Christmas Carol Service – Live Streamed – Sunday 22 December 2024 – 6.00 pm
A separate video feed of the choir will be available here.
Led by Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Introit: What sweeter music can we bring
What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?
Awake the voice! Awake the string!
Dark and dull night, fly hence away,
And give the honour to this day
That sees December turned to May.
Why does the chilling winter’s morn
Smile, like a field beset with corn?
Or smell like a meadow newly-shorn
Thus, on the sudden? Come and see
The cause, why things thus fragrant be:
‘Tis he is born, whose quickening birth
Gives life and lustre, public mirth,
To heaven, and the under-earth.
We see him come, and know him ours,
Who, with his sunshine and his showers,
Turns all the patient ground to flowers.
The darling of the world is come,
And fit it is, we find a room
To welcome him, to welcome him.
The nobler part,
Of all the house here, is the heart,
Which we will give him; and bequeath
This holly, and this ivy wreath,
To do him honour; who’s our King,
And Lord of all this reveling.
(What sweeter music can we bring,
Than a carol, for to sing
The birth of this our heavenly King?)
Words – Robert Herrick (1591–1674)
Music – John Rutter (1945–)
CCL31580
Welcome
Opening Prayer
God of wonder, with joy and celebration we gather today
to welcome afresh the gift of the child born to be king;
Emmanuel, God with us; light for the world and a beacon in the darkness.
Jesus Christ is born among us. Jesus Christ is born for us.
Let us come to you and celebrate.
Amen
Carol: Once in royal David’s city
[Verses 1 & 2 choir only]
Once in 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.
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 and mean and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And through all his wondrous childhood
he would honour and obey,
love and watch the lowly maiden
in whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be
mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood pattern,
day by day like us he grew,
he was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feeleth for our sadness,
and he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love,
for that child so dear and gentle
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.
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.
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895)
CCL31580
Genesis 3: 1–19
Read by Rosemary Kearsey
The Fall
Now the snake was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’
2 The woman said to the snake, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”’
4 ‘You will not certainly die,’ the snake said to the woman. 5 ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
10 He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’
11 And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?’
12 The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’
The woman said, ‘The snake deceived me, and I ate.’
14 So the Lord God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this,
‘Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.’
16 To the woman he said,
‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labour you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.’
17 To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, “You must not eat from it,”
‘Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.’
Choir: Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green;
The trees of nature fruitless be,
Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.
His beauty doth all things excel,
By faith I know but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see,
In Jesus Christ the Appletree.
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought;
I missed of all but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the Appletree.
I’m weary with my former toil –
Here I will sit and rest awhile,
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the Appletree.
With great delight I’ll make my stay,
There’s none shall fright my soul away;
Among the sons of men I see
There’s none like Christ the Appletree.
I’ll sit and eat this fruit divine,
It cheers my heart like spirit’al wine;
And now this fruit is sweet to me,
That grows on Christ the Appletree.
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 Appletree.
Elizabeth Poston (1905–1987)
CCL31580
Isaiah 9: 2 & 6–7
Read by Don Head
2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
[…]
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Choir: And he shall Purify
And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
CCL31580
Carol: Make way, make way
Make way, make way,
for Christ the King in splendour arrives.
Fling wide the gates
and welcome him into your lives.
Make way! Make way!
for the King of kings.
Make way! Make way!
and let his Kingdom in.
He comes the broken hearts to heal,
the prisoners to free.
The dear shall hear, the lame shall dance.
the blind shall see.
Make way! Make way! …
And those who mourn with heavy hearts,
who weep and sight;
with laughter, joy and royal crown
he’ll beautify.
Make way! Make way! …
We call you now to worship him
as Lord of all.
To have no gods before him;
their thrones must fall!
Make way! Make way! …
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
CCL31580
Isaiah 11: 1–9
Read by Glynne Gordon-Carter
The branch from Jesse
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him –
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord –
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash round his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
Choir: O Magnum Mysterium
| O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Iesum Christum. Alleluia! |
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord, Jesus Christ. Alleluia! |
Morten Lauridsen (1943-)
CCL31580
Carol: It came upon the midnight clear
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold;
‘Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King!’
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world:
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing;
and ever o’er its Babel-sounds
the blessèd angels sing.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel-strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and man, at war with man, hears not
the love-song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
and hear the angels sing!
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing.
For lo, the days are hastening on,
by prophet-bards foretold,
when, with the ever-circling years
comes round the age of gold,
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world give back the song
which now the angels sing.
Edmund H. Sears (1810–1876)
CCL31580
Micah 5: 2–4
Read by Martha George
2 ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labour bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
Choir: Mary’s Magnificat
Softly a light is stealing,
Sweetly a maiden sings,
Ever wakeful, ever wistful,
Watching faithfully, thankfully,
Tenderly at her King of Kings.
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Mary her song to Jesus
Softly, serenely sings:
I will love you, I will serve you,
May my lullaby glorify, magnify my king of kings.
Lullaby
Andrew Carter (1939-)
CCL31580
Carol: Silent night
Silent night, holy night.
All is calm, all is bright,
round yon virgin mother and child;
holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace. [×2]
Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia:
Christ the Saviour is born. [×2]
Silent night, holy night.
Son of God, love’s pure light,
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth. [×2]
Joseph Mohr (1792–1848)
tr. J.F. Young (1820–1885)
CCL31580
Luke 2: 1–7
Read by Chibby Chima-Okoro
The birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Choir: O Beatum et Sacrosanctum Diem
| O beatum et sacrosanctum diem, in qua Dominus noster de Virgine Maria pro nobis nasci dignatus est. Gaudeat itaque universus orbis, et cantemus illi, in sono tubæ, cithara, psalterio et organo. Congratulemur cum multitudine angelorum exercitus, semper suas laudes cantantibus. Noe/Alleluia |
O blessed and most holy day on which our Lord was born of the Virgin Mary for our sake. Let the whole world therefore rejoice, and let us sing to him to the sound of the trumpet, strings, the harp and the organ. Let us rejoice with the numerous hosts of angels, ceaselessly singing his praise. Noel/Alleluia |
Peter Philips (1561-1628)
CCLI Licence 31580
Carol: The first Nowell
The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star,
shining in the east, beyond them far,
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, …
And by the light of that same star,
three wise men came from country far.
To seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, …
This star drew nigh to the north-west,
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Nowell, Nowell, …
Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their k nee,
and offered there in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell, …
Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of naught,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.
Nowell, Nowell, …
Traditional Old English
CCL31580
Luke 2: 8–20
Read by Brian Halstead
The birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Choir: The Shepherds’ Farewell (The Childhood of Christ)
Thou must leave Thy lowly dwelling,
The humble crib, the stable bare.
Babe, all mortal babes excelling,
Content our earthly lot to share.
Loving father, Loving mother,
Shelter Thee with tender care!
Blessed Jesus, we implore Thee
With humble love and holy fear.
In the land that lies before Thee,
Forget not us who linger here!
May the shepherd’s lowly calling,
Ever to Thy heart be dear!
Blest are ye beyond all measure,
Thou happy father, mother mild!
Guard ye well your heav’nly treasure,
The Prince of Peace, The Holy Child!
God go with you, God protect you,
Guide you safely through the wild!
Hector Berlioz (1803-69)
CCL31580
Carol: See him lying on a bed of straw
See him lying on a bed of straw:
a draughty stable with an open door;
Mary cradling the babe she bore
the Prince of Glory is his name.
O now carry me to Bethlehem
to see the Lord appear to men!
Just as poor as was the stable then,
the Prince of Glory when he came.
Star of silver sweep across the skies,
show where Jesus in the manger lies;
shepherds swiftly from your stupor rise
to see the Saviour of the World.
O now carry me to Bethlehem …
Angels, sing the song that you began,
bring God’s glory to the heart of man;
Sing that Bethl’ems little baby can
be salvation to the soul.
O now carry me to Bethlehem …
Mine are riches, from your poverty,
from your innocence, eternity;
mine forgiveness by your death for me,
child of sorrow for my joy.
O now carry me to Bethlehem …
Michael Perry (1942–1996)
CCL31580
Carol: Joy to the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing!
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns!
Your sweetest songs employ
while fields and streams and hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)
CCL31580
John 1: 1–14
Read by Chinwe Osaghae
The Word became flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Choir: I saw three ships come sailing in
I saw three ships come sailing in,
on Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning.
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
on Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray wither sailed those ships all three
on Christmas Day in the morning.
O they sailed into Bethlehem
on Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring
on Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the angels in heaven shall sing
on Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing
on Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain
on Christmas Day in the morning.
Traditional Old English
Arr. Adrian Boynton
CCL31580
Carol: O come, all ye faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant.
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him, born the king of angels:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.
God of God,
Light of Light,
lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
very God,
begotten not created:
O come, let us adore him, …
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
glory to God
in the highest:
O come, let us adore him, …
Latin (18th century)
tr. Frederick Oakeley (1802–1880) and others
CCL31580
Prayers and Intercessions
Circle us, Lord. Circle us with the light of your presence, bright within this dark word.
Enable us to be overcomers of fear and temptation. Enable us to be victors over sin and despair.
Enable us to become that which you would desire.
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,
circle us with the light of your presence.
Circle us, Lord. Circle our family within the shelter of your outstretched arms.
Protect them in each moment of their daily lives. Protect them in the decisions that they face.
Protect their homes and relationships
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,
circle our families with the light of your presence.
Circle us, Lord. Circle this nation with Christmas love and hope.
Create a desire to listen to the Christmas message. Create a willingness to understand and respond.
Create a need to reach out to the Christ Child.
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,
circle our nation with the light of your presence.
Circle us, Lord. Circle this world with the joy of your Salvation.
Where there is sickness and disease bring healing.
Where there is hunger and despair bring hope.
Where there is war, torture and oppression bring release. Bring peace to the world!
Lord of creation, Lord of Salvation,
circle this world with the light of your presence.
[Silence]
Shout for joy the whole earth, and everything within.
Rejoice! For Light has come into the world.
The mountains sing, the seas resound to the praise of your name.
Salvation once promised is here on earth.
The angels’ song rings in the air, a child has been born. Hallelujah!
The Saviour of the world is here.
Amen
Notices
Offertory
Choir: My Lord has come – The Saviour’s Birth
Shepherds, called by angels,
called by love and angels:
No place for them but a stable.
My Lord has come.
Sages, searching for stars,
searching for love in heaven;
No place for them but a stable.
My Lord has come.
His love will hold me,
his love will cherish me,
love will cradle me.
Lead me, lead me to see him,
sages and shepherds and angels;
No place for me but a stable.
My Lord has come.
Final Prayer
Loving God, today help us to look upon the food we share with thanks,
help us to take joy in the company of our friends and family,
help us to be thankful for all the gifts with which you bless us.
In the name of Jesus, who is born in our hearts again today.
Amen
Carol: Hark! The herald angels sing
Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new born King,
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nation, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the Angelic host proclaim:
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’
Hark, the herald angels sing
glory to the new born King.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel:
Hark, the herald angels sing
glory to the new born King.
Hail, the heaven-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.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788) and others
CCL31580
Blessing
Let us go from this place proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God,
believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness which the darkness shall not overcome
and may the love of the Creator, the joy of the Spirit
and the peace of the Christ-child be with you this Christmas, and evermore.
And may the blessing of God almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you today.
Amen