Welcome to Greyfriars Kirk

Transcription

1 Christmas Eve Monday 24 December 2018

2 Welcome to Greyfriars Kirk Organ Music Fantasia and Toccata in D minor, Op.57 C. Villiers Stanford ( ) Fantaisie in C major, Op.16 César Franck ( ) "Es ist ein' Ros' entsprungen" Johannes Brahms ( ) "In dulci jubilo" Dietrich Buxtehude (c )

3 Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols The congregation are invited to join in the parts printed in italics. Hymn 315: Once in Royal David's city (vv. 1 and 2, choir only) Tune: Irby 3. 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. 4. 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. A Prayer, said by all: Bidding and Prayer (David Ogston) Come, royal messenger, sender and summoner, put the glory back in all we do. The door is open, open our hearts. Come, Bethlehem child, the cradle awaits you, for we have need of you. The door is open, open our hearts. Come, Redeemer, Lamb without blemish, come to the lost and the blamed and the battered, the outsider and the ones who are shunned, the people who wake in the night afraid of the morning, the terrified and the torn, the exhausted and the weary, the ones who are sure they are forgotten. The door is open, open our hearts. Amen Lesson 1: Genesis 1: 1 5, Angelus ad virginem subintrans in conclave, virginis formidinem demulcens, inquit, Ave! Ave, regina virginum; coeli terraeque Dominum concipies et paries intacta salutem hominum; tu porta coeli facta, medela criminum. Reader: Laura Dunlop (over)

4 Quomodo conciperem quae virum non cognovi? Qualiter infringerem quod firma mente vovi? Spiritus Sancti gratia perficiet haec omnia; ne timeas, sed gaudeas, secura quod castimonia manebit in te pura Dei potentia. Ad haec virgo nobilis respondens inquit ei 'Ancilla sum humilis omnipotentis Dei. Tibi coelesti nuntio, tanti secreti conscio, consentiens, et cupiens videre factum quod audio; parata sum parere, Dei consilio.' Eia mater Domini, quae pacem redidisti Angelis et homini, cum Christum genuisti; tuum exora filium ut se nobis propitium exhibeat, et deleat peccata; praestans auxilium vita frui beata post hoc exilium. 14th-century Irish arr David Willcocks ( ) Lesson 2: Isaiah 9: 2, 6 7 Hymn 309: Still the night, holy the night Lesson 3: Luke 1: Reader: Rognvald Munro Tune: Stille Nacht Reader: Ian Proudfoot A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure! The Virgin bears the Infant with virgin honour pure. Repeat the hymn again! 'To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men.' The Word becomes incarnate, and yet remains on high, And cherubim sing anthems to shepherds, from the sky. While thus they sing your monarch, those bright angelic bands, Rejoice, ye vales and mountains, ye oceans clap your hands. Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, The Infant born in Bethl'em, the Saviour and the Lord. And idol forms shall perish, and error shall decay, And Christ shall wield his sceptre, our Lord and God for aye. St Germanus ( ), Old German melody, tr. John Mason Neale ( ) arr. Michael Praetorius ( ) Lesson 4: Luke 2: 1 7 Hymn 294: On Christmas night all Christians sing Lesson 5: Luke 2: 8 20 Reader: Dr James Rae Tune: Sussex Carol Reader: Tim Smith

5 Hush, my dear, lie still and slumber, holy angels guard thy bed; Heav nly blessings without number softly falling on thy head. Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby. May we see the lowly cradle where the newborn Saviour lay; Ox s manger for his cradle; for his bedding, straw and hay. Holy Child, may we revere thee, trust and love thee all our days, Then go dwell for ever near thee, see thy face and sing thy praise. Isaac Watts ( ), adapted Chris Hutchings (b. 1979) Lesson 6: Matthew 2: 1 12 Hymn 316: Love came down at Christmas Reader: Will Frazer Tune: Gartan In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter long ago. Our God, heav n cannot hold him nor earth sustain; Heav n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign: In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for him, whom cherubim worship night and day, A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay; Enough for him, whom angels fall down before, The ox and ass and camel which adore. 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. Christina Rossetti ( ) Harold Darke ( ) Lesson 7: John 1: 1 14 Reader: Rev Ken Luscombe The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit and always green: The trees of nature fruitless be compared with Christ the apple tree. His beauty doth all things excel; by faith I know, but ne er can tell, The glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ the apple tree. For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed of all; but now I see tis found in Christ the apple tree. I m weary with my former toil, here I will sit and rest awhile: Under the shadow I will be of Jesus Christ the apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ the apple tree. attr. Rev Richard Hutchins (fl. 1760) Elizabeth Poston ( )

6 Address Hymn 306 (vv. 1-3 only): O come, all ye faithful Tune: Adeste Fideles The Offering 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. Tune: Forest Green, at Hymn 304 Prayers of Concern and Hope The Collect for Christmas Eve: All-embracing God, bound in mystery beyond the stars, but made clear in the stable that was lit up by a star, this special night is radiant with the brilliance of your message of love, hope, peace and good will to all. As we go from this place, may we bring that light into our homes, the places where we work, meet people and make plans. May the light of the Bethlehem stable be a light to guide us in the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Unto us is born a Son, King of quires supernal: See on earth his life begun, of lords the Lord eternal. Christ, from heav n descending low, comes on earth a stranger; Ox and ass their owner know, becradled in the manger. This did Herod sore affray, and grievously bewilder, So he gave the word to slay, and slew the little childer. Of his love and mercy mild this the Christmas story; And O that Mary s gentle Child might lead us up to glory! O and A and A and O, cum cantibus in choro, Let our merry organ go, benedicamus Domino. Piae Cantiones, 1582 tr. G R Woodward ( ) arr. David Willcocks ( ) The Lord s Prayer Words at Hymn 652

7 Hymn 301: Hark! the herald angels sing Tune: Bethlehem Benediction Amen Tune at Hymn 822 Organ Music Fantasia on "In dulci jubilo" BWV 729 J S Bach ( ) Ricercar pro Festis Natalitys, super Initium Cantilenae "Der Tag der ist so freüdenreich" J. C. F. Fischer ( ) After the service, all are warmly invited to join the congregation at the west end of the Kirk for mulled wine and mince pies, or for traybakes and spiced apple juice, as preferred.

8 NOTES The Kirk's new and improved web site is at Please visit it for up-to-date information on all our activities. The Minister, Richard Frazer or the Associate Minister, Ken Luscombe, are happy to meet anyone to discuss any matter. To arrange an appointment or a visit, whether you are a member or not, please contact either Richard on or by at minister@greyfriarskirk.com, or Ken by at associateminister@greyfriarskirk.com, or the Kirk office on Forthcoming Services Tuesday 25 December: Holy Communion at am. Sunday 30 December: Morning Service at am, led by members of the Kirk Session. Sunday 6 January 2019: Holy Communion at 9.30 am. Morning Service at am & Gaelic service at pm. Gift Aid Your Open Collection Donation If you are a UK tax payer, please use Gift Aid to let Greyfriars Kirk claim 25p from HM Revenue & Customs for every 1 you donate, by putting your open collection donation in the Gift Aid envelopes provided - these can be found in the backs of the chairs, or ask one of the duty elders. If the church office already has your address, you do not need to fill it in again on the envelope - just your name and the date, then your signature. You can now contribute to Greyfriars Kirk and its ministries from your mobile phone simply text GRFK20 10 to 70070, to donate 10 today. Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh (Church of Scotland), Scottish Charity number SC003761