Good afternoon and welcome to this service.
Rendcomb College wishes to thank the Clergy, Church Wardens and Staff for their generous hospitality in allowing us to use the church.
Please ensure that all mobile telephones and other electronic devices are switched to silent for the duration of the service. First aid is available at the back of the church.
A retiring collection will be taken for Linc Blood Cancer Charity and the RSPCA.
If you would like to make a donation to one of our chosen charities, please scan the QR codes below:
Linc Blood Cancer Charity
Linc are one of the oldest hospital charities in the county, established in 1998 we have supported tens of thousands of blood cancer patients and their families. We always talk about families as well as patients as our services extend to the wider family and the impact of being diagnosed with blood cancer or living with blood cancer, has on them too.
Our vision is for a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion. Our mission is to make sure that all animals have a good life, by rescuing and caring for those in need, by speaking on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect.
The Choir
Soprano and Treble
Scarlett Allum, Ellie Aspinall, Imogen Babb, Nicolas Baines, Leo Banks, Emma Barter, Persephone Bellamy, Sybil Bourns, Mrs. C. de Burgh, Ella Clarke, India Corley-Powell, Darcie Dawson, Imogen Dawson, Georgia Dibbs, Sonny Dziubinski, Isabella Edwards, Isobel Fryer, Poppy Garner, Abigail Gibson, Elspeth Golding, Barnaby Hart, Leila Hammerton, Miss B. Hayes, Isabella Hayward-Wright, Chloe Hobbs, Bethan Hodgetts, Abigail Holder, Max Hoyland, Mary Ivins, Ailsa Jeffrey, Edie Langford, Siena Lavender, Daisy Ledbrook-Jones, Mrs. E. Lulham, Lara Matthews, Isla McCormick, Eva McKay, Rosie McKay, Diya Moseleit, Ed Myers, Coralie Niven, Lennon Norris, Mrs H. O’Toole, Alice Okoh, Diamond Okoh, Grace Padget, Seb Raban, Theo Raban, Imran Rahman, Sienna Robinson, Ava Robson, Amarah Silverthorn, Lauren Simmons-Clark, Mae Simpson, Ella Smith, Giulia Swift, Matilda Tarplee, Felix Valentine, Zara Wellman, Odette Williams, Emily Wood, Mrs. S. White, Harriet Yates, Alex Young.
Alto
Charlotte Bowler, Cerys Ford, Lux Goodman, Mrs. L. Hayward, Alice Padget, Melody Parry-Sumner, Mrs. T. Price, Evie Ofosu, Arwen Stokes, Maia Ward, Maya Wharton, Mrs. Z. Wolton.
Tenor and Bass
Cooper Adams, Ayomide Awomolo, Mr. R. Castle, Joey Eades, Mr. J. Golding, Mr. M. Graham, Nathan Mathur, Dean MacDonagh, Neo Osborne, Jake Pugh, Mr. M. Silverthorn, Freddie Tarplee.
Brass Group
Mr. P. Storer, Ms. S. Dixon (trumpet), Mr. R. Fox (French Horn), Mr. P. Cowley (trombone).
Organist
Mr. J. Wright MA FRCO (CHM)
Director of Music
Dr. T. H. Edwards PhD MMus BMus (Hons)
Please stand.
O R D E R O F S E R V I C E
Organ voluntary before the service: Variations on ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’ - Denis Bédard
Congregational Carol: Once in royal David’s City
1. A solo voice
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.
2. 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.
3.
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.
4.
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.
5.
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.
6.
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.
Words: Mrs C F Alexander (1818-1895) Music: H. J. Gauntlett (1805-1876) harmonized by A. H. Mann (1850-1929)
Descant: David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Welcome: The Rev’d Canon Graham Morris, Vicar of Cirencester
Opening prayer: Mrs Marie Hobbs, Chaplain of Rendcomb College
Choir Carol: The Holly and the Ivy
1.
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the organ, Sweet singing in the choir.
2.
The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun etc
3.
The holly bears a bark, As bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all.
The rising of the sun etc
4.
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun etc
Words: Eighteenth-century traditional English Music: French traditional melody, arranged by June Nixon (b.1942)
Reading: Luke 1 vv. 26-28 read by Tristan Baggs, Year 9
Choir Carol: The Angel Gabriel
1.
The angel Gabriel from heaven came His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame “All hail” said he “thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!
2.
“For known a blessed mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honour thee, Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!
3.
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 favoured lady. Gloria!
4.
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: “Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!
Reading: Luke 2 vv. 1-7 read by Saskia Davies, Year 11
Choir Carol: Balulalow
O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit, Prepare thy creddil in my spreit, And I sall rock thee to my hert And never mair thee depart
Words: James, John and Robert Wedderburn. (1548), 1561 Music: Benjamin
Congregational Carol: O little town of Bethlehem
1.
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.
2.
O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God, the King And peace to men on earth. For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love.
3.
How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin. Where meek souls will receive Him, still The dear Christ enters in.
4.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend on us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell: Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
Reading: Luke 2 vv. 8-20 read by Isabella Allen, Year 13
Choir Carol: Away in a manger
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
Words: anon, often attributed to Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Music: trad. Normandy tune arranged by Reginald Jacques (1894-1969)
Congregational Carol: It came upon the midnight clear
1.
It 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 heaven’s all gracious King!’ The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.
2.
Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heav’nly 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.
3.
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.
4.
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 give back the song Which now the angels sing.
Reading: Matthew 2 vv. 1-12 read by Mr. Nicholas Ford, Chairman of the Governors
Choir Carol: The Christmas Silence
1.
Hush’d are the pigeons cooing low, On dusty rafters of the loft And mild eye’d oxen, breathing soft Sleep on the fragrant hay below
2.
Dim shadows in the corner hide The lantern’s rays are shed Where one young lamb just lifts his head And huddles ‘gainst his mother’s side.
3.
Strange silence tingles in the air
Through the half open door
A bar of light from one low hanging star Touches a baby’s radiant hair.
4.
No sound, the mother kneeling lays Her cheek against the little face
Oh human love! On heavn’ly grace! ‘Tis yet in silence that she prays.
5.
Ages of silence end tonight Then to the long expectant earth
Glad angels come to greet his birth In burst of music, love, and light.
Congregational Carol: As with gladness men of old
1.
As with gladness, men of old Did the guiding star behold As with joy they hailed its light Leading onward, beaming bright So, most gracious God, may we Evermore be led to Thee.
2.
As with joyful steps they sped To that lowly manger bed There to bend the knee before Him Whom Heaven and earth adore; So may we with willing feet Ever seek Thy mercy seat.
3.
As they offered gifts most rare At that manger rude and bare; So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin’s alloy, All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.
4.
Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way; And, when earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last Where they need no star to guide, Where no clouds Thy glory hide.
5.
In the heavenly country bright, Need they no created light; Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown, Thou its Sun which goes not down; There forever may we sing Alleluias to our King!
Music: Konrad Kocher (1786-1872), abridged by W. H. Monk (1823-1889)
Please remain standing
Reading: John 1 vv.1-14 read by Mr Andy Murphy, Head of College
Choir Carol: Torches
Torches, torches, run with torches
All the way to Bethlehem!
Christ is born and now lies sleeping; Come and sing your song to him.
Ah, Roro, Roro, my baby, An, Roro, my love, Roro
Sleep you well my heart’s own darling, While we sing you our Roro.
Sing my friends and make you merry, Joy and mirth and joy again, Lo he lives the King of heaven, Now and ever more. Amen.
Prayers led by Chapel Prefects, Ayomide Awomolo and Hannah Davies
To conclude with: The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Congregational Carol: O Come, all ye faithful
1.
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!
2. 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, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
3.
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
Words and Melody: Rev’d John F Wade (1711-1786) Arrangement and Descant: David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Blessing
Congregational Carol: Hark! The herald angels sing
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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 new-born King.
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Descant: David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Recessional Organ Voluntary: Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ - Andrew Carter
Please remain standing until the choir has recessed
