The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of the Holy Trinity commonly called

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL DUBLIN

THE FESTIVAL OF FIVE LESSONS AND CAROLS

SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER 2016

15.30

IN THIS SERVICE the story of the Fall and of our Redemption is re-told through readings from the Bible and the singing of carols. We recall the promises of God given to the Old Testament prophets and their fulfilment in the birth of Christ. In heart and mind we too go to , to see and adore with the Shepherds and the Wise Men. The climax of the service is reached in the Ninth Lesson when the meaning of Christ’s birth is unfolded in Saint John’s description of the Word made flesh. This service complements the Advent Procession sung on Advent Sunday. It directs our mind towards the wondrous events of the Incarnation and prepares us for the Midnight Eucharist sung on Christmas Eve.

Please SIT for the carols and motets and the Lessons, STAND for the hymns, and the bidding prayer, and join heartily in all those parts of the service printed in bold type .

To use the induction loop system provided please turn your Hearing Aid to the T position .

THERE WILL BE A RETIRING COLLECTION IN AID OF SPPD IS A NON -PROFIT , NON - GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION THAT WORKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF UNDERPRIVILEGED PEOPLE IN TAMIL NADU , INDIA .

Please stand in silence as the choirs and clergy process to the West End. A solo chorister begins the service with the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’

PROCESSIONAL HYMN

SOLO For he is our childhood’s pattern Once in royal David’s city Day by day, like us, he grew; Stood a lowly cattle shed, He was little, weak and helpless, Where a mother laid her baby Tears and smiles like us he knew; In a manger for his bed; And he feeleth for our sadness, Mary was that mother mild: And he shareth in our gladness. Jesus Christ her little child. And our eyes at last shall see him, CHOIR ONLY Through his own redeeming love, He came down to earth from heaven For that Child so dear and gentle Who is God and Lord of all, Is our Lord in heaven above; And his shelter was a stable, And he leads his children on And his cradle was a stall; To the place where he is gone. With the poor and mean and lowly, Not in that poor lowly stable, Lived on earth our Saviour holy. With the oxen standing by, And through all his wondrous childhood, We shall see him; but in heaven, He would honour and obey, Set at God’s right hand on high; Love and watch the lowly maiden, When like stars his children crowned In whose gentle arms he lay; All in white shall wait around . Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he.

Tune: Irby, H. J. Gauntlett (1805–76) harmonised by A. H. Mann (1850–1929) arranged by David Willcocks (b. 1919) Mrs C. F. Alexander (1818–95)

Please remain standing

THE BIDDING PRAYER

BELOVED 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 even unto Bethlehem to see this thing which is 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 unto 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 within the Church he came to build, and especially in this city of Dublin.

And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and 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 man 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 up to the Throne of Heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

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, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. AMEN .

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 sit CAROL

Good people all, this Christmas tide, Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Consider well and bear in mind Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep; What our good God for us has done, To whom God’s angels did appear, In sending his beloved Son. Which put the shepherds in great fear. With Mary holy we should pray ‘Prepare and go’, the angels said, To God with love this Christmas Day; ‘To Bethlehem, be not afraid; In Bethlehem upon that morn For there you’ll find, this happy morn, There was a blessed Messiah born. A princely babe, sweet Jesus born.’

The night before that happy tide With thankful heart and joyful mind The noble Virgin and her guide The shepherds went the babe to find, Were long time seeking up and down And as God’s angel had foretold, To find a lodging in the town. They did our Saviour Christ behold. But mark how all things came to pass: Within a manger he was laid, From ev’ry door repell’d, alas! And by his side the virgin maid, As long foretold, their refuge all Attending on the Lord of life, Was but an humble oxen stall. Who came on earth to end all strife.

John Rutter (b. 1945) trad. Irish

THE FIRST LESSON

Isaiah 9:2, 6–7 read by Kevin Newman Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah

CAROL

Adam lay ybounden, Ne had the apple taken been, Bounden in a bond: The apple taken been. Four thousand winter Ne had never our lady Thought he not too long. A-been heavnè queen.

And all was for an apple, Blessed be the time An apple that he took, That apple taken was. As clerkes finden Therefore we moun singen Written in their book. Deo gracias!

Words: 15th century Music: Boris Ord

THE SECOND LESSON

St Luke 1:26–35, 38 read by Maureen Reid The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary

CAROL

Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum: Hail, Mary, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Anton Bruckner (1824-96) The Angelic Salutation

THE THIRD LESSON

St. Matthew 1:18–23 read by David Wynne St Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus

CAROL

Ding Dong! Merrily on high In heaven the bells are ringing; Ding Dong! Verily the sky Is riv'n with angels singing: Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis

E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And I-O, I-O, I-O, By priest and people sungen, Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis

Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers: May you beautifully rhyme Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis arr. Stuart Nicholson Text: George R. Woodward (1848–1934)

HYMN Please stand

CHOIR ONLY O little town of Bethlehem, How silently, how silently, How still we see thee lie! The wondrous gift is given! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep So God imparts to human hearts The silent stars go by; The blessings of his heaven. Yet in thy dark streets shineth No ear may hear his coming; The everlasting Light: But in this world of sin, The hopes and fears of all the years Where meek souls will receive him, still Are met in thee tonight. The dear Christ enters in. O morning stars, together O holy Child of Bethlehem, Proclaim the holy birth, Descend to us, we pray; And praises sing to God the King, Cast out our sin, and enter in; And peace to men on earth; Be born in us today. For Christ is born of Mary; We hear the Christmas angels And, gathered all above, The great glad tidings tell; While mortals sleep, the angels keep O come to us, abide with us, Their watch of wondering love. Our Lord Emmanuel. Tune: Forest Green English traditional melody arr. R. Vaughan–Williams (1872–1958) and Thomas Armstrong (b.1898) Phillips Brooks (1835–93)

THE FOURTH LESSON

St Matthew 2:1–11 read by Catherine Smith The wise men are led by the star to Jesus

CAROL

Commissioned by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, December 2015

We three kings of Orient are O star of wonder, star of night, Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Star with royal beauty bright, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Westward leading, still proceeding, Following yonder star. Guide us to thy perfect Light. O star of wonder, star of night, is mine: Its bitter perfume Star with royal beauty bright, Breathes a life of gathering gloom. Westward leading, still proceeding, Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying, Guide us to thy perfect Light. Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Born a king on Bethlehem's plain, O star of wonder, star of night, Gold I bring to crown Him again, Star with royal beauty bright, King forever, ceasing never Westward leading, still proceeding, Over us all to reign. Guide us to thy perfect Light. O star of wonder, star of night, Glorious now behold Him arise, Star with royal beauty bright, King and God and Sacrifice. Westward leading, still proceeding, Heav'n sings Alleluia; Guide us to thy perfect Light. Alleluia the earth replies. to offer have I. O star of wonder, star of night, Incense owns a Deity nigh. Star with royal beauty bright, Prayer and praising, all men raising, Westward leading, still proceeding, Worship God on high. Guide us to thy perfect Light.

arr. Stuart Nicholson (b. 1975) From the liturgy of St Basil

Please stand

HYMN

MEN ONLY Unto us is born a son, This did Herod sore affray, King of Quires supernal: And grievously bewilder; See on earth his life begun, So he gave the word to slay, Of lords the Lord eternal. And slew the little childer.

CHOIR ONLY WOMEN ONLY Christ, from heav’n descending low, Of his love and mercy mild Comes on earth a stranger; This the Christmas story; Ox and ass their owner know, And O that Mary’s gentle Child Becradled in the manger: Might lead us up to glory!

O and A, and A and O; Cum cantibus in choro: Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino. Tune: Piae Cantiones , 1582 arr. David Willcocks (b.1919) translated by G.R. Woodward (1848–1934)

THE FIFTH LESSON

St John 1:1–14 read by Eric Finch St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation

Please sit

CAROL

Hodie natus est, hodie salvator apparuit, hodie in terra canunt angeli, This day Christ is born, this day the Saviour appears, this day on earth angels sing, laetentur archangeli, hodie exultent iusti, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia! archangels rejoice, this day the righteous exult, saying: Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia!

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Magnificat antiphon for the second Vespers of Christmas

Please stand

The Lord be with you. and with thy spirit.

THE COLLECT OF CHRISTMAS EVE Almighty God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ: Grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen .

THE BLESSING

Christ, who by his Incarnation gathered into one all 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 upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

HYMN

Hark! the herald-angels sing Christ, by highest heaven adored! Glory to the new-born King; Christ, the everlasting Lord! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, Late in time behold him come God and sinners reconciled: Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Join the triumph of the skies; Hail, the incarnate Deity! With th’ angelic host proclaim, Pleased as man with man to dwell, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald-angels sing Hark! the herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born King. Glory to the new-born King. Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of peace! Hail, the Sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings; Mild, he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born King. Tune: Christmas , Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809–47) arranged by Stephen Cleobury (b. 1948) Charles Wesley (1707–88)

Please remain standing for the procession of choir and clergy and sit for the ORGAN which conclude the service