A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR ADVENT

Transcription

1 A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR ADVENT God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. We love because God first loved us... The commandment we have from God is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. These words, from the First Letter of John, state a central tenet of our faith, and sum up in a few words much of the message of the Bible. The story of the Bible is the story of the Advent of Christ, the gradual unfolding of our understanding of God s message of love and redemption. The readings tonight were chosen to illuminate this process. Cain murders Abel in a time when there were no recorded rules against murder, when the Bible s matrix of morality and conscience was still unrevealed, a formless void. It is in this void that humankind Cain first chooses violence, a decision with consequences bequeathed to every generation since. God voices displeasure at Cain s act, and in Leviticus gives Moses the great commandment: to love neighbor as oneself. The Third Lesson is from Micah, one of the Hebrew prophets who proclaim a vision of peace and justice. Micah also teaches that the Lord requires not ritual sacrifice SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, :OO PM INTRODUCTION: FROM ADVENT TO CHRISTMAS TO NOW but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Isaiah sees that the nation of Israel will be able to realize God s redemption to break the grip of sin, violence, and murder only through great suffering endured by an innocent servant (to many readers the nation of Israel itself). This servant will become the receptacle for all violence, an atoning human scapegoat. Isaiah envisions redemption for Israel through suffering that is God s will (Isa. 53:10). With the coming of the Christ, it becomes clear that redemption is for all humankind, and that the servant Jesus suffers not because of God s will for suffering, but because a world wedded to violence will have it no other way (Sixth Lesson). The Apostle Paul restates Isaiah s Servant Song as a hymn to Christ, whose perfect obedience to the Father s commandment that we love God and neighbor leads inexorably to the cross, and through the sacrifice of the cross, to salvation. The great prologue to the Gospel of John concludes the readings: The Word Jesus though rejected by this sinful world, overwhelmed that rejection and lives among us, giving those who receive him power to become children of God.

2 Please help create a prayerful and meditative atmosphere in the church before the service by refraining from conversation. Directions to stand should be understood as a request of only those able to do so comfortably. ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN VOLUNTARY Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) Please rise when the clergy and choir enter the church. MATIN RESPONSORY Sung by the choir. Adapted from Palestrina ( ) by David Willcocks (b. 1919) 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. HYMN Come thou, Redeemer of the earth Stanzas 1-4 sung by the choir, in procession. 1 Come thou, redeemer of the earth, 2 Begotten of no human will, And manifest thy virgin birth: But of the Spirit, thou art still Let ev ry age adoring fall, The Word of God in flesh arrayed, Such birth befits the God of all. The promised one to all displayed. 3 From God the Father he proceeds, 4 Thy cradle here shall glitter bright, To God the Father back he speeds; And darkness breathe a newer light, Defeating both the cross and grave, Where endless faith shall shine serene, At God s right hand he lives to save. And twilight never intervene. 6 - Unison

3 3 THE BIDDING PRAYER Said by the Officiant Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel conveyed God s promise of redemption and healing for his waiting people. Let us rejoice in our carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, will bring all people and all things into the glory of God s eternal kingdom. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor receive ministry and hope. But first, let us pray for the world which God so loves; for those who have not heard the Good News of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. All, together These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ himself taught us 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The people may be seated. MOTET Sung by the choir William Byrd (c ) Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant justum Aperiatur terra et germinet salvatorem. Benedixisti terram tuam, Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness. Break, O earth, a Savior yield, the fairest Flower of the field. Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land,

4 4 avertisti captivitatem Jacob. thou hast turned again the captivity of Jacob. Gloria Patri et Filio, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, et Spiritui Sancto : and to the Holy Ghost : Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen. Isaiah 45:8, Psalm 85:1, THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 4:1-16 Reader: Julia H., A Chorister of the Choir After Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden, Cain murders his brother HYMN Sung by all, standing THE SECOND LESSON Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-18 Reader: Mary Sullivan, A Choir Parent God gives the people the Great Commandment HYMN 59 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding Sung by all, standing Merton, arr. Alan Gray THE THIRD LESSON Micah 4:1-4 Reader: Elisabeth B., Youth Leadership Council The Prophet Micah envisions the peace of God s reign.

5 5 ANTHEM Sung by the choir John Abdenour (b. 1962) Wakened from a peaceful sleep Young Mary viewed the stranger: Who are you? Your purpose here? Why stand you in my chamber? Mary, the stranger said in peace, Mary, all heaven sings your praise; I bring news that God has chosen you to bear a Son, who shall redeem the earth. Fear not, for I am but God s lowly herald of this birth. As heaven is high, and earth is low, And God s ways are not man s; I God s servant true shall be, The vessel of this plan. Mary, O child of noble mind, You shall enable God s design. Know this: in joyous praise of your courageous soul the angels sing above; It pleases God that you shall give this Babe your heart of love. Why should I believe this tale, I surely must be dreaming; Sir, you now must leave this place or soon I should be screaming. Mary, O child of earthly mind, Who could imagine God s design? Know this: the angels guard your person no man shall you defame; [without rest, The child you bear shall be of God, Emmanuel his Name. Sir, your words have calmed my heart, but leave me in perplexion: I, a maid who s yet to wed seem odd for this selection. Mary, O child of earthly mind, Who could imagine God s design? Know this: God means to visit earth in human form, and join the human race; And you shall be Theotokos, Gr.: God-Bearer, Mother of God all purity and grace. Words: John Abdenour, based upon Angelus ad Virginem (13 th cent.) Let us lift our song to her, the Mother of all renown, she who birthed the Babe that turned the whole world upside down. Hail Mary, full of heavenly grace; (Ave Maria) We see your love in Jesus face. (Ave Maria) Praise to the living God: Creator, Paraclete, Redeemer, Three in One; whose love shall reign for ever more, while endless ages run. MOTET Franz Xaver Biebl ( ) Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae et concepit de Spiritu Sancto. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Maria dixit, ecce ancilla Domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis. The angel of the Lord announced to Mary And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Mary said: behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

6 6 Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen. Words: from Luke 1, John 1 and other sources THE FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 50:4-11 Reader: Lucy Buggy, Head of Ushers The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the Lord s atoning Servant. MAGNIFICAT Arvo Pärt (b. 1935) Magnificat anima mea Dominum My soul doth magnify the Lord : et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutary meo. and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae : For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden : ecce enim ex hoc for behold, from henceforth beatam me dicent omnes generationes. all generations shall call me blessed. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est : For he that is mighty hath magnified me : et sanctum nomens eius. and holy is his name. Et Misericordia eius : And his mercy is on them that fear him : a progenie in progenie timentibus eum. throughout all generations. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo : He hath showed strength with his arm : dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their Deposuit potentes de sede : He hath put down the mighty from their seat : [hearts. et exaltavit humiles. and hath exalted the humble and meek. Esurientes implevit bonis : He hath filled the hungry with good things : et divites dimisit inanes. and the rich he hath sent empty away. Suscepit Israel, puerum suum : He remembering his mercy : recordatus misericordiae, hath holpen his servant Israel, Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, as he promised to our forefathers : Abraham et semini eius in saecula. Abraham and his seed forever. THE FIFTH LESSON Isaiah 52:13 53:12 John Abdenour, Director of Music The Prophet Isaiah speaks of the sufferings of the Lord s Servant. HYMN Sung by the Choir Gottes Sohn ist kommen Once he came in blessing, all our ills redressing; came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy; bore the cross to save us, hope and freedom gave us. Thus, if thou can st name him, not ashamed to claim him, but wilt trust him boldly nor dost love him coldly, he will then receive thee, heal thee, and forgive thee. Still he comes within us, still his voice would win us from the sins that hurt us; would to Truth convert us not in torment hold us, but in love enfold us. Words: Jan Roh ( ), tr. Catherine Winkworth ( ), alt. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

7 7 ANTHEM Elizabeth Poston ( ) 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. 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. 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. Words: New Hampshire, 1784 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. 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. THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 20:9-17 Reader: The Rev. Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon Jesus explains the way he must be received in a sinful world. HYMN 1 & 4 Unison

8 8 THE SEVENTH LESSON Philippians 1:27-2:11 Reader: Linda Shaffer, Junior Warden of the Vestry The Apostle Paul exhorts readers to imitate Christ s obedience and humility. MOTET John Stainer ( ) God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Words: John 3:16-17 THE EIGHTH LESSON All Standing John 1:1-15 Reader: The Rev. Richard Mayberry St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation The congregation may be seated. ANTHEM Charles Wood ( ) O Thou, the central orb of righteous love, Pure beam of the most High, eternal Light Of this our wintry world, Thy radiance bright Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above. Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine, Gilding our darksome heaven with rays Divine.

9 9 Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee move, As stars about thy throne, set in the height Of God's ordaining counsel, as Thy sight Gives measured grace to each, Thy power to prove. Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, Our nature all shall feel eternal day In fellowship with thee, transforming clay To souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen. Words: Henry Ramsden Bramley ( ), alt. VESPER RESPONSORY Sung by the choir, the congregation standing. Judah and Jerusalem, fear not nor be dismayed. Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you. Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of our God. Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Tomorrow, go ye forth, and the Lord will be with you. John Abdenour THE COLLECT FOR ADVENT SUNDAY Priest People The Priest says the Collect. We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God: In the midst of thy temple. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. THE BLESSING The Priest blesses the people. GO FORTH into the world in peace, be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen. HYMN 89 It came upon the midnight clear Sung by all, standing ORGAN VOLUNTARY Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 661 Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) We thank the Reverend Richard Mayberry for joining us for this afternoon s service. Carol

10 10 NOTICES A freewill offering received at this service will support the ongoing mission and ministry of Saint Paul s Church. ABOUT THE MUSIC Palestrina s Matin Responsory is based on a version of plainsong Tone 3. The hymn Come thou, Redeemer of the earth is from The English Hymnal; and the descant is by John Abdenour. Philip Ledger was Director of the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, from 1974 to 1982, and while at Kings he composed numerous descants for hymns. Two of the best of these are O come, O come Emmanuel, and Lo, he comes with clouds descending. Philip Ledger died November 18, Scholars frequently note the propensity of Herbert Howells to account for the acoustical properties of the space in which a commissioning choir sang. It is worth mentioning, then, that the motets and anthems in William Byrd s Gradualia were composed not for performance in the soaring spaces of England s cathedrals and collegiate chapels but for someone s living room. In the early 1600 s the practice of Catholic faith in England was perilous business. Even Catholic families of the English nobility had to practice their faith very privately, not even utilizing the family chapel for worship, but most likely sitting around the kitchen table. Thus when William Byrd the favored composer of Elizabeth I, no less decided to compose a complete set of liturgical music for Catholic worship according to the new missal of 1570, it was an act of not only devotion but courage. Gradualia was published in 1605, shortly before the anti-protestant Gunpowder Plot erupted in England. In the anti-catholic backlash that followed, Gradualia was quickly withdrawn from publication (only one copy of this edition remains in existence today). A second edition was published a few years later. Although Byrd himself suffered no known consequences, a gentleman possessing a copy of Gradualia was arrested and imprisoned in London in the days following the Gunpower Plot. Rorate caeli desuper is a setting of the introit for the Votive Mass of the Virgin Mary for Advent. The entertainer Kate McKinnon recently covered Leonard Cohen s famous song Hallelujah, including these words: I ve seen your flag on a marble arch / and love is not a victory march / it s a cold and it s a broken hallelujah. / Hallelujah. A devastating reminder that real love is not for the faint hearted. The love Jesus taught the world through his ministry and passion is as real as it gets, and who was it who most likely taught Jesus how to love? His mother Mary. This vital role of Mary, implicit in the stories of the Annunciation and the Nativity, tends to get overlooked in church doctrine, and The Angel and Mary attempts to correct this oversight, depicting Mary not as passively obedient but possessed of the inquiring and discerning heart for which we pray in the Baptism rite. The vehicle is a 14 th century song, Angelus ad Virginem, fairly turned upside down and repurposed. The work premieres today. In 1964 Franz Biebl composed his setting of Ave Maria for a choir of firemen from the local fire department in Fürstenfeldbruck, near Munich. The work remained obscure for years, until the Cornell University Glee Club brought it to the USA after meeting Biebl while on tour in Germany in Through the Glee Club s performances, and the work s subsequent performances by the a cappella group Chanticleer, it gained wide popularity, first in the USA and then, ironically, back in Germany. Originally set for male voices, we hear today Biebl s arrangement for mixed choir. Wilbur Skeels has noted that the text is a hybrid of the Roman Catholic Angelus devotional and the prayer Hail Mary, full of grace. Magnificat (1989) is one of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt s best known works. Scored for mixed chorus and soprano soloist, the music employs numerous means of creating an aura of timelessness, with clear evocations of medieval and renaissance music. The most important rhythmic influence in the music comes directly and solely from the text. Not only is speech rhythm paramount but other possibilities of rhythmic regularity or meter have been consciously interrupted or removed. When Elizabeth Poston published her now famous setting of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, she attributed the words to a source described simply as New Hampshire Accordingly, most people think that the hymn originated in the United States, but in fact its first appearance was in London s Spiritual Magazine in Only 23 years later did it cross the Atlantic to make its appearance in Joshua

11 11 Smith s Divine Hymns and Spiritual Songs published in New Hampshire, Despite their land of origin, the words appeared only in American hymnals until late in the 20 th century. The most well beloved movement in John Stainer s The Crucifixion, God so loved the world sets one of the foundational passages of Christian scripture (John 3:16-17) in a musical frame perfect in its simplicity and economy. Generations of choirs and directors have done a great disservice to this tiny masterpiece, through well intentioned attempts at interpretation. Not needed. Given half a chance, this wonderful little piece sings itself. Over the past century, Charles Wood s timeless setting of the Rev. Henry Bramley s sonnet O thou the central Orb has found such a comfy place at the heart of the Anglican musical canon that it was performed at the Queen s Diamond Jubilee service at St. Paul s Cathedral in The piece regularly makes an appearance each year at St. Paul s, either in Advent or in Epiphany. Many members of the choir hardly need the music, which is fortunate, as the copies are getting a bit shopworn, even if the music remains remarkably fresh. The final hymn, It came upon a midnight clear, while nominally outside the scope of an Advent service, further illuminates the message of the readings. Closer examination of the words of the hymn reveals that the angels (God s) song of peace and goodwill was only begun that midnight clear in Bethlehem, but has been sung ceaselessly through two thousand years of wrong, and is being sung now, there for all the world to hear if only we could hush the noise and cease [our] strife. PARTICIPATING IN TODAY S SERVICE The Reverend Richard Mayberry, Associate Rector (Part Time), St. Matthew s Episcopal Church, Wilton The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon Music John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Robert Kwan (Director of Music, Trinity Church, Southport), Organist Acolytes Drew Cocozza, Andrew Corbett, Neal Minto Ushers Trish Garton, Neal Minto T H E S T. P A U L S C H O I R Cantoris Choir - Treble Elisabeth B*, Matthew B, Madeline C, Julia H, Josephine M, Olivia S**, Colin S, Miranda S, Noah S Alto Cantoris: Robin Clark-Smith, Derek Greten-Harrison (Section Leader), Laura Mozier, Eva Uhrich Tenor Cantoris: Timothy Barney, Christopher McCormack (Section Leader) Bass Cantoris: Eric Andren, Benjamin McCormack (Section Leader) Decani Choir - Treble Isabella B*, William B, Charlotte B*, Olivia B, Fiona C, Madison C, Madison C, Claire D, Maya K, Emma L** Alto Decani: Tracey Cranston, Elijah McCormack (Section Leader), Sarah McCormack Tenor Decani: Bennett S, Jonathan Taylor (Section Leader) Bass Decani: Scott Cranston (Section Leader), Philip Sidebottom, Harrison S *Head Chorister of the Choir **Assistant Head Chorister of the Choir

12 12 A D V E N T A N D C H R I S T M A S W O R S H I P A T S A I N T P A U L S SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM Yule Café 4:00 PM A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 5:00 PM Sung by the St. Paul s Choir, directed by John Abdenour with special guest conductor, Johnson Flucker SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY CRÈCHE SERVICE (HOLY EUCHARIST) AT 3:00 PM FESTIVAL HOLY EUCHARIST AT 5:30 PM CANDLELIGHT HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 AM ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 661 OLD POST ROAD FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT web site: general info@stpaulsfairfield.org THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT The Right Reverend Ian Theodore Douglas, Bishop of Connecticut The Right Reverend Laura Jean Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan CLERGY The Reverend Amy Doyle Welin, Interim Rector The Reverend Melissa Lamkin, Priest Associate The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon OFFICERS OF THE VESTRY John Ogletree, Senior Warden Linda Shaffer, Junior Warden Peter Osborne, Treasurer Janet O Donnell, Secretary of the Vestry MEMBERS OF THE VESTRY Lorie Boveroux, Gerry Burdo, Jane Corbett, Joanne Fredericks, Jon Hylan, Chris Jay, Dawn Miller STAFF John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Mary Ellen Clifton, Parish Administrator Cathy Comstock, Director of Finance & Communications Tina Patrick, Facilities Manager