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Home , Adam lay ybounden, Alan Gray, Angelus ad virginem, Philip Ledger

A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 3, 2017 5:OO PM

INTRODUCTION

“God is love, and those who abide in love decision with consequences bequeathed to every abide in God, and God abides in them. We love generation since. because God first loved us. . . The commandment God voices displeasure at ’s act, and in we have from God is this: those who love God Leviticus gives Moses the great commandment: to must love their brothers and sisters also.” love neighbor as oneself. These words, from the First Letter of Isaiah sees that the nation of Israel will be John, state a central tenet of our faith, and sum able to realize God’s redemption—to break the up in a few words much of the message of the grip of sin, violence, and murder—only through . The story of the Bible is the story of the great suffering endured by an innocent servant (to Advent of Christ, the gradual unfolding of our many readers the nation of Israel itself). This understanding of God’s message of love and servant will become the receptacle for all redemption. The readings tonight were chosen to violence, an atoning human scapegoat. illuminate this process. Isaiah envisions redemption for Israel The first law given by God was given to through suffering that is God’s will (Isa. 53:10). and , which they transgressed when (With the coming of the Christ, it becomes clear they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge. This that redemption is for all humankind, and that the disobedience condemned them to lives of toil, servant ——suffers not because of God’s will pain, and sorrow, and set the stage for all that was for suffering, but because a world wedded to to come. violence will have it no other way). Finally, the coming of the Christ is A mere generation later, Cain murders his announced to Mary, who reconciles herself to the brother in a time when there were no angel’s message and to the stupendous role she recorded rules against murder, when the Bible’s agrees to undertake. matrix of morality and conscience was still And here ends the first part of the story. unrevealed, ‘a formless void.’ It is in this void Our Christmas lessons and carols service will pick that humankind—Cain—first chooses violence, a up the thread on December 17. Please join us.

Please help create a prayerful and meditative atmosphere in the church before the service by refraining from conversation. Directions to stand should be understood as a request of only those able to do so comfortably. ORDER OF SERVICE

ORGAN VOLUNTARY Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Please rise when the clergy and enter the church.

MATIN RESPONSORY Sung by the choir. Adapted from Palestrina (1525-1594) by (1919-2015) I look from afar. And lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: “Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel? “High and low, rich and poor, one with another?” Go ye out to meet him and say: “Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, “Tell us, art thou he that should come?” “Stir up thy strength, O Lord and come, to reign over thy people Israel.” Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

HYMN “Come thou, Redeemer of the earth” Stanzas 1-4 sung by the choir, in procession.

1 Come thou, redeemer of the earth, 2 Begotten of no human will, And manifest thy virgin birth: But of the Spirit, thou art still Let ev’ry age adoring fall, The Word of God in flesh arrayed, Such birth befits the God of all. The promised one to all displayed.

3 From God the Father he proceeds, 4 Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, To God the Father back he speeds; And darkness breathe a newer light, Defeating both the cross and grave, Where endless faith shall shine serene, At God’s right hand he lives to save. And twilight never intervene.

6 - Unison

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THE BIDDING PRAYER Said by the Officiant

Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas let us open our hearts and minds that we might perceive its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, the tale of God’s loving purposes from the first days of our disobedience through the of our great Redeemer’s coming, in the words of prophets and evangelists, apostles and poets. Let us rejoice in our carols and , that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will bring all people and all things into the glory of God’s eternal kingdom. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor receive ministry and hope.

But first, let us pray for the world which God so loves; for those who have not heard the Good News of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ himself taught us All, together

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 people may be seated.

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MOTET Sung by the Choir (c. 1540-1623)

Rorate caeli desuper, Drop down ye heavens from above et nubes pluant justum and let the skies pour down righteousness. Aperiatur terra Break, O earth, a Savior yield , et germinet salvatorem. the fairest Flower of the field. Benedixisti terram tuam, Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land, avertisti captivitatem Jacob. thou hast turned again the captivity of Jacob. Gloria Patri et Filio, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, et Spiritui Sancto : and to the Holy Ghost : Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen. — Isaiah 45:8, Psalm 85:1,

THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 Reader: Dylan C., A Gentleman of the Choir God tells sinful that they have lost the life of Paradise.

CAROL (1897-1961)

Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond, Four thousand winter thought he not too long, And all was for an , an apple that he took, As clerkès finden, written in their book. Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, Ne had never our Lady abeen heavené Queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was, Therefore we moun singen, Deo gracias. —Sloane MS (modernized), 15th c. English

HYMN Sung by all, standing

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The people may be seated.

THE SECOND LESSON Genesis 4:1-16 Reader: Bailey Curran, Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator After Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden, Cain murders his brother

MOTET Edward Cuthbert Bairstow (1874-1946)

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and stand in fear and trembling, for the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God cometh forth to be our oblation, and to be given for food to the faithful. Before him come the of angels, with every principality and pow’r: the cherubim with many eyes and wingèd seraphim, who veil their faces as they shout exaltingly the hymn: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. —Liturgy of St. James

THE THIRD LESSON Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-18 Reader: John Abdenour, Director of Music God gives the people the Great Commandment

ANTHEM Sung by the Choir Anthony Piccolo (b. 1953)

Love is the key of life and death, of hidden, heavenly mystery; of all Christ is, of all he saith, Love is the key.

As three times to his saint he saith, He said to me, he saith to thee, Breathing his grace-conferring breath: “Love’st thou me?”

Ah, Lord, I have such feeble faith, Such feeble hope to comfort me; But love it is strong as death, And I love thee. —Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894) 6

THE FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 50:4-11 Reader: John Ogletree, Senior Warden The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s atoning Servant.

HYMN 59 “Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding” Sung by all, standing Merton, arr. Alan Gray

The people may be seated.

ANTHEM John Abdenour (b. 1962)

People look East, the time is near of the crowning of the year, make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table. People look East and sing today: Love the Guest is on the way. Furrows be glad, though earth be bare, one more seed is planted there. Give of your strength, the seed to nourish, that in time the flower may flourish. People look East, and sing today: Love the Rose is on the way. Birds, though ye long have ceased to build, guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen, he, for fledgling time has chosen. People look East and sing today: Love the Bird is on the way. Stars keep the watch, when night is dim, one more light the bowl shall brim. Shining beyond the frosty weather, bright as the sun and moon together. People look East and sing today: Love the Star is on the way. Angels announce to man and beast him that cometh from the East. Set every peak and valley humming with the word: The Lord is coming. People look East and sing today: Love the Lord is on the way. —Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)

THE FIFTH LESSON Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 The Rev’d Edrice Viechweg, Deacon The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the sufferings of the Lord’s Servant. HYMN Sung by the Choir Gottes Sohn ist kommen Once he came in blessing, Still he comes within us, all our ills redressing; still his voice would win us came in likeness lowly, from the sins that hurt us; Son of God most holy; would to Truth convert us bore the cross to save us, not in torment hold us, hope and freedom gave us. but in love enfold us.

Thus, if thou can’st name him, not ashamed to claim him, but wilt trust him boldly nor dost love him coldly, he will then receive thee, heal thee, and forgive thee. —Jan Roh (1485-1547) , tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1828) , alt.

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MOTET Sung by the Choir Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

Vinea mea electa, ego te plantavi O my chosen vineyard, it is I that have planted thee. quomodo conversa es in amaritudinem, How art thou become so bitter, ut me crucifigures et Barrabbam dimitteres. that thou shoudst crucify me and dismiss Barabbas? Sepivi te, et lapides elegi ex te, I have hedged thee in, and picked the stones out of thee, et ædificave turrim. and have built a tower. —Responsory for Good Friday, Roman Missal and Breviary

THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 1:26-38 Reader: The Rev’d Curtis Farr, Rector of St. Paul’s The angel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

ANTHEM Sung by the Choir John Abdenour (b. 1962)

Wakened from a peaceful sleep “Why should I believe this tale, Young Mary viewed the stranger: I surely must be dreaming; “Who are you? Your purpose here? Sir, you now must leave this place Why stand you in my chamber?” or soon I should be screaming.” “Mary,” the stranger said in peace, “Mary, O child of earthly mind, “Mary, all heaven sings your praise; Who could imagine God’s design? I bring news that God has chosen you to bear a Son, Know this: the angels guard your person who shall redeem the earth. no man shall you defame; [without rest, Fear not, for I am but God’s lowly herald of this birth.” The child you bear shall be of God, Emmanuel his Name.”

“Sir, your words have calmed my heart, but leave me in perplexion: I, a maid who’s yet to wed seem odd for this selection.” “Mary, O child of earthly mind, Who could imagine God’s design? Know this: God means to visit earth in human form, and join the human race; And you shall be Theotokos ,† †Gr.: God-Bearer, Mother of God all purity and grace.”

“As heaven is high, and earth is low, Let us lift our song to her, And God’s ways are not man’s; the Mother of all renown, I God’s servant true shall be, she who birthed the Babe that turned The vessel of this plan.” the whole world upside down. “Mary, O child of noble mind, Hail Mary, full of heavenly grace; (Ave Maria) You shall enable God’s design. We see your love in Jesus’ face. (Ave Maria) Know this: in joyous praise of your courageous soul Praise to the living God: Creator, Paraclete, the angels sing above; Redeemer, Three in One; It pleases God that you shall give whose love shall reign for ever more, this Babe your heart of love.” while endless ages run.

Words: John Abdenour, based upon ad Virginem (13 th cent.)

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VESPER RESPONSORY Sung by the choir, the congregation standing. John Abdenour

Judah and Jerusalem, fear not nor be dismayed. “Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you.” Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of our God. “Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you.” Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. “Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you.”

THE COLLECT FOR

Priest We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God: People In the midst of thy temple.

The Priest says the Collect.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The Priest blesses the people.

GO FORTH into the world in peace, be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

1 & 4 Unison

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ORGAN VOLUNTARY Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 661 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 10

NOTICES

A freewill offering received at this service will support the ongoing mission and ministry of Saint Paul’s Church.

ABOUT THE MUSIC backlash that followed, Gradualia was quickly withdrawn from publication (only one copy of this Palestrina’s Matin Responsory is based on a edition remains in existence today). A second version of plainsong Tone 3. The hymn “ Come edition was published a few years later. Although thou, Redeemer of the earth ” is from The English Byrd himself suffered no known consequences, a Hymnal; and the descant is by John Abdenour. gentleman possessing a copy of Gradualia was arrested and imprisoned in London in the days Philip Ledger was Director of the Choir of King’s following the Gunpower Plot. College, , from 1974 to 1982, and while at desuper is a setting of the for the Votive King’s he composed numerous descants for hymns. Mass of the Virgin Mary for Advent. Two of the best of these are “ O come, O come Emmanuel ,” and “ Lo, he comes with clouds The quire (chancel) in Minster is an immense descending .” Philip Ledger died November 18, space, with seating for several hundred. The choir 2012. stalls, arranged in the usual decani/ formation, are widely separated: the trebles’ desks are Ledger’s predecessor Boris Ord was Director of almost as far apart as the walls of our chancel. Music from 1927 to 1957. Unlike Ledger, Ord’s body , organist of from of published works stands at exactly one: his 1913 until his death in 1946, was intimately familiar elegantly restrained setting of Adam lay ybounden, with the acoustics of this space, and his which has become a staple of carol services compositions reflect it. Composed in 1925, Let all worldwide for many years. The medieval text thanks mortal flesh keep silence is a dramatic and deeply God for the incident of Adam, Eve, the apple and atmospheric setting of words from the Liturgy of St. the serpent, for although the eating of the apple James meditating on the coming of the Christ in opened humankind to sin and its horrible blessing. The intimate dimensions and acoustics of consequences, it also led ultimately to the incarnation our parish church are not the perfect setting for this of Jesus through ‘Our Lady,’ Mary: The fall of music but its power comes through nonetheless. mankind into sin, in and of itself a catastrophe, is redeemed by God and becomes the perfect vehicle When the New York-based composer Anthony of God’s grace through the coming of Jesus. Piccolo was commissioned to create a meditation on the meaning of love, he chose a poem by Christina Scholars frequently note the propensity of Rossetti, The Key. The poem is grounded in the story to account for the acoustical from the Gospel of John in which Jesus asks Peter properties of the space in which a commissioning three times (an echo of Peter’s earlier tripartite choir sang. It is worth mentioning, then, that the betrayal of Jesus) “Do you love me?” Rossetti turns and in William Byrd’s Gradualia were Jesus’ interrogatory on herself, and on us. Piccolo’s composed not for performance in the soaring spaces setting of the poem perfectly frames the poet’s of ’s cathedrals and collegiate chapels but for words. someone’s living room. In the early 1600’s the practice of Catholic faith in England was perilous John Abdenour’s People, look east is a hymn business. Even Catholic families of the English anthem in which each verse of Eleanor Farjeon’s nobility had to practice their faith very privately, not evocative poem is treated on its own terms. The first even utilizing the family chapel for worship, but verse, sung by the trebles, evokes the excitement of most likely sitting around the kitchen table. Thus young people anticipating ‘company coming’; the when William Byrd – the favored composer of second verse is a jocular and earthy fauxbourdon Elizabeth I, no less – decided to compose a complete sung by the lower voices of the choir. The third set of liturgical music for Catholic worship according verse delicately suggests the flight and labor of birds to the new missal of 1570, it was an act of not only at work on their nests. The fourth verse evokes the devotion but courage. Gradualia was published in icy stillness of space, while the last verse is a sturdy 1605, shortly before the anti-Protestant Gunpowder shout of praise by all creation. Honoring the French Plot erupted in England. In the anti-Catholic origins of the ‘People look east’ melody, the organ 11

The somber music of Anthony Piccolo’s anthem accompaniment is inspired by the organ music of The Key reminds us that real love is not for the faint Louis Vierne. hearted. The love Jesus taught the world through his ministry and passion is as real as it gets, and who was One of God’s most precious—and costliest—gifts it who most likely taught Jesus how to love? His to us is the gift of free will, our ability to make mother Mary. This vital role of Mary, implicit in the choices, including terrifically bad choices. Holy stories of the Annunciation and the Nativity, tends to Scripture is chock full of references to the sorrow, fall outside the spotlight of church doctrine, and The pain, and (in the Hebrew scriptures) rage God feels Angel and Mary attempts to correct this oversight, at many of the decisions his people make. The depicting Mary not as passively obedient but words of the motet Vinea mea electa are a meditation possessed of the ‘inquiring and discerning heart’ for on the pain Jesus suffered, in love, as the community which we pray in the Baptism rite. The vehicle is a he was sent to save chose Barabbas over himself at 14 th century song, Angelus ad Virginem, fairly turned the crucial moment. Poulenc’s brilliant setting is a upside down and repurposed. The work was picture of an anguished heart. composed in 2016.

PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S SERVICE

The Reverend Curtis A. Farr, Rector The Reverend Edrice Viechweg, Deacon

Music John R. Abdenour, Director of Music

Jonathan Vaughn (Associate Director of Music, Christ Church Greenwich), Organist

Acolytes Neal M., Matthew B., William B.

Ushers Trish Garton, Neal Minto

T H E S T . P A U L ’ S C H O I R

Cantoris Choir - Treble Madison Cl., Claire D., Julia H., Evan M., Josephine M., Olivia S.*, [Matthew B., Conor G., Corinne A.]

Alto – Cantoris: Robin Clark-Smith, Becket Greten-Harrison (Section Leader) , Laura Mozier, Eva Uhrich

Tenor – Cantoris: Christopher McCormack (Section Leader), Colin S., Noah S.

Bass – Cantoris: Eric Andren, Gregory Sullivan (Section Leader)

Decani Choir - Treble Olivia B., Fiona C., Madison Ch., Madeline C., Caitlyn G., Maya K., Emma L.**, Miranda S. [William B., Lucy J., Natalie F.]

Alto – Decani: Tracey Cranston, Constance Gomes, Benjamin McCormack (Section Leader) , Sarah McCormack

Tenor – Decani: Jonathan Taylor (Section Leader)

Bass – Decani: Dylan C., Ryan C., Scott Cranston (Section Leader), Benjamin P., Philip Sidebottom

*Head Chorister of the Choir **Associate Head Chorister of the Choir

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A DVENT AND C HRISTMAS W ORSHIP A T S AINT P A U L ’ S

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 17 – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM Yule Café 4:00 PM A Festival of Lessons and Carols 5:00 PM Sung by the St. Paul’s Choir, directed by John Abdenour

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 24 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist at 9:30 AM

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 24 – FAMILY CRÈCHE SERVICE (H OLY EUCHARIST ) AT 3:00 PM FESTIVAL HOLY EUCHARIST AT 5:30 PM CANDLELIGHT HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 PM

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 25 – CHRISTMAS DAY HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 AM

ST. PAUL ’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 661 OLD POST ROAD FAIRFIELD , CONNECTICUT 06824 203-259-3013 web site: www.stpaulsfairfield.org general e-mail: [email protected]

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT The Right Reverend Ian Theodore Douglas, Bishop of Connecticut The Right Reverend Laura Jean Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan

CLERGY The Reverend Curtis Farr, Rector The Reverend Edrice Viechweg, Deacon

OFFICERS OF THE VESTRY John Ogletree, Senior Warden Linda Shaffer, Junior Warden Peter Osborne, Treasurer Janet O’Donnell, Secretary of the Vestry

STAFF John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Mary Ellen Clifton, Parish Administrator Cathy Comstock, Director of Finance & Communications Bailey Curran, Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator