The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is one of the best known and most beloved celebrations of Christmas in the English-speaking world. Devised over a century ago by EW Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, it was quickly adopted for use in churches across Britain including, in 1918, at King’s College, Cambridge.
The BBC began broadcasting the annual service at King’s College in 1928 and from here the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols achieved worldwide fame. Today, millions listen to the service on Christmas Eve each year, and the liturgy and music are used in church settings of numerous Christian denominations across the world. As explained by King’s College: ‘In these and other ways the service has become public property.’
The format of the Festival service has remained constant since the early years of its celebration. The nine ‘Lessons’ are readings from the Bible. They begin with the book of Genesis and then trace the arc of God’s salvific plan through the messianic prophesies of ancient Israel, the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus, culminating in the mysterious and momentous words of the Prologue to John, with its themes of light, life and logos. In the words of Reverend Eric Milner-White: ‘The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God [seen] through the windows and the words of the Bible’.
There are other traditions: the readers are ordered from junior to senior, the opening carol is always Once In Royal David’s City and the closing is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Within this framework, however, music is selected for each service from the widest range of anthems, hymns and carols. Across the world, these variations on the Christmas theme reflect the diverse cultures and communities which, each year, join together to celebrate the joy and hope of Christ’s coming into the world.
Organ Prelude
Processional Carol
ONCE IN ROYAL
DAVID’S CITY
Words by
Cecil Frances Alexander
Music by Henry John Gauntlett
Descant by David Willcocks
Solo by Nicole Watkins
Year 6
All stand for the Procession
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 Only:
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.
All:
For he is our childhood’s 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; When like stars his children, crowned All in white shall wait around.
The congregation remains standing
Bidding
Prayer
Reverend Andy Bleach
As we approach Christmas let us prepare to hear again the message of the angels: and in our minds travel to Bethlehem and imagine the baby Jesus lying in his Mother’s arms attended by the Three Wise Men.
We will read and follow through Bible readings the story of God’s purpose in bringing his Son in to the world for our Redemption, and in this Church we will remember Mary and the baby Jesus through prayers and carols:
But first, let us pray for the needs of the world; for peace and goodwill throughout all nations; for unity within the Church, within this School, community and City of Sydney: And let us at this time remember the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; those who are sick in body and in mind and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and those who do not know the loving kindness of God.
Lastly let us remember people throughout the world who rejoice with us, those who have hope in Jesus Christ. We offer our prayers and praises in the words which Christ himself taught us:
All respond:
Our Father, which 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 that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.
The congregation sits
Carol Years 3 and 4 Choir
GAUDETE
Anonymous Piae Cantiones, 1582
THE CHERUB’S LULLABY
Winnagene Hatch
First Lesson
Madeleine Wood
Year 6
Congregational Carol ANGELS, FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
French traditional melody
Tune by James Montgomery
Arranged by David Willcocks
THE CALL OF ABRAM
Genesis 12: 1-3
The congregation stands for the carol
Angels, from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth; Refrain : Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds in the fields abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing, Yonder shines the infant light: (Refrain)
Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations; Ye have seen his natal star: (Refrain)
Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In his temple shall appear; (Refrain)
Though and Infant no we view Him, He shall fill His Father’s throne; Gather all the nations to Him; Every knee shall then bow down: (Refrain)
The congregation sits
Second Lesson
Isabelle Blackwood
Year 7
Carol Galaxy Singers
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
Genesis 22: 15-18
JUST ONE STAR
Text by Michael Joncas, Langston Hughes & Ben van Tienen
Music by Ben van Tienen
Third Lesson
Trinity Brogden
Head Prefect
THE PROPHET FORETELLS
THE COMING OF THE SAVIOUR
Isaiah 9: 2; 6-7
Carol Year 7 Choir
BORN THIS CHRISTMAS DAY A PARTNER SONG WITH IL EST NÉ, LE DIVIN ENFANT
French carol
Additional words and music by Mary Donnelly
Arranged by George L.O. Strid
Fourth Lesson
Ms Merrilyn Lean
Senior School Science Teacher
THE COMING OF ZION’S KING
Zechariah 9: 9
Congregational Carol
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
English traditional melody
Words by Phillips Brooks
Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Verse 4 arranged by Thomas Armstrong
The congregation stands for the 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.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to all the earth; For Christ is born of Mary; And, gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond’ring love
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heav’n. No ear may hear his coming But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in.
The congregation sits
Fifth Lesson
Mrs Gayle Kennedy President, Queenwood Parents Association
THE BIRTH OF JESUS FORETOLD
Luke 1: 26-35; 38
Carol Medway Singers
MY DANCING DAY
Traditional English carol Drew Collins
Sixth Lesson
Mr Simon Townley
Year 11 Year Coordinator
THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Luke 2: 1; 3-7
Carol Year 8 Choir
BORN IN A MANGER
Carol melody Tempus Adest Floridum Words by J.M. Neale Music by Kevin Stannard
Seventh Lesson
Mrs Anni Sandwell Head of Junior School
THE SHEPHERDS GO TO THE MANGER
Luke 2: 8-16
Instrumental Interlude
PIFA (PASTORAL SYMPHONY)
from Messiah
George Frederic Handel
Carol
Combined Senior and Junior School Choirs
JESUS BLEIBET MEINE FREUDE
(JESU, JOY OF MAN’S DESIRING)
from Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147
Johann Sebastian Bach
Eighth Lesson
Mrs Belinda Moore
Deputy Principal
THE MAGI VISIT THE MANGER
Matthew 2: 1-12
Congregational Carol
GOD REST YOU
MERRY GENTLEMEN
Traditional English carol
The congregation stands for the carol
God rest you merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas Day, To save poor souls from Satan’s power When we had gone astray
Refrain : O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy: O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God that is our Father, The blessed angels came, Unto some certain shepherds, With tidings of the same; That he was born in Bethlehem, The Son of God by name.
Refrain : O tidings of comfort and joy, etc.
Now when they came to Bethlehem, Where our sweet Saviour lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay. The blessed Virgin kneeling down, Unto the Lord did pray.
Refrain : O tidings of comfort and joy, etc.
With sudden joy and gladness, The shepherds were beguil’d, To see the Babe of Israel, Before his mother mild. O then with joy and cheerfulness, Rejoice each mother’s child.
Refrain : O tidings of comfort and joy, etc.
Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, Like we true loving brethren, Each other to embrace, For the merry time of Christmas, Is coming on a-pace.
Refrain : O tidings of comfort and joy, etc.
The congregation sits
Carol Years 5 and 6 Choir
THE SILVER STARS
Words by John Wheeler
Music by William G. James
Ninth Lesson
Mrs Marise McConaghy Principal
ST JOHN UNFOLDS THE GREAT MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION
John 1: 1-14
Congregational Carol O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL (ADESTE FIDELES)
Words and melody by John Francis Wade
Arranged by David Willcocks
The congregation stands for the 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: O come, let us adore him, etc.
See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps: O come, let us adore him, etc.
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.
The congregation remains standing
Collect and Blessing
Father Chima Ofor
The Lord be with you.
All:
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thy only son, Jesus Christ:
Grant that as we joyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
All: Amen
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill, and make you partakers of the divine nature; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
All: Amen The congregation remains standing
Recessional Carol
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
Words
by
Charles Wesley and others
Music by Felix MendelssohnBartholdy
Verse 3 (Descant)
Arranged by David Willcocks
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 th’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 Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Ris’n 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.
Organ Voluntary
CHORAL DIRECTORS
Catherine Borchok
Adele Kozak
ORGANIST
Ian Minnett
MUSICIANS
Tim Crow, Trumpet
Gabrielle Johnson, Violin
Anne Marie Braid, Viola
Harrison Werlemann-Godfrey, Cello
Nicole Murray-Prior, Double Bass
SOUND AND AUDIO
Craig Herbert
Michal Botha
VIDEO
Micah Osis
Thomas Peggie
Emily Winton
With thanks to our readers, choristers and instrumentalists.
Special thank you to St Mary’s Catholic Church, Manly.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
