THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: CHRISTMAS EVE December 24, 2019 • Holy Eucharist: Rite II • 10:00 pm Trinity Episcopal Church • Founded in 1746 • Staunton, Virginia Music for the Nativity Gaudete, Christus est natus ex Maria Virgine Sung by the choir Medieval Carol Gaudete, Gaudete! Christus et natus Ex maria virgine, Gaudete! Tempus ad est gratiae, Hoc quod optabamus; Carmina laetitiae, Devote redamus. Deus homo factus est, Natura mirante; Mundus renovatus est A Christo regnante. Ezechiellis porta Clausa pertransitur; Unde lux est orta Salus invenitur. Ergo nostra cantio, Psallat iam in lustro; Benedicat Domino: Salus Regi nostro. Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary, rejoice! It is now the time of grace that we have desired; Let us sing songs of joy, let us give devotion. God was made man, and nature marvels; The world was renewed by Christ who is King. The closed gate of Ezechiel has been passed through; From where the light rises salvation is found. Therefore let our assembly now sing, sing the psalms to purify us; Let it praise the Lord: Greetings to our King. Carol: Angels from the realms of glory Sung by all Regent Square • Hymnal 93 The Shepherd's Carol Sung by the choir Bob Chilcott (b. 1955) We stood on the hills, Lady, our day’s work done, watching the frosted meadows that winter had won. Silence more lovely than music. There was a star, Lady, shone in the night, larger than Venus it was and bright. Oh, a voice from the sky, Lady, it seemed to us then telling of God being born in the world of men. And so we have come, Lady, our day’s work done, our love, our hopes, ourselves we give to your son. Hereford Carol Sung by the choir Traditional English carol; arr. Christopher Robinson (b. 1936) Come all you faithful Christians that dwell here on earth, come celebrate the morning of our dear Savior’s birth. This is the happy morning, this is the blessed morn: to save our souls from ruin, the Son of God was born. Behold the angel Gabriel, in scripture it is said, did with his holy message come to the virgin maid: ‘Hail blest among all women!’, he thus did greet her then, ‘Lo, thou shalt be the mother of the savior of all men.’ Her time being accomplished, she came to Bethlehem, and then was safe delivered of the savior of all men. No princely pomp attended him, his honors were but small; a manger was his cradle, his bed an ox’s stall. Now to him that is ascended let all our praise be; may we his steps then follow and he our pattern be; so when our lives are ended, we all may hear him call: ‘Come, souls, receive the kingdom prepared for you all.’ Carol: O little town of Bethlehem Sung by all St. Louis • Hymnal 79 Donkey Carol Sung by the choir John Rutter (b. 1945) Donkey riding over the bumpy road, carry Mary all with her heavy load; Follow Joseph, leading you on your way until you find a stable, somewhere to rest and stay. Donkey watching over the Jesus child, see the baby, all with his mother mild; hear the angels singing their song on high: ‘Nowell, nowell, nowell,’ their caroling fills the sky. Donkey resting all in a manger stall, with the oxen worship the Lord of all. Hush, he lies asleep on his bed of hay while Mary sings so sweetly, ‘Lulla, lullalay.’ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Christ is born today. 2 The friendly beasts Sung by the choir English, 12th century; arr. Audrey Snyder Jesus, our brother, kind and good, was humbly born in a stable rude, and the friendly beasts around him stood; Jesus, our brother, kind and good. I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown, I carried His mother uphill and down, I carried her safely to Bethlehem town; I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown. I, said the cow, all white and red, I gave Him my manger for His bed, I gave Him my hay to pillow His head; I, said the cow, all white and red. I, said the sheep with curly horn, I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm, He wore my coat on Christmas morn; I, said the sheep with curly horn. I, said the dove from the rafters high, I cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry, We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I; I, said the dove from the rafters high. Thus, every beast by some good spell, in the stable dark was glad to tell of the gift he gave Immanuel, the gift he gave Immanuel. Carol: Good Christian friends, rejoice Sung by all In dulci jubilo • Hymnal 107 Prelude on Irby David Willcocks (1919–2015) Festival Holy Eucharist: Rite II THE ENTRANCE RITEI The people stand to sing the Processional Hymn, and remain standing through the Collect of the Day. PROCESSIONAL HYMN Once in royal David’s city, st. 1-3 • Irby • Hymnal 102 st. 1 sung by chorister Dylan Getsey; all join on st. 2 THE BLESSING OF THE CRÈCHE Presider O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia! The Word was made flesh And dwelt a - mong us. Presider Let us pray. ALMIGHTY God, who in the Incarnation of your Son has revealed to us the holiness of creation, be pleased to bless and hallow this image of his sacred birth, so that those who gaze upon it may behold this mystery, whereby humanity shares in your very nature; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 3 PROCESSIONAL HYMN Sung by all Once in royal David’s city, st. 4-6 • Irby • Hymnal 102 Descant: Willcocks OPENING ACCLAMATION THE COLLECT FOR PURITY ALMIGHTY God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS Sung by all Angels we have heard on high • Gloria • Hymnal 96 Descant: Bruce Neswick (b. 1956) THE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. O GOD, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. THE WORD OF GODI The people are seated for the Old Testament Lesson, Psalm, and Epistle. THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON God comes to restore the people • Isaiah 62:6-12 UPON your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth. The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. The LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: 4 Say to daughter Zion, "See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him." They shall be called, "The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD"; and you shall be called, "Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken." The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GRADUAL PSALM Sung by the choir Dominus regnavit • Psalm 97 Chant: Walter Parratt 1 The LORD is King; let the earth rejoice; * let the multitude of the isles be glad. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him, * righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne. 3 A fire goes before him * and burns up his enemies on every side. 4 His lightnings light up the world; * the earth sees it and is afraid. 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, * at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, * and all the peoples see his glory. 7 Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight in false gods! * Bow down before him, all you gods. 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, * because of your judgments, O LORD. 9 For you are the LORD, most high over all the earth; * you are exalted far above all gods. 10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; * he preserves the lives of his saints and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light has sprung up for the righteous, * and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, * and give thanks to his holy Name. 5 THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON (EPISTLE) Saved through water and the Spirit • Titus 3:4-7 WHEN the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.