Carol Service Program 2023

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Monday 4 December 2023 7:00pm ST MARY’S CHURCH, NORTH SYDNEY

Introduction The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is one of the best known and most beloved celebrations of Christmas in the English-speaking world. Devised over a century ago by EW Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, it was quickly adopted for use in churches across Britain including, in 1918, at King’s College, Cambridge.

The BBC began broadcasting the annual service at King’s College in 1928 and from here the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols achieved worldwide fame. Today, millions listen to the service on Christmas Eve each year, and the liturgy and music are used in church settings of numerous Christian denominations across the world. As explained by King’s College: ‘In these and other ways the service has become public property.’

The format of the Festival service has remained constant since the early years of its celebration. The nine ‘Lessons’ are readings from the Bible.

They begin with the book of Genesis and then trace the arc of God’s salvific plan through the messianic prophesies of ancient Israel, the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus, culminating in the mysterious and momentous words of the Prologue to John, with its themes of light, life and logos.

In the words of Reverend Eric Milner-White: ‘The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God [seen] through the windows and the words of the Bible’.

There are other traditions: the readers are ordered from junior to senior, the opening carol is always Once In Royal David’s City and the closing is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Within this framework, however, music is selected for each service from the widest range of anthems, hymns and carols. Across the world, these variations on the Christmas theme reflect the diverse cultures and communities which, each year, join together to celebrate the joy and hope of Christ’s coming into the world.

Organ Prelude

Processional Carol

All stand for the Procession

ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY

Solo:

Words by Cecil Frances Alexander Music by Henry John Gauntlett Descant by David Willcocks Solo by Elizabeth Williams Year 6

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 Only: 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.

All: 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.

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.

The congregation remains standing

Bidding Prayer Reverend Andy Bleach

As we approach Christmas let us prepare to hear again the message of the angels: and in our minds travel to Bethlehem and imagine the baby Jesus lying in his Mother’s arms attended by the Three Wise Men. e will read and follow through Bible readings W the story of God’s purpose in bringing his Son in to the world for our Redemption, and in this Church we will remember Mary and the baby Jesus through prayers and carols: But first, let us pray for the needs of the world; for peace and goodwill throughout all nations; for unity within the Church, within this School, community and City of Sydney: And let us at this time remember the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; those who are sick in body and in mind and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and those who do not know the loving kindness of God. astly let us remember people throughout the L world who rejoice with us, those who have hope in Jesus Christ. We offer our prayers and praises in the words which Christ himself taught us: All respond: Our Father, which 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 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, forever and ever, Amen.

The congregation sits

Carol Galaxy Singers

First Lesson

NOËL NOUVELET Traditional French

THE CALL OF ABRAM

Georgia McNee Year 6

Genesis 12: 1-3

Carol

FUM, FUM, FUM

Years 3 and 4 Choir

Traditional Catalan

Congregational Carol

The congregation stands for the carol

AWAY IN A MANGER Anonymous Tune by William J. Kirkpatrick Arranged by David Willcocks

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.

The congregation sits

Second Lesson Scarlett Bennett Year 7

Carol

THE ABRAHAMIC CONVENANT Genesis 22: 15-18

DEO GRACIAS and HODIE

Senior Choir

from A Ceremony Of Carols Benjamin Britten

Third Lesson

THE PROPHET FORETELLS THE COMING OF THE SAVIOUR

Chloe Jureta Head Prefect

Carol Medway Singers

Fourth Lesson Mrs Lucy Brogden Class of 1986

Isaiah 9: 2; 6-7

SEASON OF PEACE Mark Patterson

THE COMING OF ZION’S KING Zechariah 9: 9

Congregational Carol ANGELS, FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY James Montgomery

The congregation stands for the carol Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth; Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Shepherds in the fields abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain) Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations; Ye have seen his natal star: (Refrain) Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In his temple shall appear; (Refrain) Though and Infant no we view Him, He shall fill His Father’s throne; Gather all the nations to Him; Every knee shall then bow down: (Refrain)

The congregation sits

Carol

GABRIEL’S MESSAGE

Year 8 Choir

Basque Carol

Fifth Lesson

THE BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD

Mrs Alison Francis Junior School Coordinator, Queenwood Parents Association

Arranged by David Willcocks

Luke 1: 26-35; 38

Organ Voluntary

Carol Junior Choir Astra Singers

DONKEY CAROL John Rutter

Sixth Lesson

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

Mr Dean Granville Year 11 Year Coordinator

Luke 2: 1; 3-7

Instrumental Interlude

Seventh Lesson Mrs Anni Sandwell Head of Junior School

Carol

AVE MARIA Franz Schubert Arranged by Wellington Sousa

THE SHEPHERDS GO TO THE MANGER Luke 2: 8-16

SUMMER CHRISTMAS

Year 7 Choir

Ruth McCall

Eighth Lesson

THE MAGI VISIT THE MANGER

Mrs Suzanne Kerr Acting Deputy Principal & Director of Wellbeing

Matthew 2: 1-12

Congregational Carol GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN Traditional English Melody Arranged by Adrian Vernon Fish

The congregation stands for the carol God rest you merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day, To save poor souls from Satan’s power When we had gone astray Glad tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy: Glad tidings of comfort and joy.

From God that is our Father, The blessed angels came, Unto some certain shepherds, With tidings of the same; That he was born in Bethlehem, The Son of God by name.

Glad tidings of comfort and joy, etc Now when they came to Bethlehem, Where our sweet Saviour lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay.

The blessed Virgin kneeling down, Unto the Lord did pray.

Glad tidings of comfort and joy, etc With sudden joy and gladness, The shepherds were beguil’d, To see the Babe of Israel, Before his mother mild.

O then with joy and cheerfulness, Rejoice each mother’s child.

Glad tidings of comfort and joy, etc Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, Like we true loving brethren, Each other to embrace, For the merry time of Christmas, Is coming on a-pace.

Glad tidings of comfort and joy, etc

The congregation sits

Carol

SWEET WAS THE SONG

Years 5 and 6 Choir

Bob Chilcott Arranged by Keven Stannard Words by Josef Mohr Translated by J.F. Young Music by Franz Gruber

Ninth Lesson

ST JOHN UNFOLDS THE GREAT MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION

Mrs Belinda Moore Acting Principal

John 1: 1-14

Congregational Carol

The congregation stands for the carol

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL (ADESTE FIDELES)

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!

Words and melody by John Francis Wade Arranged by David Willcocks

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, etc.

See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps: O come, let us adore him, etc.

Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; ‘Glory to God In the highest.’

O come, let us adore him, etc.

The congregation remains standing

Collect and Blessing Brother Tony Butler

The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Let us pray.

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

All: Amen Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill, and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.

All: Amen

The congregation remains standing

Recessional Carol HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING Words by Charles Wesley and others Music by Felix MendelssohnBartholdy Verse 3 (Descant) Arranged by David Willcocks

Hark! the herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born 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 new-born 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 th’incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born King.

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son 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 new-born King.

Organ Voluntary

CHORAL DIRECTORS Anna Sandstrom Catherine Borchok ORGANIST Kurt Ison ACCOMPANIST Benjamin Au MUSICIANS Gabrielle Johnson, Violin Anne Marie Braid, Viola Harrison Werlemann-Godfrey, Cello Tim Crow, Trumpet SOUND AND AUDIO Craig Herbert With thanks to our readers, choristers and instrumentalists.

Special thank you to St Mary’s Church, North Sydney.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

ISAIAH 9:6