MALMESBURY ABBEY
ADVENT CAROL SERVICE
Sunday 1st December 2013 6.30pm Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into morning . (Amos 5:8)
Vicar’s welcome What is it that will remain with you after this Advent Carol Service? For some it will be the beauty of choral worship as it echoes around the 12th century walls of the Abbey, drawing us a little closer to heaven and the song of the angels. For others it will be the stillness, as we stop and sit in silence and listen to the timeless word of God written 2,000 years ago or more. For me it will probably be the Advent carols themselves, the richness of the harmonies on the organ and the depth of the longing for God in the texts. But perhaps for many it will simply be the candles, the light shining in the darkness. Most of us have seen a candle before, but not all of us will have stood with 300 others and held candles symbolising the light of God, shining in the darkness of humanity. It is a powerful image. As 2 billion Christians worldwide mark Advent Sunday today, it is easy to imagine the tangible darkness of the church in the Philippines, or in Egypt, or in Syria; yet they meet in hope today. And as the year ends in the UK each of us knows somebody for whom the darkness is also very real, and it looks like personal debt or job vulnerability or relational breakdown or sickness or loneliness or spiritual searching. But Advent is not a festival of darkness; it is a reminder that whatever shape or shadow the darkness takes in our lives, God is there, and we, the church, will always be a people of hope. The Light shines. In Malmesbury Abbey tonight we proclaim again that ‘the people walking in darkness have seen a great light.’ Jesus Christ is that light. May you, and those you love, seek and know His holy presence in the weeks and months ahead. Revd Neill Archer Advent Sunday, 2013.
Guidance for the Service The service is lit by candles alone and begins in darkness When candles are being lit please take great care when passing the light to others Please secure all loose hair and clothing Because of the large number of candles in this service there is a significant risk – please take care with your candle at all times Please stand for all congregational hymns and sit afterwards There is a retiring collection – please use the gift aid envelope included in this order of service
Organ Preludes Please remain seated in silence during the final organ prelude as the Abbey is gradually darkened. Chorale Prelude on ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’ Bach Chorale Prelude on ‘Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen’ Brahms
Choir
The Advent Matins Responsory Palestrina
Sung from St Aldhelm’s Chapel I look from afar; and lo, I see the power of God coming and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel? High and Low, rich and poor, one with another; go ye out to meet him and say: Hear O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Tell us, art thou he that should come? Stir up thy strength, O Lord and come to reign over thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Reading
Genesis 1:1-5 Read by Catherine Price Lay Minister
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light ‘day’, and the darkness he called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning,– the first day. 1
This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Choir
Creator of the stars (mode iv)
Sung in the South Aisle and then at the font, as the light is passed through the Abbey. Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, O Jesu, Saviour of us all, Regard thy servants when they call. Thou, grieving at the bitter cry of all creation doomed to die, didst come to save a ruined race with healing gifts of heavenly grace. Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride, As drew the world to evening-tide; Proceeding from a virgin shrine, The Son of Man, yet Lord divine. At Thy great name exalted now, All knees must bend, all hearts must bow; And things in heaven and earth shall own, That Thou art Lord and King alone. To thee, O Holy One, we pray our judge in that tremendous day; Preserve us, while we dwell below From every onslaught of the foe. All praise, eternal Son, to thee Whose advent sets thy people free; Whom with the Father we adore And Spirit blest, forevermore. Amen
Hymn
Of the Father’s heart begotten arr. Wilcox
During which the choir process to the centre of the Nave Of the Father’s love begotten, Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see, Evermore and evermore! At His Word the worlds created; He commanded; it was done: Heaven and earth and depths of ocean In their threefold order one; All that grows beneath the shining Of the light of moon and sun, Evermore and evermore! This is He Whom seers and sages Sang of old with one accord; Whom the writings of the prophets promised in their faithful word; Now He shines, the long expected, Let creation praise its Lord, Evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore him Angels and Archangels sing Powers, dominions bow before him and extol our God and King Let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert ring, Evermore and evermore! Bidding Prayer
Revd Neill Archer Vicar, Malmesbury Abbey
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, in 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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn
Come thou redeemer of the Earth arr. Wilcox Come, thou Redeemer of the earth, And manifest thy virgin-birth: Let every age adoring fall; Such birth befits the God of all. Begotten of no human will, but of the Spirit, thou art still The Word of God in flesh arrayed, The promised fruit to man displayed. The virgin womb that burden gained With virgin honour all unstained; The banners there of virtue glow; God in His temple dwells below. Forth from His chamber goeth He, That royal home of purity, A giant in twofold substance one, Rejoicing now His course to run. O equal to thy Father, thou! Gird on thy fleshly mantle now, The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate. All laud eternal Son to Thee Whose advent sets thy people free; Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Ghost for evermore. Amen
Reading
Psalm 13 Read by Diana Crowe Churchwarden
How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. 1
This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Choir
O nata lux de lumine Thomas Tallis
O Light born of Light, Jesus, Redeemer of the world, with loving-kindness deign to receive suppliant praise and prayer. Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost, grant us to be members of thy blessed body.
Hymn
Come thou long expected Jesus
C
ome, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art: dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king, born to reign in us for ever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
Reading
Isaiah 9:2,3,6,7 Read by Linda Sullivan Lay Minister
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 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. 2
This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Choir
Bogoroditse Devo Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rejoice Virgin, God bearer Mary, full of Grace, the Lord be with you. Blessed are you amongst women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have borne the Saviour of our souls
Reading
Isaiah 52:7-10 Read by Revd Neill Archer Vicar
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ 8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. 9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. 7
This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Hymn
On Jordan’s banks the Baptist’s Cry
O
n Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord is nigh; awake and hearken, for he brings glad tidings of the King of kings. Then cleansed be every breast from sin; make straight the way for God within, prepare we in our hearts a home where such a mighty Guest may come. For thou art our salvation, Lord, our refuge and our great reward; without thy grace we waste away like flowers that wither and decay. To heal the sick stretch out thine hand, and bid the fallen sinner stand; shine forth and let thy light restore earth's own true loveliness once more. All praise, eternal Son, to thee, whose advent doth thy people free; whom with the Father we adore and Holy Ghost for evermore.
Reading
John 3:16-21 Read by Lesley Wilson Churchwarden
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. 16
This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Choir
Lift up your heads O ye gates G.F. Handel
Lift up your heads O ye gates And be ye lift up ye everlasting doors And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty in battle. The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory. (Psalm 24:7-10)
Reading
Revelation 1:4b-8 Read by John Monaghan Curate, Malmesbury Abbey
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him, even those who pierced him’; and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’ So shall it be! Amen. 8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’ 4
Choir
E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come Paul Ganz
Peace be to you and grace from Him who freed us from our sin, who loved us all, and shed his blood that we might saved be. Sing holy, holy to our Lord, the Lord almighty God Who was and is, and is to come. Sing holy, holy Lord Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, Rejoice on earth, ye saints below for Christ is coming soon. E'en so Lord Jesus quickly come and night shall be no more They need no light, no lamp, nor sun for Christ will be their all! (Adapted from Revelation 22)
Hymn
Hark a thrilling voice is sounding
During which the choir process to the sanctuary
H
ark! a thrilling voice is sounding. ‘Christ is nigh,’ it seems to say; ‘Cast away the dreams of darkness, O ye children of the day.’ Wakened by the solemn warning, let the earth-bound soul arise; Christ, her sun, all ill dispelling, shines upon the morning skies. Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, comes with pardon down from heav’n; let us haste, with tears of sorrow, one and all to be forgiv’n; That when next he comes with glory, and the world is wrapped in fear, with his mercy he may shield us, and with words of love draw near. Honour, glory, might, and blessing to the Father and the Son, with the everlasting Spirit, while eternal ages run.
Choir
Seek him that maketh the seven stars Jonathan Dove
Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion And turneth the shadow of death into the morning. Alleluia, yea, the darkness shineth as the day, the night is light about me. (Amos 5:8, Psalm 139:12)
Prayers
Linda Sullivan Lay Minister
The Advent Collect Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility: so that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Hymn
O come O come Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel! And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Rod of Jesse! free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny From depths of hell, thy people save, And give them victory o’er the grave: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou dayspring come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,, And death’s dark shadows put to flight: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, thou Key of David come And open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, thou Lord of Might, Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height, In ancient times did give the law In cloud and majesty and awe: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Please remain standing The Advent Blessing May God the Father, who loved the world so much that he sent his only son, give you grace to prepare for the life eternal. Amen. May God the Son, who comes to us as Redeemer and Judge, reveal to you the path from darkness to light. Amen. May God the Holy Spirit, by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ, help you bear the fruits of holiness. Amen. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Recessional
Lo! He comes with clouds descending
During which the choir processes to St Aldhelm’s Chapel Lo, he comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain; Thousand, thousand saints attending Swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ appears, on earth to reign. Every eye shall now behold him Robed in dreadful majesty; Those who set at naught and sold him, Pierced and nailed him to the tree, Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing Shall the true Messiah see. Those dear tokens of his Passion Still his dazzling body bears, Cause of endless exultation To his ransomed worshippers: With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture gaze we on those glorious scars! Yea, amen! Let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the power and glory: Claim the kingdom for thine own: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.
Please remain standing Choir
Glory now to God J.S. Bach
Glory now to God we render who reigns on high in heavenly splendour; let every tongue in praise unite. Lo we enter heaven’s bright portal to join the song of saints immortal wWith angels round the throne of light. No mortal joy can e’er with heavens true bliss compare; Alleluia Rejoice below, i-o, i-o. Sing out in dulci jubilo.
Dismissal Our Lord says, ‘I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.
Organ Voluntary Fantasia ‘In dulci jubilo’
J.S. Bach