5pm Lessons & Carols leaflet 12/6/20

Lessons and Carols An Advent Procession of

“I am the light of the world: they that follow me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

– John 8:12

Sunday, the sixth of December, 2020 at five o’clock in the afternoon

An Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols December 6, 2020, 5 p.m.

The Very Rev. Barkley S. Thompson, Dean Officiant

Opening Voluntary

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Chorale Prelude on Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, Op. 122/8

Matin Advent Responsory Cantor I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud

covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Choir Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

Cantor High and low, rich and poor, one with another, Choir Go ye out to meet him and say: Cantor Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, Choir Tell us, art thou he that should come? Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel.

Cantor Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Choir I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

Text: First Responsory for Advent Sunday: “Aspiciens a longe” Music: From a Magnificat by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525–1594); adapt. David Willcocks (1919–2015) A choral ensemble will provide the carols and sacred music during the service. Due to COVID-19, we ask that you experience this evening's service without singing along.

Hymn

Veni, Redemptor gentium

1 Come, thou Redeemer of the earth, And manifest thy virgin birth; Let ev’ry age adoring fall; Such birth befits the God of all.

3 Forth from his chamber goeth he, That royal home of purity, A giant in twofold substance one, Rejoicing now his course to run.

2 Begotten of no human will, But of the Spirit, thou art still The Word of God in flesh arrayed, The promised fruit to man displayed.

4 All laud, eternal Son, to thee Whose advent sets thy people free, Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Ghost for evermore.

Text: St. Ambrose (340–397) Music: Trier Manuscript, 15th c.; arr. David Willcocks

The Officiant begins the service with these sentences of Scripture: 1

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for God. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. — Isaiah 40:3, 5 The Officiant follows with

A Bidding Prayer Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.

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 his holy Child; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise.

But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which he died, and especially in this country and within this city.

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless; the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and unloved; the aged and the little children; and 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 his pure and lowly Mother, and all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us: Our Father, 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 temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Officiant continues

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. Amen.

The First Lesson

Genesis 2:4b–9, 15–25

God creates man and woman to live in obedience to him in the Garden of Eden.

Read by a Lay Server

Choir Carol I This is the truth sent from above, the truth of God, the God of love; Therefore don’t turn me from your door, but hearken all both rich and poor.

Thus we were heirs to endless woes, till God the Lord did interpose; And so a promise soon did run that he would redeem us by his Son.

The first thing which I do relate is that God did man create; The next thing which to you I’ll tell woman was made with man to dwell.

Thus he in love to us behaved, to show us how we must be saved; And if you want to know the way, be pleased to hear what he did say.

Text and Music: English traditional carol from Herefordshire; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

The Second Lesson

Genesis 3:1–15

Adam and Eve rebel against God. Read by the President of the Cathedral Choir

Choir Carol II Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; Four thousand winter thought he not too long.

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, Ne had never our Ladie abeen heav’ne queen

And all was for an apple, an apple that he took, As clerkés finden written in their book.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was, Therefore we moun singen: Deo gracias!

Text: Anonymous, 15th c. English found in the Sloan Manuscript 2593 Music: Boris Ord (1897–1961)

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The Third Lesson

Jeremiah 31:31–34

The Prophet promises a new covenant will be written on our hearts.

Read by a a Member of the Altar Guild

Choir Carol III

Merton

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding.

“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say; “Cast away the works of darkness, O ye children of the day.”

Wakened by the solemn warning, from earth’s bondage let us rise; Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling, shines upon the morning skies.

Honor, glory, might, and blessing to the Father and the Son, With the everlasting Spirit while unending ages run.

Text: Latin, ca. 6th c.; tr. “Hymns Ancient and Modern,” 1861, alt.

Music: William Henry Monk (1823–1889)

The Fourth Lesson

Isaiah 11:1–9

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon the Holy One. Read by the Canon Vicar

Choir Carol IV A tender shoot has started up from a root of grace, as ancient seers imparted from Jesse’s holy race: It blooms without a blight, blooms in the cold bleak winter, turning our darkness into light.

This shoot, Isaiah taught us, from Jesse’s root should spring; the virgin Mary brought us the branch of which we sing: Our God of endless might gave her this child to save us, thus turning darkness into light.

Music and Text: Otto Goldschmidt (1829–1907); translated by William Bartholomew (1793–1867)

The Fifth Lesson

Luke 1:26–38

The archangel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of the Most High.

Read by the Senior Warden 4

Choir Carol V I sing of a maiden That is matchless, King of all kings For her son she chose.

He came as still Where his mother was As dew in April That falls on the grass.

He came as still To his mother’s bower As dew in April That falls on the flower.

He came as still Where his mother lay As dew in April That falls on the spray.

Mother and maiden There was never, ever one but she; Well may such a lady God’s mother be.

Text: Anonymous 15th century English found in the Sloan Manuscript 2593 Music: Patrick Hadley (1899–1973)

Michaela Wagner and Emily Premont, soloists

The Sixth Lesson

Mark 1:1–15

Jesus comes, proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Read by the Dean of the Cathedral

Choir Carol VI The greatness of God in his love has been shown, The light of his life on the nations is thrown; And that which the Jews and the Greeks did divine Is come in the fullness of Jesus to shine: The light of the world in the darkness has shone; And grows in our sight as the ages flow on.

He rolls the grim darkness and sorrow away And brings all our fears to the light of the day; The idols are fallen of anger and blood And God is revealed as the loving and good.

And though we have sinned like the Prodigal Son, His love to our succor and welcome will run, His gospel of pardon of love and accord, Will master oppression and shatter the sword.

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The light of the world is more clear to our sight As errors disperse and we see him aright, In lands long in shadows his churches arise And blaze for their neighbors the ways of the wise.

Text: anon. medieval English; Music: traditional English carol arr. Gregory Rose (b.1948)

Presentation of the Barnard Cross recognizing 25 years of devoted service to the Cathedral Choirs Elaine Lynn, Catherine Whitney, Michael McKann, James Murdaugh, Gary Smith, and Clifford Rudisill

The Vesper Responsory Cantor Choir Cantor Choir Cantor Choir Cantor Choir

Judah and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed.

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.

Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord.

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.

We wait for thy loving kindness, O God. In the midst of thy temple.

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:17; Exodus 14:13; Psalm 48:8; translated from an early medieval Advent Sunday responsory Music: Adapted from Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

The Advent Collect Officiant

Let us pray.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent Merciful God, who sent thy messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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The Advent Blessing May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin. Amen.

May he whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Voluntary

Toccata on Veni Emmanuel

Adolphus Hailstork (b.1941)

Vocal Quartet Michaela Wagner Emily Premont Justin Shen John Gallagher

Robert L. Simpson Canon for Music

Daryl Robinson Cathedral Organist

John J. Mitchell Organ Scholar

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