A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS & CAROLS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2014 S T . P A U L ’ S E PISCOPAL C HURCH F AIRFIELD , C ONNECTICUT 2 ELCOME TO THIS SERVICE , which anticipates the great feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The liturgy of Lessons and Carols was first used in the chapel of WKing’s College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve, 1918, with the candle-lit splendor of the chapel, the prayers and scripture readings, the great hymns and the soaring music of the choir and organ standing in eloquent contrast to the darkness of a cold winter night and the tragic shadows of the recently concluded Great War. The intervening years have seen the worldwide broadcast of this service become a much beloved Christmas tradition. As in 1918, we in our own day turn again to these sacred words and songs in a world troubled by war, natural disaster, violence, and economic uncertainty. Tonight’s service is offered in the spirit of that first service at King’s, as a light shining in the darkness; with fervent prayer for peace, goodwill and understanding among all people rising amidst the strains of glorious hymns and carols. Although much of the music at this service is sung by the choir, the congregation plays a central role. Please listen intently, pray and sing with your heart, mind, and voice, as indicated below. Again, welcome ! Of course, a major part of this service involves the joining together of everyone in making a joyful noise to the Lord. Should your child be further inspired to the making of extended joyful noise while others are trying to listen, we do ask that you escort your little one to the gathering area or outside for a brief moment or two until he or she becomes more contemplative. And please do not be shy about doing this – many of the adults surrounding you are parents too, and are very glad that you and your child are here! You are among friends. Nursery care is also available during the service. ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN VOLUNTARIES Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) ¶ The Congregation is requested to be silent during the final organ voluntary. Please rise as the clergy and choir enter the church. 3 HYMN Verses 1 & 2 sung by the choir, in procession. [TIME: 0:00] 1 Once in royal David’s city 2 He came down to earth from heaven MP3 : stood a lowly cattle shed, Who is God and Lord of all, 0:00:00 Where a mother laid her baby and his shelter was a stable, in a manger for his bed: and his cradle was a stall: Mary was that mother mild, with the poor, the mean, and the lowly, Jesus Christ her little child. lived on earth our Savior holy. ¶ Verses 3 & 4 sung by all. Verse 5 – Congregation in unison (descant choir only) 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; Where like stars his children crowned All in white shall wait around. Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895) Music: Irby , melody and harm. Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876); revised by A. H Mann (1850-1929)and others; descant David Willcocks (b. 1919) 87. 87. 77 4 THE BIDDING PRAYER ¶ Said by the Officiant ELOVED IN CHRIST, at this Christmas-tide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go unto Bethlehem and see this thing which Bis come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience through the glorious Redemption brought us by this holy Child. But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and understanding within the Church he came to build, and especially in our sister parish of San Lucas y San Pablo in Bridgeport; in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, and in the town and county of Fairfield. And let us remember, in his name, those that he loves most fervently: the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; 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 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 the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ has taught us: ¶ All, together UR FATHER , who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, O 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 Officiant continues May Almighty God give us grace: May 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. ¶ The Congregation may be seated. 5 CAROL Melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582 , arr. George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934) ING DONG DING , MP3 : Ding-a-dong-a-ding, 0:06:35 DDing dong, ding dong, Ding-a-dong ding! Up! good Christen folk, and listen How the merry church bells ring, and from steeple bid, good people, come adore the newborn King. Tell the story, how from glory God came down at Christastide , bringing gladness, chasing sadness, Showering blessings far and wide. Born of Mother, blest o’er other, ex Maria Virgine, in a stable, (‘tis no fable,) Christus natus hodie. —George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934) THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 Reader: Colin S., A Chorister God tells sinful Adam and Eve that they have lost the light of Paradise. CAROL Boris Ord (1897-1961) DAM LAY YBOUNDEN , bounden in a bond, MP3 : Four thousand winter thought he not too long, 0:09:35 A 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, anonymous 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 THE SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 Reader: Kevin Lennon, A Choir Parent The Prophet Isaiah reveals God’s promise of a Messiah for a faithful people. 6 CAROL William Mathias (1934-1992) OWELL , NOWELL , MP3 : Nowell, nowell, nowell. 0:12:30 N Who is there that singeth so? I am here, Sir Christèmas. Welcome, my lord Sir Christèmas! Welcome to all, both more and less, Come near, come near. [Nowell . ] Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs,* *God keep you, fine sir tidings I you bring: A maid hath borne a child full younge, which causeth you to sing: [Nowell . ] Christ is now born of a pure maid; in an ox-stall he is laid, wherefore sing we at a brayde:* [Nowell . ] *together Buvez bien, buvez bien par toute la compagnie.* *drink well, good health to one and all Make good cheer and be right merry, and sing with us now joyfully: [ Nowell . ] —Ritson’s MS, 15 th cent., alt. ¶ All standing. HYMN Verses 1-4 sung by the choir. 1 Of the Father’s heart begotten 2 By his word was all created, MP3 : Ere the world from chaos rose, He commanded and ‘twas done ; 0:14:30 He is Alpha : from that Fountain Earth and sky and boundless ocean, All that is, that hath been flows ; Universe of three in one, He is Omega, of all things All that sees the moon’s soft radiance, Yet to come the mystic Close, All that breathes beneath the sun, Evermore and evermore. Evermore and evermore. 3 He assumed this mortal body, 4 O how blest that wondrous birthday, Frail and feeble, doomed to die, When the Maid the curse retrieved, That the race from dust created Brought to birth mankind’s salvation, Might not perish utterly, By the holy Ghost conceived; Which the dreadful Law hath sentenced And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, In the depths of hell to lie, In her loving arms received, Evermore and evermore. Evermore and evermore. 7 ¶ Verses 5 & 6 sung by all. Words: Prudentius (b. 348), tr. R. F. Davis Music: Melody from Piae Cantiones, Theoderici Petri Nylandensis, 1582, arr. David Willcocks 87. 87. 87. with Refrain ¶ The Congregation may be seated. THE THIRD LESSON Isaiah 11:2-9 Reader: Susan Gardner, Member, The St. Cecilia Choir and the Fairfield County Chorale God’s peace is revealed to Israel. CAROL Es ist ein Ros, melody from Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1599, harm. Michael Praetorius (1571-1621 ); arr. Jan Sandström (b. 1954) et är en ros utsprungen Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming MP3 : from tender stem hath sprung! 0:22:00 av Jesse rot och stam.