The Church of the Epiphany

The Tuesday Concert Series Today’s goodwill offering supports the concert series, Epiphany’s weekly free musical offering within the downtown community of Washington DC

The Choir of the Church of the Epiphany Jeremy Filsell – Director Christopher Betts – Organ Please turn off all cellphones, pagers and other electronic devices before the concert begins

Music and Readings for

From the narthex the choir sings:

Creator of the stars of night Conditor alme siderum; plainsong mode 4 Creator of the stars of night, thy people’s everlasting light, O Christ, Redeemer, of us all, we pray you hear us when we call. In sorrow, that an ancient curse should doom to die a universe, you came O Savior, to set free your own in glorious liberty. Come in your holy might we pray, redeem us for eternal day, defend us while we dwell below from all assaults of our dread foe. To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One, praise, honor, might, and glory be from age to age eternally.

The audience stands and joins the choir in singing the carol

Of the Father’s love begotten Divinum mysterium trad. arr. David Willcocks (b. 1919)

The Bidding Prayer Beloved, in this season of , let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.

Let us read and mark in words and in music, the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought by his holy Child; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs 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 grieved 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. May the Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen.

Please be seated as the choir sings: People Look east Paul Trepte (b. 1954)

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 is bare, one more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, that in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.

Birds, though you long have ceased to build, Guard the nest that must be filled. Even the hour when wings are frozen God for fledging 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 sun and moon together. People, look east and sing today: Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth. 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.

A Poem is read: Rowan Williams (b. 1950)

He will come like last leaf’s fall. He will come like dark. One night when the November wind One evening when the bursting red has flayed the trees to bone, and earth December sun draws up the sheet wakes choking on the mould, and penny-masks its eye to yield the soft shroud’s folding. the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come like frost. He will come, will come, One morning when the shrinking earth will come like crying in the night, opens on mist, to find itself like blood, like breaking, arrested in the net as the earth writhes to toss him free. of alien, sword-set beauty. He will come like child.

The choir sings

Two pieces from ‘On Christmas Night’ Bob Chilcott (b. 1955) Adam lay ybounden 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 clerkës finden written in their book. Nor had one apple taken been, the apple taken been, Then had never Our Lady a-been heaven's queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was. Therefore we may singen Deo gratias!

A Spotless Rose A spotless Rose is blowing sprung from a tender root, of ancient seers’ foreshowing, of Jesse promised fruit; Its fairest bud unfolds to light amid the cold, cold winter and in the dark midnight. The Rose which I am singing, whereof Isaiah said, is from its sweet root springing in Mary, purest Maid; For through our God’s great love and might the blessed babe she bare us in a cold, cold winter’s night.

A Poem is read: A Hymn on the Nativity of my Savior Ben Johnson (1572-1637)

I sing the birth was born tonight, The Father's wisdom willed it so, The Author both of life and light; The Son's obedience knew no "No," The angels so did sound it, Both wills were in one stature; And like the ravished shepherds said, And as that wisdom had decreed, Who saw the light, and were afraid, The Word was now made Flesh indeed, Yet searched, and true they found it. And took on Him our nature.

The Son of God, the eternal King, What comfort by Him do we win? That did us all salvation bring, Who made Himself the Prince of sin, And freed the soul from danger; To make us heirs of glory? He whom the whole world could not take, To see this Babe, all innocence, The Word, which heaven and earth did make, A Martyr born in our defense, Was now laid in a manger. Can man forget this story?

The audience stands and joins the choir in singing the carol

God rest you merry gentlemen trad. arr. David Willcocks

Please be seated as the choir sings:

Rejoice and be merry Christopher Robinson (b. 1936) Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth! O praise our Redeemer; all mortals on earth! For this is the birthday of Jesus our King, Who brought us salvation, His praises we'll sing!

A heavenly vision appeared in the sky; vast numbers of angels the shepherds did spy, proclaiming the birthday of Jesus our King, Who brought us salvation, His praises we'll sing!

Likewise a bright star in the sky did appear, which led the wise men from the East to draw near; they found the Messiah, sweet Jesus our King, Who brought us salvation, His praises we'll sing!

And when they were come, they their treasures unfold, and unto him offered Myrrh, incense and gold. So blessed for ever be Jesus our King, Who brought us salvation, His praises we'll sing!

Please be seated as a poem is read: Annunciation Denise Levertov (1923-1997)

We know the scene: the undertake great destinies, than any in all of Time, room, variously furnished, enact them in sullen pride, she did not quail, only almost always a lectern, a uncomprehending. asked a simple, ‘How can book; always the tall lily. this be?’ More often those moments and gravely, courteously, Arrived on solemn when roads of light and took to heart the angel’s grandeur of great wings, storm open from darkness reply, perceiving instantly the angelic ambassador, in a man or woman, the astounding ministry she standing or hovering, are turned away from was offered: whom she acknowledges, a in dread, in a wave of guest. weakness, in despair to bear in her womb and with relief. Infinite weight and But we are told of meek Ordinary lives continue. lightness; to carry obedience. No one God does not smite them. in hidden, finite mentions courage. But the gates close, the inwardness, The engendering Spirit pathway vanishes. nine months of Eternity; to did not enter her without - contain in slender vase of consent. God waited. She had been a child who being, the sum of power – played, ate, slept in narrow flesh, She was free like any other child – but the sum of light. to accept or to refuse, unlike others, choice integral to wept only for pity, laughed Then bring to birth, humanness. in joy not triumph. push out into air, a Man- - Compassion and child needing, like any Aren’t there annunciations intelligence other, milk and love – of one sort or another fused in her, indivisible. in most lives? Called to a destiny more but who was God. Some unwillingly momentous

The choir sings:

The Christ Child John Bradley (1930-2009) The Christ-child lay on Mary’s lap, His hair was like a light. (O weary, weary were the world, but here is all aright). The Christ-child lay on Mary’s breast, His hair was like a star. (O stern and cunning are the kings, but here the true hearts are). The Christ-child lay on Mary’s heart, His hair was like a fire. (O weary, weary is the world, but here the world’s desire). The Christ-child stood at Mary’s knee, His hair was like a crown. And all the flowers looked up at him, and all the stars looked down.

Then is played on the organ:

Chorale prelude on In dulci jubilo BWV 608 J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

A poem is read: The House of Christmas G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936)

There fared a mother driven forth, Out of an inn to roam; In the place where she was homeless, All men are at home. The crazy stable close at hand, With shaking timber and shifting sand, Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand, Than the square stones of Rome.

For men are homesick in their homes, And strangers under the sun, And they lay on their heads in a foreign land, Whenever the day is done. Here we have battle and blazing eyes, And chance and honour and high surprise, But our homes are under miraculous skies, Where the yule tale was begun.

A Child in a foul stable, where the beasts feed and foam; Only where He was homeless, Are you and I at home; We have hands that fashion and heads that know, But our hearts we lost - how long ago! In a place no chart nor ship can show, under the sky's dome.

This world is wild as an old wives' tale, and strange the plain things are, The earth is enough and the air is enough For our wonder and our war; But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings, And our peace is put in impossible things, Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings, Round an incredible star.

To an open house in the evening, Home shall men come, to an older place than Eden, And a taller town than Rome. To the end of the way of the wandering star, To the things that cannot be and that are, To the place where God was homeless, And all men are at home.

The choir sings:

Welcome all wonders Jay Wilcox (b. 1955)

Welcome, all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span; Summer in winter; day in night; Heaven in earth, and God in man. Great little one, whose all-embracing birth lifts earth to heaven, stoops heav’n to earth. To thee, meek Majesty! soft King of simple graces and sweet loves, Each of us his lamb will bring, each his pair of silver doves; Till burnt at last in fire of thy fair eyes, ourselves become our own best sacrifice.

Novo profusi gaudio Matthew Martin (b. 1976)

Novo profusi gaudio, Benedicamus Domino. Omnes gentes, plaudite, Car notre Saviour est né; Over all blessed he be, Rex Alpha et O. A solis ortus cardine, Comme le monde est long et lé, All mankind maketh glee, Angeli canunt Deo. Enixa est puerpera, Que Saint Esprit en engrossa; Blessed be time that she said ya, Gabriele nuncio. Ex illibata virgine Est nascu le Roi de Majesté; The hirds him see in low degree, Jacentem in presepio. Gloria tibi, Domine, Fontaine de grâce et de pitié; Of all thy goodness we thank thee; Benedicamus Domino. A poem is read: A politically correct Christmas Anon. Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck... Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her. How to live in a world that’s politically correct? Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot, His workers no longer would answer to “Elves”, Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise. “Vertically Challenged” they were calling themselves. Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys. And labor conditions at the North Pole, Nothing that claimed to be gender specific, were alleged by the union, to stifle the soul. Nothing that’s warlike or non-pacifistic.

Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety, No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth. released to the wilds, by the Humane Society. Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth. And equal employment had made it quite clear, And fairy tales...while not yet forbidden, that Santa had better not use just reindeer. were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden, So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, for they raised the hackles of those psychological, were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid! who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh, No baseball, no football...someone might get hurt, because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA, besides - playing sports exposed kids to dirt. And millions of people were calling the Cops, Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe. when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops. and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away. Second-hand smoke from his pipe, had his workers quite frightened, So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed, and his fur trimmed red suit was called “unenlightened”. he just couldn’t figure out what to do next? He tried to be merry he tried to be gay, To show you the strangeness of today’s ebbs and flows, but you must have to admit he was having a very bad day. Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose. His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground, He went to Geraldo, in front of the Nation, nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found. demanding millions in over-due workers compensation. Something special was needed, a gift that he might, So...half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife give to us all, without angering the left or the right. who suddenly said she’d had enough of this life, A gift that would satisfy - with no indecision, joined a self help group, packed and left in a whiz, each group of people in every religion. demanding from now on that her title was Ms. Every race, every hue, everyone, everywhere...even you! And as for gifts...why, he’d never had the notion So here is that gift, it’s price beyond worth... that making a choice could cause such commotion. “May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on Earth” Nothing of leather, nothing of fur...

The audience stands and joins the choir in singing the carol

O come, all ye faithful Adeste Fideles trad. arr. David Willcocks

The staff & congregation of The Church of the Epiphany extend to you & those you love their best wishes for a Merry Christmas & a Blessed New Year.

THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY 1317 G Street NW at Metro Center, 13th Street exit tel: 202.347.2635 Washington, DC 20005 fax: 202.347.7621 www.epiphanydc.org e-mail: [email protected]

Services at Christmastide

Thursday 24 December 7:30pm Christmas Music & Carols with the Epiphany Choir 8:00pm Festival Christmas Choral Eucharist (Mozart Spätzen-Messe with orchestra)

Sunday 27 December The Feast of the Holy Name 8:00am Holy Eucharist with Welcome Table Choir 11:00am Holy Eucharist with Carols (cantor-led)

Sunday 3 January The Second Sunday after Christmas 8:00am Holy Eucharist with Welcome Table Choir 11:00am Holy Eucharist with the Epiphany Choir

Wednesday 6 January The Feast of the Epiphany 12:10pm Eucharist (said) 6:00pm Choral Evensong (Weelkes First Service - Clemens non Papa Magi veniunt ab oriente)

Sunday 10 January The First Sunday after Epiphany 8:00am Holy Eucharist with Welcome Table Choir 11:00am Holy Eucharist with the Epiphany Choir (free parking available on Sundays in the PMI parking garage next door, with validation)

Thank you for joining us for today’s concert. Your free-will offering today serves to support the 52-weeks a year Tuesday Concert Series, an important ministry of the Church of the Epiphany for the people of downtown and greater Washington. Please take a brochure advertising the forthcoming concerts from the narthex (see overleaf). We suggest a donation of between $15 and $25 on this special Christmas occasion, but we are grateful for whatever you can give. Your donations help to keep this concert series secure and allow us to continue bringing outstanding national and international performers to Epiphany week by week. You may also like to consider becoming a Partner of the Tuesday Concert Series at a giving level comfortable for you.

For more information about supporting us or underwriting a concert, please take a Partnership brochure from the back of the church or contact the Director of Music, Jeremy Filsell at [email protected]

To receive a weekly email of the upcoming concert program, please email the Catherine Manhardt (Parish Administrator) at [email protected] and request that your address be added to the list.

Partners of the Tuesday Concerts series whom we wish to thank at this time for their financial support of the Arts ministry of this church

Kirkland & Ellis Law Partnership Hogan Lovells US LLP Legal Solutions Alan M. King Christine Windheuser David Pozorski John Kattler David Post and Nancy Birdsall Erna and Michael Kerst Norman R. Schou & Mary S. Alexander

The Choir of the Church of the Epiphany

Soprano: Rachel Evangeline Barham, Kathrine Ebert, Molly Grace Young, Farley Lord Smith, Rebecca Kellerman Petretta, Sandy Caracciolo Alto: Charles Burg, Christine Browne-Munz, Stephanie Cabell, Nicole Levesque, Judy Lokerson Tenor: Charles Berardesco, Joey Kaz, Nathan Létorneau, Irvin Peterson, Duncan Stevens Bass: Thad Garrett, James Rogers, Steven Slupe, Jeff Thurston

Readers: Rev. Elizabeth Gardner, Revd. Dr. Catriona Lang, Catherine Manhardt, Bob Wallin, Susan Weinbeck, Jim McCarthy

The Choir & Organ of the Church of the Epiphany with Washington Symphonic Brass

CD: $15 Available for purchase after the concert Proceeds support Epiphany’s Tuesday Concert Series