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Mobile Leaflet - Christmas Lessons & Carols
A Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
23 December 2018
Voluntary
At the sound of the bell, all stand.
The Processional: Hymn 102
Stanzas 1 and 2 are sung by the choir alone.
1. 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. 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, the scorned, the lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Stanzas 3-6, sung by all.
3. We, like Mary, rest confounded, that a stable should display heaven's Word, the world's creator, cradled there on Christmas Day, yet this child, our Lord and brother, brought us love for one another.
4. For he is our lifelong pattern; daily, when on earth he grew; he was tempted, scorned, rejected, tears and smiles like us he knew. Thus he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness.
5. And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child who seemed so helpless 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 round, we shall see him; but in heaven, where his saints his throne surround: Christ, revealed to faithful eye, set a God's right hand on high.
All remain standing to pray.
Bidding Prayer
Beloved in Christ, in this Christmastide, let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, and 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 this holy Child; and let us make this place glad with our carols 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 the 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 distanced themselves from 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.
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above, may the King of Angels bring us all.
Amen.
First Lesson: Genesis 3:1-15
Carol
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 clerkes finden Written in their book.
Ne had the apple taken been, The apple taken been, Ne had never our lady A-been heavnè queen.
Blessed be the time That apple taken was. Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! [Thanks be to God!]
Second Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Carol
In dulci jubilo [In sweet rejoicing] Let us our homage shew; Our heart’s joy reclineth In praesepio [in the manger] And like a bright star shineth, Matris in gremio [in the mother’s lap]. Alpha es et O [He is Alpha and Omega].
O Jesu parvule! [O tiny Jesus!] I yearn for thee alway! Hear me, I beseech thee, O Puer optime! [O best of boys!] My prayer let it reach thee, O Princeps gloriae! [O Prince of Glory!] Trahe me post te! [Draw me after thee!]
O Patris caritas [O love of the Father], O Nati lenitas! [O gentleness of the Son!] Deeply were we stained Per nostra crimina [through our sins]; But thou hast for us gained Coelorum gaudia [the joy of heaven]. O that we were there!
Ubi sunt gaudia [Where are joys], If that they be not there? There are angels singing Nova cantica [new songs], There the bells are ringing In Regis curia [in the King’s court]: O that we were there!
All stand to sing.
Hymn
Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal: See on earth his life begun, Of lords the Lord eternal, of lords the Lord eternal.
Christ, from heav'n, descending low, Comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know, Becradled in the manger, becradled in the manger.
Men only
This did Herod sore affray, And grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, And slew the little childer, and slew the little childer.
Women only
Of his love and mercy mild, This the Christmas story; And O that Mary's gentle Child Might lead us up to glory, might lead us up to glory!
All
O and A and A and O, Cum cantibus in choro, Let our mercy organ go, Benedicamus Domino, benedicamus Domino.
Third Lesson: Isaiah 35:1-6
Carol
O sweet was the song the Virgin sang When she to Bethl’em Judah came, And was delivered of a son, And Jesus was his name. Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby.
“O sweet babe,” sang she, “my son.” And so a Savior is born, Who was given from on high To visit us that were forlorn. Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby.
Fourth Lesson: Mark 1:2-8
Carol
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky, How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die For poor ornery people like you and like I. I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus all in a cow’s stall, Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all. But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall, And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing, A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing, Or all of God’s creatures in heaven for to sing, He surely could have it, for he was the King.
All stand to sing.
Hymn 67
Fifth Lesson: Luke 1:26-38
Carol
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 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 folk throughout the world will ever say “Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!
Sixth Lesson: Matthew 1:18-23
Carol
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 for ever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.
Carol
Sing lullaby, sing lullaby, While snow doth gently fall, Sing lullaby to Jesus born In an oxen stall.
Sing lullaby to Jesus born Now in Bethlehem, The naked blackthorn's growing To weave his diadem.
Sing lullaby, sing lullaby, While thickly snow doth fall, Sing lullaby to Jesus, The Saviour of all.
Seventh Lesson: Luke 2:8-16
Hymn 87
Carol
Ave Maria. [Hail Mary.]
What child is this, who laid to rest, On May’s lap is sleeping, Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain: This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing; Haste, haste to bring him laud, The babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. (Refrain)
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone him. (Refrain)
Eighth Lesson: Matthew 2:1-11
Carol
What gifts to please a little boy Who has the whole world as his toy? Here on the clean straw of his throne I lay the only things I own: A battered will, a raveled mind, A broken dream I cannot find.
If I had come to him before And laid them on the stable floor, Not scratched and finger marked then, How new and bright they would have been. Yet strange things catch a baby’s eyes. There in his hand my frayed heart lies.
Ninth Lesson: John 1:1-14
Hymn 82
1-2 choir alone, 3–4 sung by all
The Greeting
The Anthem at the Offering
Hush my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessing without number Gently falling on thy head.
See the kindly shepherds round Him, Telling wonders from the sky! When they sought Him, there they found Him, With His Virgin mother by.
See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled! When He wept, the mother’s blessing Soothed and hush’d the holy child.
May’st thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell forever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise!
The Blessing
May Almighty God, who sent his Son to take our nature upon him, bless you in this holy season, scatter the darkness of sin, and brighten your heart with the light of his holiness. Amen.
May God, who sent his angels to proclaim the glad news of the Savior’s birth, fill you with joy, and make you heralds of the Gospel. Amen.
May God, who in the Word made flesh joined heaven to earth and earth to heaven, give you his peace and favor. 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.
Hymn 105
