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Home , Philip Ledger, Thomas Weelkes

A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR ADVENT

SUNDAY , NOVEMBER 30, 2014 5:OO PM

INTRODUCTION : FROM ADVENT TO CHRISTMAS TO NOW

“God is love, and those who abide in love but “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly abide in God, and God abides in them. We love with God.” because God first loved us. . . The commandment Isaiah sees that the nation of Israel will be we have from God is this: those who love God able to realize God’s redemption—to break the must love their brothers and sisters also.” grip of sin, violence, and murder—only through great suffering endured by an innocent servant (to These words, from the First Letter of many readers the nation of Israel itself). This John, state a central tenet of our faith, and sum servant will become the receptacle for all up in a few words much of the message of the violence, an atoning human scapegoat. Bible. The story of the Bible is the story of the Advent of Christ, the gradual unfolding of our Isaiah envisions redemption for Israel understanding of God’s message of love and through suffering that is God’s will (Isa. 53:10). redemption. The readings tonight were chosen to With the coming of the Christ, it becomes clear illuminate this process. that redemption is for all humankind, and that the servant —Jesus—suffers not because of God’s will Cain murders Abel in a time when there for suffering, but because a world wedded to were no recorded rules against murder, when the violence will have it no other way (Sixth Lesson). Bible’s matrix of morality and conscience was still The Apostle Paul restates Isaiah’s Servant Song as unrevealed, ‘a formless void.’ It is in this void a to Christ, whose perfect obedience to the that humankind—Cain—first chooses violence, a Father’s commandment that we love God and decision with consequences bequeathed to every neighbor leads inexorably to the cross, and generation since. through the sacrifice of the cross, to salvation. God voices displeasure at Cain’s act, and in The great prologue to the Gospel of John Leviticus gives Moses the great commandment: to concludes the readings: The Word—Jesus— love neighbor as oneself. The Third Lesson is though rejected by this sinful world, from Micah, one of the Hebrew prophets who overwhelmed that rejection and lives among us, proclaim a vision of peace and justice. Micah also giving those who receive him power to become teaches that the Lord requires not ritual sacrifice children of God. 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 (b. 1919) 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 prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel conveyed God’s promise of redemption and healing for his waiting people. 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. 4

The people may be seated.

HYMN Sung by the Choir traditional Scottish melody, arr. J. R. Abdenour

RORATE coeli desuper ! Synnaris be glad, and penance do, Hevins, distil your balmy shouris! And thank your Maker hairtfully; For now is risen the bricht day-ster, For he that ye micht nocht come to, Fro the rose Mary, flour of flouris: To you is cumin full humbly, The cleir Sone, quhom no cloud devouris, Your soulis with his blood to buy, Surmounting Phebus in the Est, And loose you of the fiendis arrest, Is cumin of his hevinly touris: And only of his own mercy; Et nobis puer natus est . Pro nobis puer natus est.

Comfort, my people, comfort ye, Synnaris – sinners; cumin – come; shouris – showers; Salvations cumin swiftly by, Nor let thi visage sorrowful be, Away, you nicht of sadness, fly! Rorate coeli desuper , Let richtousness pour fro the sky: Now break, o erth, a Savior yield, The fairest Flour of the field.

Words: St. 1, 2 William Dunbar (1465-1536); St. 3 J.R.A. and W. A. Rooke-Ley

THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 4:1-16 Reader: Meghan J., Head Chorister of the Choir After Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden, Cain murders his brother

HYMN Sung by all, standing

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THE SECOND LESSON Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-18 Reader: Dan Corbett, A Choir Parent God gives the people the Great Commandment

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

THE THIRD LESSON Micah 4:1-4 Reader: Laura Mozier, Choir Librarian The Prophet Micah envisions the peace of God’s reign.

MARIENLIED Sung by the Choir Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Gegrüßet, Maria, du Mutter der Gnaden! Hail, Mary, mother of grace! So sangen die Engel der Jungfrau Maria Thus sang the angels to the virgin Mary In ihrem Gebete, darinnen sie rang. As she struggled in prayer.

Maria, du sollst einen Sohn empfangen, Mary, you shall conceive a son. Darnach tun Himmel und Erde verlangen, Heaven and earth desire Daß du die Mutter des Herren sollst sein. For you to be the Mother of the Lord.

O Engel, wie mag ich das erleben, O angels, how may I experience this? Ich habe mich noch keinem Manne ergeben I have given myself to no man In dieser weiten und breiten Welt. In this entire wide world.

Wie Tau kommt über die Blumenmatten, As dew comes over the flowerbeds, So soll dich der heilige Geist überschatten, So is it that the Holy Spirit shall overcome you, So sollt der Heiland geboren sein. So shall the Savior be born.

Maria, die höret solches gerne, Mary heard such things gladly, Sie sprach: ich bin eine Magd des Herren, She spoke: I am the handmaid of the Lord, Nach deinem Worte geschehe mir! And it shall happen to me according to your word.

Die Engel sanken auf ihre Knie, The angels sank to their knees, Sie sangen alle Maria, Maria, They all sang Mary, Mary, Sie sangen Maria den Lobgesang! They sang Mary’s song of praise!

Words: Traditional German Folk Hymn 6

MOTET Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)

Virga Jesse floruit: A shoot shall come from the stalk of Jesse, Virgo Deum et hominem genuit: a Virgin brings forth God and man, pacem Deus reddidit, God restores peace, in se reconcilians ima summis. reconciling in himself the lowest and the highest Alleluja. Alleluia.

Words: Anon, Alleluia at the Feast of the Annunciation

THE FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 50:4-11 Reader: Lucy Buggy, Head of Ushers The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the Lord’s atoning Servant.

MAGNIFICAT from The Sixth Service , (1576-1623) My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

THE FIFTH LESSON Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 John Abdenour, Director of Music The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the sufferings of the Lord’s Servant.

HYMN Sung by the Choir (1872-1958)

The blessed Son of God only In a crib full poor did lie; With our poor flesh and our poor blood Was clothed that everlasting good. eleison.

The Lord Christ Jesu, God’s son dear, Was a guest and a stranger here; Us for to bring from misery, That we might live eternally. Kyrie eleison.

All this did he for us freely, For to declare his great mercy; All Christendom be merry therefore, And give him thanks for evermore. Kyrie eleison.

Words: Martin Luther (1483-1546), tr. Miles Coverdale (1488-1568)

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ANTHEM Anthony Piccolo (b. 1953)

The tree of life my soul hath seen, His beauty doth all things excel; laden with fruit and always green, by faith I know but ne’er can tell The trees of nature fruitless be The glory which I now can see compared with Christ the apple tree. in Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought, I’m weary with my former toil, and pleasure dearly I have bought: here I will sit and rest awhile: I missed of all, but now I see Under the shadow I will be ‘tis found in Christ the apple tree. of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive: Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Words: New Hampshire, 1784

THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 20:9-17 Reader: The Rev. Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon Jesus explains the way he must be received in a sinful world.

HYMN 57 “Lo! he comes, with clouds descending” Sung by all, standing Helmsley , arr.

THE SEVENTH LESSON Philippians 1:27-2:11 Reader: Jim Turner, Junior Warden of the Vestry The Apostle Paul exhorts readers to imitate Christ’s obedience and humility.

MOTET James Whitbourn (b. 1963)

Goodness is stronger than evil Love is stronger than hate Light is stronger than darkness Life is stronger than death Victory is ours through Him who loves us

Words: The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Capetown (b. 1931)

HYMN Sung by the Choir Barry Rose (b. 1934)

Morning glory, starlit sky, Open are the gifts of God, soaring music, scholar’s truth, gifts of love to mind and sense; flight of swallows, autumn leaves, hidden is love’s agony, memory’s treasure, grace of youth: love’s endeavor, love’s expense.

Love that gives, gives ever more, Drained is love in making full, gives with zeal, with eager hands, bound in setting others free, spares not, keeps not, all outpours, poor in making many rich, ventures all its all expends. weak in giving power to be. [Please turn your page quietly.]

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Therefore he who shows us God Here is God: no monarch he, helpless hangs upon the tree; throned in easy state to reign; and the nails and crown of thorns here is God, whose arms of love tell of what God’s love must be. aching, spent, the world sustain.

Words: William Hubert Vanstone (1923-1999)

THE EIGHTH LESSON All Standing John 1:1-15 Reader: The Rev. Judith Louise Rhodes, Rector St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation The congregation may be seated.

ANTHEM (1866-1926)

O Thou, the central orb of righteous love, Pure beam of the most High, eternal Light Of this our wintry world, Thy radiance bright Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine, Gilding our darksome heaven with rays Divine.

Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee move, As stars about thy throne, set in the height Of God's ordaining counsel, as Thy sight Gives measured grace to each, Thy power to prove.

Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, Our nature all shall feel eternal day In fellowship with thee, transforming clay To souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen.

Words: Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917), alt.

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 ADVENT SUNDAY

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

The Rector 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 9

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 Rector 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 89 “It came upon the midnight clear” Sung by all, standing Carol , arr. John Abdenour

ORGAN VOLUNTARY Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Andrew Carter (b. 1939)

NOTICES

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

ABOUT THE MUSIC Brahms wrote his Marienlieder around 1858, originally for women’s voices and for use with a new women’s Palestrina’s Matin Responsory is based on a version chorus that he was developing. In Der englische of plainsong Tone 3. The hymn “ Come thou, Gruß (The angelic greeting) both text and music are Redeemer of the earth ” is from ; imbued with the innocence and spirit of a 19 th and the descant is by John Abdenour. century German folk song. The music for each verse (except the last) begins with an evocation of hunting Philip Ledger was Director of the Choir of Kings horns in the alto and tenor leads. The text is College, Cambridge, from 1974 to 1982, and while at anonymous, and tells a somewhat localized version Kings he composed numerous descants for hymns. of the Annunciation. In this version the angel Two of the best of these are “ O come, O come Gabriel doesn’t work alone but is one of a Emmanuel ,” and “ Lo, he comes with clouds committee of angels that visits Mary, and after they descending .” Philip Ledger died November 18, have delivered their message, the angels sing a hymn 2012. of praise to Mary, another detail absent from Luke’s

account. Rorate coeli desuper (Drop down, O heavens) was the opening phrase of a versicle and response sung Remembered today principally for his mighty during Advent after the hymn at the Catholic liturgy symphonies, Anton Bruckner was in his day best of vespers. As an ordained priest, the 16 th century known as a prominent and accomplished organist Scottish poet and diplomat William Dunbar was and church musician. His remarkable compositional familiar with the phrase and its use. He incorporated output for choir includes over 30 , several of it, along with variations on pro nobis puer natus est (for which are favorites of the St. Paul’s Choir. The motet us a child is born), in a macaronic carol entitled ‘On Virga Jesse floruit was composed in 1885, a year the Nativity of Christ.’ Two verses of Dunbar’s after the 60 year old Bruckner had completed his poem are set to a traditional Scottish melody. A new Seventh Symphony. Virga Jesse is itself a symphonic third verse underlines themes of Advent and masterpiece in miniature, exploiting an astonishing concludes with the original liturgical response to range of expression, emotion, and musical style. Rorate coeli desuper: Aperitur terra et germinet salvatorem While it owes a debt to such as Richard (Let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior). Wagner, Bruckner’s music is unmistakably his own.

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Thomas Weelkes composed many and other heart of the Anglican musical canon that it was liturgical music for the church. His Sixth Service was performed at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee service at probably composed for the choir he directed as St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2013. Amazingly, this work Informator choristarum (master over the choristers) of has become a source of some controversy, over a Cathedral from 1602-1623. The single word in the text: Is it day, or clay? The problem is structured as a verse anthem, with is that the last two lines of the text [ see bulletin, sections for various combinations of soloists above] are obscure, whatever reading you give them, alternating with sections for the full choir. Choral and each reading has its own champions. Some music in Weelkes’ day was often accompanied, with argue that Wood’s MS of O thou the central Orb clearly the organ either playing along with the voice parts says “day.” Others point out that using ‘day’ a second colla parte, or playing an independent accompaniment time to rhyme with itself is an almost unheard-of of its own. poetic no-no, and that it creates an awkward dangling adjectival phrase at the end of the line, neither of Anthony Piccolo composed Jesus Christ the Apple which the literate Bramley could have intended. And Tree for the concert choir of Fairfield Country Day ‘transforming day to souls’, according to the ‘clay’ School and the choir’s director at the time, Michael camp, simply doesn’t make a lot of sense, whereas Hunter. It is a very sophisticated composition: there’s a nice symmetry to ‘transforming clay to souls Piccolo’s lyrical and atmospheric melodies, erewhile unclean now pure within’: clay / unclean vs. reminiscent of Howells, conceal a virtual minefield of souls / pure. Given the ease with which a harried difficult intervals, extreme ranges and unorthodox copyist, working by flickering candlelight or oil lamp part writing present throughout the lower parts. and wearing Victorian-era glasses, might have Heard as a whole, however, the music is a luminous mistaken the letters “cl” for “d”, I personally think and very effective setting of these famous words. it’s at least plausible that Bramley meant ‘clay.’ Even if he didn’t, we here at St. Paul’s officially cut the James Whitbourn composed A prayer of Desmond Gordian knot by adopting the methods of our Tutu in 2003 for the Choir of Westminster Abbey, beloved hymnal editors, appending to the poet’s who performed the work on Commemoration Day, name the simple suffix “alt.” As in, ‘the text has 2004. Bishop Tutu’s words are recited by a reader, been altered to clarify and/or correct.’ Done. and then sung by the choir, accompanied by drum and percussion. The final hymn, “It came upon a midnight clear ,” while nominally outside the scope of an ‘Advent’ Barry Rose is known far and wide for his passionate service, further illuminates the message of the advocacy for ‘singing the words, not the notes.’ readings. Closer examination of the words of the Known principally as a choir trainer, he is also a hymn reveals that the angels’ (God’s) song of peace published , and among his best pieces must and goodwill was only begun that ‘midnight clear’ in be counted Love’s endeavor, love’s expense, a Bethlehem, but has been sung ceaselessly through hymn-anthem setting W. H. Vanstone’s poem of the ‘two thousand years of wrong,’ and is being sung same title. now, there for all the world to hear if only we could Over the past century, Charles Wood’s timeless “hush the noise and cease [our] strife.” setting of the Rev. Henry Bramley’s sonnet O thou the central Orb has found such a comfy place at the

PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S SERVICE

The Reverend Judith Louise Rhodes, Rector of St. Paul’s The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon

Music John R. Abdenour, Director of Music

Andrew Kotylo (Associate Director of Music, Trinity Church on-the-Green, New Haven), Organist

Acolytes Peggy H., Jack J., Neal M. 11

T H E S T . P A U L ’ S C H O I R

Cantoris Choir - Treble Elisabeth B., Matthew B., Madeline C., Kyle G., Julia H., Lauren L., Trescher L., Josephine M., Miranda S., Olivia S., Colin S., Miranda S., Noah S.

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

Tenor – Cantoris: Christopher McCormack (Section Leader)

Bass – Cantoris: Eric Andren, Samuel Hinkle (Section Leader) , Gianni P., Matthew P.

Decani Choir - Treble Isabella B., Charlotte B., Fiona C., Madison C., Charlotte C., Kelly C., Madeline G., Meghan J. (Head Chorister) , Sydney L., Emma L., Benjamin P., Katherine P., Bennett S.

Alto – Decani: Tracey Cranston, Becket Greten-Harrison (Section Leader) , Sarah McCormack, Cara Uhrich

Tenor – Decani: Benjamin McCormack, Jonathan Taylor (Section Leader)

Bass – Decani: Timothy Barney, Ryan C., Scott Cranston, Edmund Milly (Guest - Section Leader), Philip Sidebottom, Harrison S.

U PCOMING S PECIAL E VENTS FOR OUR C H O I R

Sunday, December 21, 5:00 PM A FESTIVAL OF Based on the service from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge Sung by the St. Paul’s Choir Preceded by a Yule Café in the Parish Hall at 4:00 PM St. Paul’s Christmas gift to the Fairfield community, this popular service draws a large congregation. Please arrive early, and bring a friend!

Saturday, January 31, 4:00 PM TWENTIETH ANNUAL SING PRAISES CHOIR FESTIVAL Choral , directed by Dr. Barry Rose, at Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York The St. Paul’s Choir, together with the Choir of St. Paul’s, Norwalk Two outstanding combine in the storied choir stalls of Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, under the direction of Barry Rose, a leading figure in the Anglican choral tradition for over fifty years.

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

SUNDAY , DECEMBER 21 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM Yule Café 4:00 PM A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 5:00 PM

WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY CRÈCHE SERVICE (H OLY EUCHARIST ) AT 3:00 PM FESTIVAL HOLY EUCHARIST AT 5:30 PM & 11:00 PM

THURSDAY , DECEMBER 25 – CHRISTMAS DAY HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 AM 12

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]

CLERGY The Reverend Judith Louise Rhodes, Rector of St. Paul’s The Reverend Paul Joseph Carling, Ph.D., Associate Rector of St. Paul’s The Reverend Stephanie M. Johnson, Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Families The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon

OFFICERS OF THE VESTRY Christine Brown, Senior Warden Jim Turner, Junior Warden Peter Osborne, Treasurer Fiona Andren, Secretary of the Vestry

MEMBERS OF THE VESTRY Michael Boyd, Keith Cocozza, Jane Corbett, Diana Gomez, David Haas, Chris Jay, Bruce Kueffner, Janet O’Donnell, Susan Tom

STAFF John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Mary Ellen Clifton, Parish Administrator Cathy Comstock, Accounts Manager Ralph Paradise, Sexton

Bulletin compiled by the St. Paul's clergy and typeset by John Abdenour