Ceremony of Carols
Thursday 12 December 2024
Girls’ Division Great Hall
TheChamberChoirwillprocessinto
Hodie
Words: Medieval Latin, Music: B. Britten
The congregation should stand to sing
Once in Royal David’s City
Words: C. F. Alexander, Music: H. J. Gauntlett, Descant: D. Willcocks
Verse 1: Solo – Anika Shetty
1. 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.
Verse 3-5: Congregation
3. 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.
Verse 2: Choir only
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 and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
4. 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.
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.
The congregation should remain standing
WelcomeandBiddingPrayer
Mrs Lynne Kyle, Head of Girls’ Division
The congregation should remain standing to sing
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night
Words: N. Tate, Music: Este’s Psalter, Descant: D. Willcocks
1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around.
3. ‘To you in David's town this day Is born of David's line
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign:
5. Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song:
The congregation should now be seated
Reading
TheChamberChoirwillsing
Reading
2. ‘Fear not,’ said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind), ‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind.
4. ‘The heavenly babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid.’
6. ‘All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease.’
St Luke Chapter 2:8-14
Read by Nyah Pomian, Head Girl
Masters in This Hall
Words: W Morris, Music: French traditional, arr. M. Hayes
TheAccidentalswillsing
‘Mary's Song’ by Luci Shaw (1973)
Read by Ava Lafferty, Y8
The First Noel
Words and Music: English traditional
The congregation should stand to sing
Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing
Words: C. Wesley, Music: F. Mendelssohn, Fanfare and Descant: D. Willcocks
1. Hark! the herald-angels sing Glory to the new-born King, Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations, 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
The congregation should now be seated Reading
‘The Oxen’ by Thomas Hardy Read by Orla Sweeney, Y9
TheSeniorChoirwillsing
Still, Still, Still
Words and Music: Austrian traditional, arr. V. C. Johnson
