2016 Nine Lessons & Carols

 NINE LESSONS & CAROLS

BY CANDLELIGHT including The Malmesbury Motets

by Nico Muhly

17TH & 18TH DECEMBER 2016, 6.30PM

VICAR'S WELCOME I would like to warmly welcome you to Malmesbury Abbey for tonight’s service of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight. The Abbey Nine Lessons may well be an important part of your Christmas each year, the moment when Christmas really begins. Or this might be your very first time inside our 12th century walls.

Regardless, you are very welcome and I hope this night of immense beauty and joy allows you a brief window to consider afresh how the birth of Jesus Christ changed the course of human history.

Together we bring to life the events of Bethlehem some 2000 years ago with ancient readings, traditional congregational carols and seasonal music by Byrd, Victoria, Sweelinck and Rachmaninoff. The Abbey Choir will also be singing newer works by Ēriks Ešenvalds, John Tavener and Jonathan Dove and reprising our 2016 commission from the American composer Nico Muhly, The Malmesbury Motets. These three astonishing pieces, accompanied

by Liam Byrne on the Viola da Gamba, were first performed last month at our Advent Carol services, and freshly recreate with music texts from Genesis, Isaiah and St John that imagine the light of God shining in the darkness of the world.

May the mystery and the beauty of this night be a rich blessing to you, and those you love. And may the everlasting truth of this night bring you renewed hope throughout the coming year.

Revd Canon Neill Archer Christmas, 2016.

Guidance for the Service • • •

•

Because of the large number of candles in this service there is a significant risk – please take care with your candle at all times Please secure all loose hair and clothing, and when candles are being lit please take great care when passing the light to others Please stand for hymns and sit for all readings; except the 9th Lesson when we all stand and face the gospel in the centre of the Abbey.

There is a retiring collection for the ministry of Malmesbury Abbey. If you are a UK taxpayer please use the gift aid envelope provided. Many thanks.

Organist & Choirmaster Associate Conductor Lay Precentor Viola da Gamba

John Hughes M.A. (Cantab) A.R.C.O. Becky Saunders B.Mus. (Hons) Dr Annie Davis MRCVS Liam Byrne

Organ Preludes (from 6.10pm) Chorale Prelude on ‘Vom Himmel Hoch’ ‘Où s’en vont ces gais bergers’ Pastoral Symphony from ‘Messiah’

Pachabel Balbastre Handel

Welcome & Notices: Please remain seated in silence during the Viola da Gamba preludes as the Abbey is darkened and candles are lit.

Viola da Gamba Preludes (from 6.25pm) Andante from Sonata no 2 in A min (BWV 1003) Les Voix Humaines

JS Bach Marin Marais

Processional Hymn

Once in Royal David’s city

A soloist and the Malmesbury Abbey Choir sing the first two verses, then please stand and sing:

A

nd 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. 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 Heav’n above, And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

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; Where like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Please sit

Bidding Prayer

Revd Canon Neill Archer Vicar, Malmesbury Abbey

The Lord’s Prayer 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 those who 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.

Choir

O Emmanuel Ēriks Ešenvalds

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

1st Lesson

Genesis 1:1-5 The Light of Creation

Dr Annie Davis, Lay Precentor, Malmesbury Abbey This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

I. Terra autem erat inanis et vacua Nico Muhly

The earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, Then God said, “Let there be light�, and there was light.

Hymn

O come O come Emmanuel

O

come, O come, Emmanuel!

And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Rod of Jesse! free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny From depths of hell, thy people save, And give them victory o’er the grave: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou dayspring come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David come And open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of Might, Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height, In ancient times did give the law In cloud and majesty and awe: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Choir

Adam lay ybounden Boris Ord

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

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

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, Ne had never Our Lady a-been heavenĂŠ queen.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was.

Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias!

2nd Lesson

Micah 5:2-5a The Ruler from Bethlehem

Michael Palmer, Chorister (17th) Rob Hitchings, Abbey Bookshop Manager (18th) This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

Ecce virgo concipiet William Byrd

Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel.

(Isaiah 7:14)

Hymn

It came upon a Midnight Clear

I

t came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heavens all gracious King!"

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O'er all the weary world: Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love-song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet-bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

3rd Lesson

Isaiah 9:2,6,7 The Prophecy of the Messiah

Dick Jowitt, Chorister & Abbey Calligrapher This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

II. Populus qui ambulabat Nico Muhly

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.

Hymn

In the bleak mid-winter

I

n the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him nor earth sustain; Heav’n 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 mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels fall down before, The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air But only His mother in her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved with a kiss.

(Unaccompanied) 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.

4th Lesson

Luke 1:26-38 The Annunciation to Mary

Steve Heal, Headteacher, Malmesbury CE Primary School (17th) Rosie Wyatt, Teacher, Malmesbury CE Primary School (18th) This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

Bogoriditse devo Rachmaninoff

Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls.

5th Lesson

Luke 2:1-7 The Birth of Jesus

Diana Crowe, Abbey Churchwarden (17th) Mark Hunt, Abbey Churchwarden (18th)

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

O Magnum Mysterium TomĂĄs Luis de Victoria

Oh great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new born Lord, lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia

Hymn

Silent Night

S Â

ilent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia; Christ, the Saviour, is born!

Christ, the Saviour, is born!

(Unaccompanied) Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Choir

The Lamb John Tavener

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o'er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee, Little Lamb, I'll tell thee; He is called by thy name.

For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and he is mild, He became a little child.

I, a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

6th Lesson

Words by William Blake

Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds & the Angels

Chris Jager, Chorister (17th) Revd John Monaghan, Curate (18th) This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

Away in a Manger Basque traditional, arr. Jacques

Away in a manger, no crib for His 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, ‘til 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

Hymn

God rest ye merry gentlemen

G

od 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.

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: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings RejoicĂŠd much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessĂŠd Babe to find: 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: Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and charity Each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas All others doth deface:

7th Lesson

Luke 2:21-35 The Presentation of Christ

Revd Major Stephen Thatcher, Garrison Chaplain, Lyneham (17th) Andrew Beebee, Abbey Youth & Children’s Minister (18th) This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

Nunc Dimittis from the Portsmouth Service Jonathan Dove

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

8th Lesson

Matthew 2:1-11 The Magi

Alan McAdam, Abbey PCC Treasurer (17th) John Sunderland, Abbey PCC Lay Chair (18th) This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Choir

Hodie Christus natus est Jan Pieters Sweelinck

Today Christ is born. Noel.

Today the Saviour appeared. Alleluia.

Today on Earth the angels sing, archangels rejoice. Noel.

Today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia. Noel.

Hymn

Of the Father’s love begotten

Please turn to face the gospel as it is processed and read during the following hymn:

O

f the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds created; He commanded; it was done: Heaven and earth and depths of ocean In their threefold order one; All that grows beneath the shining Of the light of moon and sun, Evermore and evermore!

9th Lesson

John 1:1-14 The True Light

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

This is He whom seers and sages Sang of old with one accord; Whom the writings of the prophets Promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, Evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore him Angels and Archangels sing Powers, dominions bow before him And extol our God and King Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert ring, Evermore and evermore!

Choir

III. In ipso vita erat Nico Muhly

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

Sermon

The Vicar

Prayers

Brian Whitehead, Lay Minister (17th) Revd Mandy Churcher May Moore Chaplain (18th)

Hymn

O Come all ye faithful

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, O come, let us adore him, 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; Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger, Fain we embrace thee with love and awe; Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!

Glory to God, in the highest; Yea Lord, we greet thee, born that happy morning, Jesu to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

The Christmas Blessing May the Father, who has loved the eternal Son from before the foundation of the world, shed that love upon you his children.

Amen.

May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with joy and peace.

Amen.

May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the God-bearer, give you grace to carry the good news of Christ.

Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen

Recessional Hymn

Hark the herald angels sing

H

ark! 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 the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Please remain standing

Dismissal May God, who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light, bless us and fill us with peace.

Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Organ Voluntaries In dulci jubilo (BWV 729) Noel Suisse

JS Bach Daquin

THE MALMESBURY NATIVITY Each year approximately 1000 people come to see The Malmesbury Nativity at the Abbey. Young professional Wiltshire actors, carols led by a live band, mulled wine, cider and Christmas nibbles, and the authentic biblical Nativity story told by four characters from Malmesbury’s history: Aldhelm, William, Eilmer & Hannah Twynnoy.

One hour of amazing Christmas joy for all ages.

Fri 23rd December at 7pm. Christmas Eve at 2pm, 4pm & 6pm.

Tickets (Adults £2.50, Children free) are available from Malmesbury Abbey Bookshop or on the door.

CHRISTMAS EVE & DAY Christmas Eve

11.30pm Midnight Communion (with carols from 11.15pm)

Christmas Day

9am Holy Communion 11am Family Celebration 12pm Champagne

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material for which is included in this service, is copyright ©The Archbishops’ Council 2000.

CCLI License no. 2127.