King Edward VI School Southampton
Carol Service Romsey Abbey Monday 14th December, 2015 7.30pm
‘Peace on Earth, goodwill to men, from Heav’n’s all gracious King!’ We come to this wonderful season at a time of tension and violence across the world. How deeply have we a need for humanity to hear the message of healing, love and reconciliation the angels proclaim; how much more have we all to do to play our part in response to the unconditional and gracious gift God made of himself. The Christmas story is a daring and radical one. It is easy for us to get caught up in the keeping of the annual rituals and mores, to sing familiar words, exchange lovely gifts and to be soothed into forgetting just how world-changing the good news is that the angels sing and the challenge embodied in a vulnerable child. Our service reminds us of our great need for change in our world and in ourselves; a change God wants us to effect. We retell the story of Mary’s brave embracing of what is asked of her, reflect on who her son was and his fate, remember the promises God makes and ponder how we too can love as he loves us. How will we respond to the needs of the desperate, to the violence of our enemies, to the issues of sustainable living in our fragile world? The Christmas message should make us feel anything but comfortable but nonetheless should reassure us that, whatever befalls us, the God incarnate in Jesus walks with us, our hope in ages past, our hope for years to come. Julian Poppleton School Chaplain We are delighted to welcome Nigel Atkinson Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire and Mrs Atkinson, Cllr Iris Anderson Mayor of Test Valley and her consort Cllr John Cockaday, Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, Mayor of Romsey and Cllr Linda Norris, Mayor of Southampton. We are very grateful to the Church Wardens, Canon Sledge and the Abbey teams for their welcome and support in holding our service for the first time in this ancient and beautiful place of worship, joining our voice with the saints’ songs of praise. CANDLES Please be ready to light your candle in the final hymn and pass the flame on. Do keep it lit for the blessing and take it home: the light going into the world as a symbol of Christ’s coming and our continuing mission. Please ensure mobile phones are silenced. The taking of photographs is not permitted during the service.
AT THE END OF THE SERVICE Do join us for seasonal refreshments.
THE DAYS ARE COMING WELCOME
The Reverend Julian Poppleton School Chaplain
The Abbey lights are extinguished, leaving only the Advent Candle burning.
CAROL
A Christmas Round
John Tavener
The Senior Choir
Ee parthénos séemeron, Ton ee pérόosirontiktee. Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcendent.
READING
Advent Calendar Rowan Williams read by Katy Billington and Charles Bolton, Heads of Capon
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL 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 th’ angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the new born King.
Christ, by highest heav’n 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 heav’n 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.
FROM THE HOUSE OF DAVID READING
Isaiah 11:1-9 A New Shoot Comes read by Ben Maher, Head of Lawrence
CAROL
The Spotless Rose Herbert Howells The Chamber Choir Soloist Phil Normand A spotless Rose is blowing, sprung from a tender root, of ancient seers’ foreshowing, of Jesse promised fruit. Its fairest bud unfolds to light amid the cold, cold winter, and in the dark midnight. The Rose which I am singing, whereof Isaiah said, is from its sweet root springing, in Mary, purest Maid. For through our God’s great love and might, the blessed Babe she bare us in a cold, cold winter’s night.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. All
Choir
How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, Still the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray: Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.
HEAR THE LOVE SONG READING
Luke 1.26-38 I am the Lord’s Servant read by Kira Fowle and Ryan Seed, Heads of Reynolds
CAROL
Mid-Winter
Bob Chilcott
The First Year Choir
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign: In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air But only His mother in her maiden bliss Worshipped the Beloved with a kiss. What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL 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, goodwill to men, From heav’n’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 heav’nly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hov’ring wing; And ever o’er its Babel sounds The blessed 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.
GOOD NEWS FOR ALL PEOPLE READING
Now is the Time of God’s Favour Christopher Idle read by Hannah Smith and Sam Webb, Heads of Watts
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal: See on earth his life begun, of lords the Lord eternal, of lords the Lord eternal. Choir
Christ, from heaven descending low, come on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know, becradled in the manger, becradled in the manger.
Men
This did Herod sore affray, and grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, and slew the little childer, and slew the little childer.
Women Of his love and mercy mild this the Christmas story; And O that Mary's gentle child might lead us up to glory, might lead us up to glory. All
O and A, and A and O, Cum cantibus in choro, Let our merry organ go, Benedicamus Domino, Benedicamus Domino.
THE WORD MADE FLESH READING
John 1.1-14 We have seen his Glory read by Julian Thould, The Head Master
CAROL
A Child is born in Bethlehem Samuel Scheidt The Senior Choir A child is born in Bethlehem, Alleluia, alleluia, And joy is in Jerusalem, Alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice, rejoice, sing high, sing low, Alleluia, alleluia, Benedicamus Domino, Alleluia, alleluia. To Holy Trinity give praise, Alleluia, alleluia, With Deo gracias always, Alleluia, alleluia.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day, To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy. The shepherds at those tidings rejoicèd much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind: And went to Bethlehem straightway this blessed babe to find: But when to Bethlehem they came whereat this infant lay, They found Him in a manger, where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, unto the Lord did pray: Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace; This holy tide of Christmas all other doth efface:
WHEN HER SON IS GROWN READING
Prayer for a New Mother Dorothy Parker read by Mills Brown, Head of Sylvester
CAROL
Estnisches Wiegenlied
An Estonian Lullaby
Arvo Pärt
UK premiere performance The Senior Choir and Chamber Strings Kuus Kuss Katlike Lulla, lulla my darling
PRAYERS
led by members of the School community
READING
In the Old Days from Silas Marner George Elliot read by Christine Owen, member of the Non-Teaching Staff
CAROL
Bethlehem Down
Peter Warlock The Chamber Choir
When he is King we will give him the Kings’ gifts, Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown, Beautiful robes,” said the young girl to Joseph, Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down. Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight – Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold, Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold. When he is King they will clothe him in grave-sheets, Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown, He that lies now in the white arms of Mary, Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down. Here he has peace and a short while for dreaming, Close-huddled oxen to keep Him from cold, Mary for love, and for lullaby music Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL Solo
Anna Poller
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. Choir
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 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.
THE FORCE AWAKENS READING
The Desert will Sing and Rejoice! Isaiah 35, Micah 4.1-4 read by Lucy Porter and Rory Morris, Heads of Lake
CAROL
Up Good Christen Folk
Trad arr. Woodward The Senior Choir
Ding-dong, ding: Ding-a-dong-a-ding: Ding-dong, ding-dong: Ding-a-dong-ding. Up! good Christen folk, and listen how the merry church bells ring, And from steeple bid good people come adore the new-born King: Tell the story how from glory God came down at Christmastide, Bringing gladness, chasing sadness, show'ring blessings far and wide. Born of mother, blest o'er other, Ex Maria Virgine, In a stable (‘tis no fable), Christus natus hodie.
READING
Not One Advent Bernard Thorogood read by Rory Saunders, The Head of School
ANTHEM
Jubilate Deo
William Walton
The Senior Choir
O be joyful in the Lord all lands! Serve the Lord with gladness, And come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God: It is he that has made us and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving And into his courts with praise; Be thankful unto him, and speak good of his name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: And his truth endureth from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, World with without end. Amen.
THE BLESSING The Reverend Canon Tim Sledge – Vicar of Romsey
CONGREGATIONAL CAROL 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: Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God in the highest: CLOSING MUSIC Please remain seated until directed by the stewards. This is to allow safe movement, please extinguish your candle and perhaps relight it at some point in the festive season to remember God’s constant presence in our lives.
RETIRING COLLECTION At the request of the School’s Charity Commission, our collection this year is in support of the work of Make-A-Wish and New Forest Nightstop. Please give generously. Make-a-Wish aims to grant magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. New Forest Nightstop provides the only emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds in the homes of trained and approved host households around the New Forest. It is affiliated to the registered charity Depaul Nightstop UK (Vincent de Paul was a major Roman Catholic social reformer in 17th century France, known as the Saint of Charity.)
Chamber Orchestra Violin I Emmy Huang Maya Garside Ben Atherton Natalya Evans Iman Elsheikh Yuqing Chen Jessica Holt Violin II Alice Booth Alla Garside Toby Hill Eve Henley Niall Armstrong Elizabeth Lotery Viola Kelvin Xie
Cello Mike Huang Sophie Khakoo Bass Alastair Fraser-Urquhart Alice Ridley Jonathan Brown Flute Tom Edwards Rhianna Jones Clarinet Kieran Bassi Aelfred Hillman Oboe Luke Roberts Linus Etchingham
Trumpet Mhairi Carson Philip Normand Toby Saer Eleanor MacLeod Horn Tom Salmon Trombone Guy Ripper Edward Fletcher Harry Fraser-Urquhart Tuba Chris Lotery Percussion Joe Winter Oliver Tait Zak Milner
Senior Choir Mary Amos Angus Armstrong * Elizabeth Beardsall Will Atherton Jake Berry * Emily Besley * Emma Blackman * Alice Booth Emily Boxer Harriet Brander Anna Brooks Richard Brown * Imogen Burwood Ellen Campbell Mhairi Carson Alice Cheshire Indie Chungh * Martha Clarke Madeleine Collins Harriet Crompton Victoria Diaper * Madeleine Duffin * Eleanor Dunlop * Megan Dunlop *
Eleanor Dye Tom Edwards * Iman Elsheikh * Natalya Evans * Alastair FraserUrquhart Maya Garside * Beth Gaunt * Elspeth Hargreaves Emer Healy * Susannah Hill Libby Hoare Jessica Holmes * Rachel Jacob * Jessica Jarman Rhianna Jones * Sophie Khakoo Laura Kingshott Collette Lane * Holly Laugesen Cecilia Laverty Bronwyn Lee Naomi Lee
Eleanor MacLeod * Julia Mead-Briggs Laura Moody Kira Morton Carol Naoum Philip Normand * Natalie Oldfield Rhiannon Paine Annabel Panaech Luka Peart * Lily Percival Katrina PennNewman Niamh Phelan * Anna Poller * Rosie Potter Angus Reid * Dominik Reynolds * Iona Rhodes Alice Ridley Amy Ritchie Guy Ripper * Luke Roberts * Sophie Roe *
Isabel Rose Ben Routledge * Beth Ryan Beth Self * Alabama Shanker Abigail Sheppard Holly Smart * Iolanta Spanner Rosa Sparks * Sara Talwar Claudia Tam Barnaby Taylor * Georgia Tomlin Bella Turner Lizzie Umbers Anoushka Umranikar Rose Van Der Schee * Evie Wateridge * Phoebe Willoughby Hannington * Joe Winter * Olesia Wisniewska Abigail Woodcock Sophie Wu (* denotes Chamber Choir)
First Year Choir Tilly Abraham Anna Aksenova Sophia Bassi Edward Bence Sophie Braakenburg Emily Bull Archie Callaghan Joseph Clark Thomasina Gibson Ben Harding Rachel Howarth
James Jellett Kate Leask Harriet Lloyd Abbie Morton Isabel Murphy Eve Musson Daniel Oakley Katie Powell Tabitha Rouf Lucia Rugge-Price Hannah Smith
Isabella Tam Sasha Thompson Xanthe Thompson Olivia Tilley Anna Tunney Beatrice Watson Jasmine Williams Florence Wright Alex Zhou
Adult Choir Madelene Alavi Bridget Amos Stuart Ayers Stacey Barnett Heather Beardsall Jacqui Besley Susan Blunsden Jo Boxer Jonathan Brown Richard Chamberlain Sue Chamberlain Rebecca Clark David Clarke Maggie Clarke Anna Cooke Bettina Collins Richard Collins Cat Coulson Michelle Dring Stella Evans Helen Everest
Dee Flower Simon Gaunt Catherine Giancola Sophie Groves Julie Harding Julia Hardwick Jane Holt Richard Holt Diana Hulbert Sarah Hughes David Lovegrove Noreen Lovegrove Pippa Keech Yvonne Kiley Mike Kelly Sonia Kelly Katy Le Poidevin Stephen McCann Rebecca Moisan Alan Morgan Lorraine Morgan
Therese Moriarty Mary Anne Normand Robert Normand Olivia Pearce Rebecca Ridley Erica Roberts Sara Jane Roope Sam Routledge Sophie Rugge-Price Jim Sampson Emma Sheppard Elizabeth Smith Louise Staniforth Justin Sturdy Chris Thompson Lynda Thompson Peter Thompson Alison Vincent Deirdre Watson
Romsey Abbey is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Southern England. Dedicated to St Mary and St EthelflĂŚda, an Abbess of Romsey at the time of the first millennium, it is home to a thriving community of Christians.
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