Mobile Leaflet – Christmas Pageant 2018

The Children’s Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist

24 December 2018

At the sound of the bell, all are invited to quiet their hearts and minds to receive the Christ-Child anew, as the Cathedral Choristers sing the Prelude.

Choral Prelude music

Organ Voluntary

A Welcome from the Dean

THE WORD OF GOD

All stand to sing

The Processional: Hymn 83

6 Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; Refrain

The Opening Acclamation

Celebrant

Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

All

And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

The Celebrant continues

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Salutation and Collect of the Day: The Nativity of Our Lord

Celebrant

The Lord be with you.

All

And also with you.

Celebrant

Let us pray. O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

THE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

The Word of God in story, drama, and music is presented by the children of the Cathedral using excerpts from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

The First Reading: Matthew 1:18

The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place this way:

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored One! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Luke 1:26-38

Read by Grace Richardson The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

The Second Reading: Matthew 1:18-24

Now, Mary had been engaged to Joseph. Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just as he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, a son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary for his wife.

Allegro Choir and Choristers sing the

Carol music: Gabriel’s Message

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!

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!

The Third Reading: Luke 2:1-5

In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria. All went to their towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

All sing

Hymn 79, stanzas 1 and 5

The Fourth Reading: Luke 2:6-7

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

All sing

Hymn 115 stanza 1

What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angles greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

The Fifth Reading: Luke 2:8-12

In that region there were Shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; For see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Messiah, Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Allegro Choir and Choristers sing the

Carol music: God rest you merry

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day, to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.

All sing the Refrain

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!

2. 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.

All sing the Refrain

3. “Fear not, then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright, to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s power and might.”

All sing the Refrain

All sing

4. 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 doth bring redeeming grace.

All sing the Refrain

The Sixth Reading: Luke 2:13-14

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

All sing

Hymn 87, stanza 1

The Seventh Reading: Luke 2:15-18, 20

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told to them.

Allegro Choir, Choristers and cast sing the

Spiritual

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!

1. While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (Refrain)

2. The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth. (Refrain)

3. Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessèd Christmas morn. (Refrain)

The Eighth Reading: Matthew 2:1-2

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”‐

All sing

Hymn 128, stanza 1

The Ninth Reading: Matthew 2:3-5

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

The Tenth Reading: Matthew 2:6-9

Then Herod called for the Wise Men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they heard the king, they set out and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.

Allegro Choir and Choristers sing the

Carol

On this day earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King, born on earth to save us; him the Father gave us. Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! [Therefore, glory to God in the highest!]

God’s bright star, o’er his head, Wise Men three to him led; kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him. Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

The Eleventh Reading: Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

All sing

Hymn 112, stanza 4

The Twelfth Reading: Matthew 2:12

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the wise men left for their own country by another road.

And Mary treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Reader

The Word of the Lord.

All

Thanks be to God.

The Blessing of the Children

Hymn 102

The Allegro Choir and Choristers sing stanza 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.

All sing

All sing

Hymn 107

The Prayers of the People

The Celebrant says

With confidence and joy, let us pray to the God who delights and rejoices in the children of earth.

Intercessor

For the church throughout the world, shining as a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, that it may herald for all people the dawn of God’s saving love:

Celebrant

Lord in your mercy,

All

Hear our prayer.

Intercessor

For peoples of every race and nation, that the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace may encourage a new birth of righteousness and justice:

Celebrant

Lord in your mercy,

All

Hear our prayer.

Intercessor

For those who are in need of our prayers: for the homeless, the unemployed and the hungry; for those serving their country and for their families;

Celebrant

Lord in your mercy,

All

Hear our prayer.

Intercessor

For family and friends near and far, for those hospitalized and homebound, that the good news of Christmas may bring an end of darkness and fear, the dawn of light and joy.

Celebrant

Lord in your mercy,

All

Hear our prayer.

Intercessor

For those who have died in Christ that they may glorify and praise God for all eternity.

Celebrant

Lord in your mercy,

All

Hear our prayer.

Intercessor

For all other needs we now pray in silence.

The Celebrant concludes saying

Lord Jesus Christ, who did humble yourself to share our birth and our death: Bring us with the shepherds and wise men to kneel before your lowly cradle, that we come to sing with the angels your glorious praises in heaven; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, world without end. Amen.

The Peace

All stand. The Celebrant says

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All

And also with you.

All greet one another in the name of the Lord.

The Parish Notices

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Offertory

Pageant props are removed as the Choir sings the

Offertory Anthem

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!

All stand to sing

The Presentation: Hymn 96

All remain standing.

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer B, BCP, p. 367

The Celebrant proceeds

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Because you gave Jesus Christ, your only Son, to be born for us; who, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, was made perfect Man of the flesh of the Virgin Mary his mother; so that we might be delivered from the bondage of sin, and receive power to become your children.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

All sing.

The Sanctus and Benedictus: S 128

The Celebrant continues

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore, according to his command, O Father,

All

We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;

The Celebrant continues

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Blessed Mary, Joseph and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

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.

The Breaking of the Bread: Hymn 324, stanza 2

The Communion

All are welcome to receive the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist.

All sing

Hymn 111

Then the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

All

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Christmas Blessing

Celebrant

May Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

All sing

The Processional: Hymn 100

The Dismissal

Deacon

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

All

Thanks be to God.

Voluntary