A Service of Readings and Carols for Christmas
Malvern Priory Friday 11 December 2015 10.30am
The Incarnation is history’s greatest paradox. The infant in the manger was young and yet timeless, fragile and yet powerful, dependent and yet a ruler, tender and yet strong, nurtured and yet paternal, limited and yet unconfined, mortal and yet eternal, human and yet divine. Seventeenth century English mystic and poet, Richard Crashaw (1613-1649) beautifully explored this paradox in his verse: Welcome, all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span; Summer in Winter; day in night; Heaven in earth, and God in man. Great little one, whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth. At Christmas, God risked everything to become Emmanuel. He did not hide within philosophical speculation, or keep himself at the safe distance of literary semantics. Instead, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (St John 1. 14) He chose to get involved with humanity from the inside. God took that ultimate risk because he loves us, and when you love someone you always make yourself vulnerable for love’s sake. The love which takes a donkey ride at Christmas, risks a donkey ride at Easter.
Cover picture by Emily Wheaton, Year 8 You are requested not to use video cameras or flash photography during the service. Mobile phones should be switched off. Thank you.
Organ Voluntary
In Dulci Jubilo – Partita
James Vivian
MSJ Ensemble
Pastorale from Christmas Concerto
Arcangelo Corelli
The congregation is asked to remain silent as the Ensemble plays. Please stand when the Ensemble has finished playing and before the solo. Solo
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.
Congregation
And through all his wondrous childhood 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.
H.J. Gauntlett (1805-1876) Harmonised by A.H. Mann (1850-1929) Descant by D.V. Willcocks (1919-2015) Please sit
C.F. Alexander (1818-1895)
The Bidding Prayer The Lord’s Prayer ALL
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. 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
Choir
The Snow
First Reading
Isaiah chapter 9, verses 2, 6 & 7 Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold
Please stand Congregation Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come, born a Jew. Come to make all things new; Bear His People’s burden, Freely love and pardon. Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! When He comes, when He comes, Who will make Him welcome? God in time, God in man, This is God’s timeless plan: He will come, as a man, Born Himself of woman, God divinely human. Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! When He comes, when He comes, Who will make Him welcome?
Edward Elgar
Mary, hail! Though afraid, She believed, she obeyed. In her womb God is laid; Till the time expected Nurtured and protected. Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! When He comes, when He comes, Who will make Him welcome? Journey ends! Where afar Bethlem shines, like a star, Stable door stands ajar. Unborn Son of Mary, Saviour, do not tarry! Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! Jesus comes! Jesus comes! We will make Him welcome!
From Piae Cantiones (1582)
F. Pratt Green (1903-2000)
Please sit Second Reading St Luke chapter 2, verses 1 – 15 Angels declare God’s glory to the Shepherds Choir ‘And the Glory of the Lord’ from Messiah Third Reading Please stand
The First-Born
George F Handel Rogan Wolf
Congregation
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.
O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth! For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love.
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!
Traditional English melody Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) Harmonised by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Please sit Choir Fourth Reading
So Many Stars St Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 – 11 The Wise Men are led by a star to Jesus
Lin Marsh
Please stand Congregation
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. O, that birth forever blessèd, When the Virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Saviour of our race, And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face Evermore and evermore.
This is He, whom seer 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 our songs declare His worth Evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heav’n, adore Him; Angels and archangels, sing! Powers, dominions bow before Him And extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev’ry voice in concert ring, Evermore and evermore.
Plainsong melody, Piae Cantiones (Theodoricus Petrus, 1582)
Prudentius (348-413), trans. J.M. Neale (adapted)
Please sit Fifth Reading
Journey of the Magi
Choir The Little Road to Bethlehem
T S Eliot Music:Michael Head Words: Margaret Rose
Sixth Reading
BC:AD
U A Fanthorpe
Please stand Congregation
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.
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.
From a chorus in Mendelssohn’s Festgesang (1840)
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Remain Standing Seventh Reading Please sit
St John chapter 1, verses 1 – 14 St John considers the mystery of the Incarnation
Choir Prayers and Blessing
Lullay My Liking
Andrew Carter
Please stand Congregation Adeste fideles, Laeti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem; Natum videte, Regem angelorum: Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Dominum 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, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
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 etc
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born on Christmas morning, Jesu, to Thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore him etc
Latin; 18th C, trans. F. Oakeley Organ Voluntary
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
J.F. Wade Sigfrid Karl-Elert
Please remain standing while the Choir, Clergy and Headmistress’s party leave. There will be a retiring collection in aid of MSJ Gambia Project. The Headmistress and Staff request the pleasure of your company for mince pies and mulled wine at Malvern St James after the service.
Malvern St James would like to thank: The Reverend Canon John Barr, the Church Wardens and the PCC of Malvern Priory for their kind permission for this service to be held in the Priory and Piers Maxim, Organist.
Š CHURCH COPYRIGHT LICENCE No.: 122891