Welcome Welcome, Guests! St. Paul’s is a joyful community that welcomes all those who yearn for hope and meaning in their lives. You are welcome here, whether you come with faith or doubt, answers or questions; whether you are a cradle Episcopalian or have no idea what that means. We invite you to participate fully in our worship as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Sing the Christmas carols, and respond to the prayers and readings. Or, if you prefer, sit back quietly and allow God’s Spirit to speak to you in the way that feels most comfortable. Whatever your background, whatever you are seeking, there’s a place for you here. Welcome, Children! You are welcome as full participants in our worship. Parents who desire nursery care for infants and toddlers will find the nursery across the courtyard in the Parish Center. Need assistance? Reading glasses and hearing enhancement devices are available from an usher. Restrooms: The women’s room is in the hallway near the nametags; the men’s room is around the corner near the elevator; the gender-neutral restroom is next to Roberts Library. PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN WORSHIP AS YOU ARE ABLE Although there are customary postures (such as standing and kneeling) in Episcopal worship, you are invited to be seated at any point, according to your needs and comfort. Please turn cell phones off or silence them. The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve A Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols This beautiful service was instituted by Archbishop Edward Benson at Truro Cathedral in England. It is based on a medieval vigil liturgy. The service has become well known throughout the world as many parishes, chapels, and cathedrals sing their own service of Lessons and Carols. To mark the Christmas Season, lessons are read by laity and clergy, with carols and hymns sung by the choir and congregation. The scriptures and hymns all combine to express the fulfillment of God’s promise in the good news of great joy for all people, which is the birth of Jesus, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Prelude at 4:30 p.m. Matthew Gerhardt, organ; Kathy Hershberger, viola Pastorella, BWV 590 Johann Sebastian Bach Sonata in C major Benedetto Marcello Divinum mysterium Raymond Haan Fantasia on Greensleeves Ralph Vaughan Williams In dulci jubilo, BuxWV 197 Dieterich Buxtehude 1 The people stand at the sound of the bell. Hymn 102 Irby Treble Solo 1. Once in a royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child. Choir 2. He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all, and his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall; with the poor, the scorned, the lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy. Stanzas 3-6 – sung by all A Bidding Prayer Dear People of God: In this Christmas Season, let it be our delight to hear once more the message of the Angels, to go to Bethlehem and see the Son of God lying in a manger. Let us hear the story of God’s loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption brought to us through the holy Child Jesus, and let us make this place glad with our carols of praise. But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world, for peace and justice on earth, and for the unity and mission of the Church for which he died, and especially for his Church in our country and in this city. 2 And because he particularly loves them, let us remember in Jesus’ name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and unloved, the aged and little children, as well as all those who yearn for the love of God made known in the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and that whole multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in Jesus, we are one for evermore. And now, to sum up all these petitions, and the prayers in our hearts, let us pray in the words which Christ himself has taught us, saying: 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. The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above, may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen. The people are seated for the lessons and anthems and stand, as they are able, for the hymns. Invitatory Anthem H.C. Stewart On this day earth shall ring God’s bright star, o’er his head, with the song children sing Wise Men three to him led; to the Son, Christ the King, kneel they low by his bed, born on earth to save us; lay their gifts before him, him the Father gave us. praise him and adore him. Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! His the doom, ours the mirth; On this day angels sing; when he came down to earth with their song earth shall ring, Bethlehem saw his birth; praising Christ, heaven’s King, ox and ass beside him born on earth to save us; from the cold would hide him. peace and love he gave us. Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo! First Lesson Genesis 3:1-15 Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden. Reader: Sarah Cummings Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Carol Frank Boles 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 heavné queen. And all was for an apple, Blessed be the time an apple that he took, That apple taken was. As clerkes finden written in their book. Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! -Anon. 15th century. 3 Second Lesson Genesis 22:15-18 God promises to faithful Abraham that by his offspring shall the nations of the earth be blessed. Reader: C.J. Walls Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Carol Charles Wood Once, as I remember, Ox and ass around him, At the time of Yule, Courtier-like, did stand: After mid December, Fair white linen bound him, When it bloweth cool, Spun by Mary's hand. I o'erheard a Mother While the Virgin-mother Was a-singing, 'Sweet Jesu, Was a-singing, 'Sweet Jesu, La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu.' La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu.' Near as man was able, Ever among and o'er us On my knee fell I, Angel-quire gan sing in the Bethlem stable Antiphons in chorus Where the Babe did lie, To the new-born King. And the Virgin-mother Then the Virgin-mother Was a-singing, 'Sweet Jesu, Fell a-singing, 'Sweet Jesu, La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu.' La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu.' -G.R. Woodward Third Lesson Isaiah 9:2-7 Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. Reader: Trevor Sullivan Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. Carol Robert Lucas de Pearsall In dulci jubilo O Patris caritas. Let us our homage shew; O Nati lenitas! Our heart’s joy reclineth Deeply were we stained in praesepio Per nostra crimina; And like a bright start shineth But thou has for us gained Matris in gremio. Caelorum gaudia. Alpha es et O! O that we were there! O Jesu parvule Ubi sunt gaudia, I yearn for thee alway! Where, if that they be not there? Hear me, I beseech thee, There are angels singing O puer optime! Nova cantica, My prayer let it reach thee, There the bells are ringing O Princeps gloriae! In Regis curia: Trahe me post te! O that we were there! -14th Century German Carol Carol Medieval Carol Refrain: Nowell sing we, both all and some, now Rex pacificus is y’come. Exortum est in love and lysse. Puer natus to us was sent, Now Christ His grace He gan us gysse, To bliss us bought, fro bale us blent, And with His body us bought to bliss, And else to woe we had ywent, Both all and some. Both all and some. De fructu ventris of Mary bright, Lux fulgebit with love and light, Both God and man in her alight, In Mary mild His pennon pight, Out of disease He did us dight, In her took kind with manly might, Both all and some. Both all and some. 4 Gloria tibi ay and bliss, God unto His grace He us wysse, The rent of heaven that we not miss, Both all and some. - Medieval, c. 1450 Fourth Lesson Micah 5:2-4 The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem. Reader: Rusty Broxterman Reader The Word of the Lord.