Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols Voluntary
Prelude on “Come now, Savior of the Gentiles”
Matins Responsory for Advent
J. S. Bach
G. P. da Palestrina
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? High and low, rich and poor, one with another. Go ye out to meet him and say: Hear O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Tell us, are thou he that should come? Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Paul Fisher & Martha Gerding, cantors Hymn 57
“Lo, he comes with clouds descending”
Helmsley
First Lesson: Isaiah 6: 1-8 Carol
‘Twas in the year
G. R. Woodward
‘Twas in the year that King Uzziah died, a vision by Isaiah was aspied: A lofty throne, the Lord was set thereon; and with his glory all the temple shone. Bright Seraphim were standing round about. Six wings had every of that quire devout. With twain he awesome veil’d his face, and so with twain he dreadful veil’d his feet below. With twain did he now hither, thither fly: and thus aloud did one to other cry: ‘Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth, full of his glory are earth and heaven both.’ And at their cry the lintels moved apace, and clouds of incense filled the Holy Place.
Hymn 59
“Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding”
Merton
Second Lesson: Isaiah 40: 1-8 Solo
Comfort ye, my people (from Messiah) Jonathan Leonard, tenor Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
G. F. Handel
-Isaiah 40: 1-3
Third Lesson: Zechariah 2:10-13 (read at Lectern) Carol How beautiful upon the mountains John Stainer How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Hymn 76
“On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry”
Winchester New
Fourth Lesson: Luke 1:26-38 Carol
The Angel Gabriel
Basque Carol
The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted show, his eyes as flame; “All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady!” Gloria! “For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee, Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold. Most highly favored 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 favored lady!” Gloria! Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, And Christian fold throughout the world will ever say: “Most highly favored lady!” Gloria! Fifth Lesson: Luke 1: 39-56 Carol
When rooks fly homeward
Arthur Baynon
When rooks fly homeward and shadows fall, when roses fold on the hay-yard wall, when blind moths flutter by door and tree, then comes the quiet of Christ to me. When stars look out on the Children's Path and grey mists gather on carn and rath, when night is one with the brooding sea, then comes the quiet of Christ to me. Carol
Wachet auf!
Phillip Nicolai
“Up! Awake! From highest steeple, the watchman cry, “Awake, ye people; O Salem from thy slumber rise! Hear those clarion voices knelling, the hour of midnight loud forthtelling; Say, where are ye, O virgins wise? The Bridegroom comes awake! Up! Lamp and lantern take; Alleluia! With ready light ye must tonight go forth to join the marriage rite.” Sixth Lesson: Matthew 1:18-23 Carols (at altar) Never weather-beaten sail Never weather-beaten sail more willing bent to shore.
Thomas Campion
Never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more, Than my wearied sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast: O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest. Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven's high Paradise. Cold age deafs not there our ears nor vapour dims our eyes: Glory there the sun outshines whose beams the blessed only see: O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my sprite to thee! Ave Maria
Jacob Arcadelt
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Blessed art thou among women, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Holy Mary, Mother of God ora pro nobis peccatoribus pray for us sinners nunc et in homra mortis nostrae. Amen. now and in the hour of our death. Amen. Carol of the Advent
People, look East. The time is near Of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Guest is on the way. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Rose is on the way.
Besanรงon Carol Arr. M. Shaw
Birds, though ye long have ceased to build, Guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen He for fledgling time has chosen. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Bird is on the way. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim One more light the bowl shall brim, Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Star is on the way. Angels announce to man and beast Him who cometh from the East. Set every peak and valley humming With the Word, the Lord is coming. People, look East, and sing today: Love the Lord is on the way.
Vesper Responsory Priest
Judah and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed;
People
Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.
Priest
Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord.
People
Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.
Priest
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
People
Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you.
Hymn 462
“The Lord will come and not be slow”
St. Stephen
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken by all – priest leads): Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation’ but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Verse (priest – sung): Response (choir):
We wait for thy loving kindness, O Lord. In the midst of thy temple.
(priest continues, singing): Let us pray. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon 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 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, how and forever. Amen. O God, who makest us glad with the yearly expectation of thy coming, grant that we, who with joy receive thy only-begotten Son as our redeemer, may without fear behold him when he shall come to be our judge, even thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. The Blessing Open wide, O Lord, the gates of heaven and visit thy people in peace: send forth thy Spirit from on high that their hearts may be uplifted unto thee. O Lord, who for our sake was of a virgin born, make holy thy people, and bless thine heritage. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and abide with you forever. Amen. Hymn 72
“Hark! The glad sound! The Savior comes!”
Richmond
At the Procession
Prelude on the Advent Chorale “Comfort, comfort ye my people”
Paul Manz
Concluding Voluntary
Prelude on the Advent Chorale J. S. Bach “Come now, “Come now, Savior of the Gentiles”