seems to be broken or amiss to a member of the cathedral staff.

HOSPITALITY info@bradfordcathedral.org www.bradfordcathedral.org

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FAITHFULNESS

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WHOLENESS

Bradford Cathedral, Stott Hill, Bradford, BD1 4EH T: 01274 777720

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Voluntary: The Holy Boy by J. Ireland (1879-1962)

Welcome The Very Reverend Jerry Lepine, Dean of Bradford We stand Silence In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Carol In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, in the bleak mid-winter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: in the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed the Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day, a breastful of milk, and a manger full of hay; enough for him, whom angels fall down before, the ox and ass and camel which adore.

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Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air, but only his mother in her maiden bliss worshipped the Belovèd 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.

Words: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) Music: G. Holst (1874-1934); CP 55

We remain standing

The Greeting The Right Reverend Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds Welcome all wonders in one sight!

Eternity shut in a span.

Summer in winter, day in night, heaven in earth and God in man.

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and also with you.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath After all five candles have been lit Lord Jesus, Light of light, you have come among us.

May we who live by your light shine as lights in your world.

Glory to God in the highest. Amen.

We remain standing as the choir sings

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Gloria in excelsis Glory be to God on high and in earth peace, goodwill towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory.

O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayer of the Day The president introduces a period of silent prayer Almighty God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We sit

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 52.7-10

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read by Jenny Price

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. Silence 5

We stand

Gospel Acclamation

Choir

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Choir

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Reading

John 1.1-14

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

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There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

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He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you O Christ After an opening prayer, we sit

Sermon The Right Reverend Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds Silence 6

Anthem Ding dong! merrily on high, in heav'n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky is riv'n with angel singing Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen, and "io, io, io!" by priest and people sungen Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime your matin chime, ye ringers, may you beautifully rhyme your eve'time song, ye singers Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!

Hosanna in excelsis!

Text: G.R. Woodward (1848-1934) Tune: 16th Century French; arr. Wilberg

Affirmation of Faith Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God, but made himself nothing.

Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness.

He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

We sit 7

cf. Philippians 2.6-11

Prayers of Penitence Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

Silence God our Father, you sent your Son full of grace and truth: forgive our failure to receive him.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus our Saviour, you were born in poverty and laid in a manger: forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Spirit of love, your servant Mary responded joyfully to your call: forgive the hardness of our hearts.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to himself and cleanse you from your sins that you may behold the glory of his Son, the Word made flesh, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Father, in this holy night your Son our Saviour was born as a child among us.

Renew your Church as the Body of Christ.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night there was no room for your Son in the inn.

Protect with your love those who have no home and all who live in poverty.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night Mary, in the pain of labour, brought your Son to birth.

Hold in your hand all who are in pain or distress.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

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In this holy night your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness.

Bring comfort to all who suffer in the sadness of our world.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night the angels sang, ‘Peace to God’s people on earth.’

Strengthen those who work for peace and justice in all the world.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night shepherds in the field heard good tidings of joy.

Give us grace to preach the gospel of Christ’s redemption.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night strangers found the Holy Family, and saw the baby lying in the manger.

Bless our homes and all whom we love.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night heaven is come down to earth, and earth is raised to heaven.

Hear us as we remember all those who have passed through death in the hope of your coming kingdom.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

In this holy night Christians the world over celebrate Christ’s birth.

Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.

Holy God, hear our prayer.

Father, in this holy night angels and shepherds worshipped at the manger throne. Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Mary, Joseph and all the saints, through him who is your Word made flesh, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We stand

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Giving and Receiving Peace This holy night the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all in whom he delights.’

The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.

We offer one another an appropriate sign of God’s peace The Table is set with bread and wine Our offerings are received: www.bradfordcathedral.org Voluntary: Improvisation We remain standing

Great Thanksgiving Prayer The Lord be with you and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.

All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere, mighty creator, ever-living God. We give you thanks and praise for your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who for love of our fallen race humbled himself, and on this night was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of your Spirit, and lived as one of us.

In this mystery of the Word made flesh you have caused his light to shine in our hearts, to give knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

In him we see our God made visible and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.

Therefore with all the angels of heaven we lift our voices to proclaim the glory of your name, and sing our joyful hymn of praise:

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Luke 2.14

Choir

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

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Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.

Amen.

We sit Silence

The Lord’s Prayer Rejoicing in the presence of God, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.

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Giving of Communion The body of Christ given for you.

Amen.

The blood of Christ shed for you.

Amen.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: grant us thy peace.

Please stand in your place if you would like to receive the bread of Communion Please indicate if you’d like a gluten-free wafer If you are at home and unable to receive Communion, you may wish to use the following prayer, after Richard of Chichester: Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day.

Amen.

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Communion Motet 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 take us to heaven, to live with thee there Words: Anonymous Music: Traditional Breton; arr. R. Jacques

We remain seated

Prayer after Communion God our Father, in this night you have made known to us again the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him until the day dawns and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

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We stand

Carol Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn 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 newborn King" Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin's womb: veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth.

Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) et al.

Tune: MENDELSSOHN; CP 53

We remain standing

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Dismissal May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace. Proclaim the Word made flesh.

Glory, thanks and praise to God. Voluntary: In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 by J.S. Bach (1685-1750) The organ voluntary is offered as part of our worship Please leave the building, maintaining social distancing, as quickly as possible and do not linger in the building talking. Thank you.

Material in this Order of Service is taken from Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000 and Common Worship: Times & Seasons, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2006. Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (Anglicised Edition) of the Bible, copyright © 1989, 1994 The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Copyright hymns and songs are reproduced under the Christian Copyright Licensing scheme: licence number 3887. This compilation is copyright © 2020 The Chapter of Bradford.

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