Introduction ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO tomorrow great hymns and the soaring music of the choir evening, for the first time, the Festival of Nine and organ stood in eloquent contrast to the Lessons and Carols took place in the chapel of darkness of a cold winter night and the tragic King's College, Cambridge. shadows of the recently concluded Great War. It was not the first such service. Almost forty The intervening years have seen the worldwide years earlier, the bishop of Truro devised a broadcast of this service become a much beloved lessons and carols service for his cathedral, as a Christmas tradition. way to introduce a more lively liturgical As in 1918, we in our own day turn again to these experience and to lure potential congregants out sacred words and songs in a world troubled by of the pubs on Christmas Eve. The format war, natural disaster, violence, and economic quickly became popular and spread widely. uncertainty. Tonight?s service is offered in the Following the Great War, a newly appointed spirit of that first service at King?s, as a light dean of King's College Chapel, the 34 year old shining in the darkness; with fervent prayer for Rev'd Eric Milner-White, instituted the service at peace, goodwill and understanding among all King's, in collaboration with his organist Arthur people rising amidst the strains of glorious hymns Henry Mann, who was twice his age and rather and carols. Although much of the music at this dubious of the whole affair. In 1918 the service service is sung by the choir, the congregation did not begin with 'Once in royal David's city.' plays a central role. Please listen intently, pray and That hymn (with a tune composed by Mann) sing with your heart, mind, and voice, as received permanent pride of place the following indicated below. Again, welcome! year, along with several alterations to the Young children are most welcome at this service readings and order of service. The service has and we invite you to utilize the gathering area remained more or less the same ever since. should your little one need a break from the hard In 1918, the prayers and scripture readings, the work of being quiet when appropriate. Welcome to St. Paul's! We are glad to have you with us to celebrate the season in this great Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols. Whoever you are, whomever you love, whatever you believe, you are welcome at St. Paul's. This is a holy time, and we invite you to experience all that our worship offers by participating fully in the service. Personal listening devices are available from the ushers if this would be helpful to your participation in our worship. As always, St. Paul?s welcomes people of all ages, remembering that children have their own ways of praising God. We invite you to model your gratitude and joy during worship, while we also recognize that children participate differently than adults. Please feel at home in this holy space. We hope for you and yours a blessed, holy, and peaceful season of Christmas. Be well, do good, and spread some hope in this world. And most of all, welcome to St. Paul's. The Rev'd Curtis Farr, Rector Help create a prayerful and meditative atmosphere 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 Es ist ein Ros ' entsprungen Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) ¶ Please rise when the clergy and choir enter the church HYMN [Verses 1 & 2 Choir only] 1 Once in royal David?s city 2 He came down to earth from heaven stood a lowly cattle shed, who is God and Lord of all, 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. (next page for verse 5) [Congregation in unison] 5 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 (1919-2015) 87. 87. 77 THE BIDDING PRAYER Said by the Rector 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 unto Bethlehem and 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 through the glorious Redemption brought us by this holy Child; and let us make this church, dedicated to his great apostle Paul, glad with our carols of praise: 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 Our Father, w ho art in heaven, hallow ed be thy Name, thy k ingdom come, thy w ill be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as w e forgive those w ho trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the k ingdom, and the pow er, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ¶ The Rector 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 CAROL William Mathias (1934-1992) Nowell. Who is there that singeth so, Nowell? I am here, Sir Christémas. Welcome, my Lord Sir Christémas! Welcome to all, both more and less, come near. Nowell. Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs, tidings I you bring: [God protect you, good sirs] 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 abrayde: Nowell. Buvez bien, buvez bien par toute la compagnie. [Drink well, throughout the gathering] Make good cheer and be right merry, and sing with us now joyfully: Nowell. Nowell! ? Anon., c. 1500 THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8 - 15 Reader: William B, A Chorister of the Choir God tells sinful Adam and Eve that they have lost the life of Paradise CAROL Boris Ord (1897-1961) 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 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 THE SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9:2 - 7 Reader: Phil Sidebottom, Schola The Prophet Isaiah reveals God?s promise of a Messiah for a faithful people CAROL English folk carol, collected by Cecil Sharp (1859-1924), arr. H. Walford Davies (1869-1941) THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, When they are both full grown, Of all the trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown: O the rising of the sun, and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a blossom, as white as any flower, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ To be our sweet Savior: Refrain The holly bears a berry, as red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do poor sinners good: Refrain The holly bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ On Christmas day in the morn: Refrain The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ For to redeem us all. Refrain ?Traditional English, early 19th cent. ¶ Sung by all, standing HYMN [Choir only] [Congregation in unison] 3 But when to Bethlehem the came, 4 Now to the Lord sing praises, whereat this infant lay, all you within this place, They found him in a manger and with true love and brotherhood where oxen feed on hay; each other now embrace; His mother Mary, kneeling, This holy tide of Christmas unto the Lord did pray: Refrain (all join) doth bring redeeming grace: Refrain Words: English West Country traditional, 1833; alt.