A Spotless Rose A Service in Adoration of the Virgin Mary

Transcription

1 The Presbyterian Church in Morristown A Spotless Rose A Service in Adoration of the Virgin Mary December 18, :00 p.m. Chapel PRELUDE Choral Prelude Op. 122 No. 8 Johannes Brahms Es ist ein Ros entsprungen WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP: (responsively) My soul magnifies the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. The Mighty One has done great things for us. For nothing will be impossible with God All: Holy is God s name. There Is No Rose Benjamin Britten There is no rose of such vertu as is the rose that bare Jesu, Alleluia. For in this rose conteinèd was Heaven and earth in litel space. Res Miranda. [Wonderful Thing.] By that rose we may well see there be one God in persons three. Pares forma. [Equal Form.] The aungels sungen the shepherds to: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gaudeamus. [Let Us Rejoice.] Leave we all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth. Transeamus. [Let Us Go.] O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia vidirent Dominum natum, jacentem in præsepio. O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meurerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia. *Those who are able may stand O Magnum Mysterium Tomás Luis de Victoria O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, Lying in a manger. Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Alleluia.

2 READING There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his roots. The rod is the mother of the Lord simple, pure, unsullied; drawing no germ of life from without but fruitful in singleness like God Himself Set before you the blessed Mary, whose surpassing purity made her meet to be the mother of the Lord. Jerome, To Eustochium, Epistle 22:19,38 (A.D. 384). O Come, Emmanuel Lo, How a Rose E re Blooming VENI EMMANUEL Arr. J. Edmund Hughes O come, Thou Root of Jesse s tree, an ensign of Thy people be; before Thee rulers silent fall; All peoples on Thy mercy call. Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel! Lo, how a rose e re blooming from tender stem hath sprung, of Jesse s lineage coming as men of old have sung. It came a flow ret bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night. O come, o come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel. Lo, how a rose e re blooming. SCRIPTURE Isaiah 7:14, 9:6 (Old Testament, page 598, 600) PRAYER A Virgin Unspotted William Billings A virgin unspotted, by prophet foretold, should bring forth a Savior, which now we behold, to be our Redeemer from Death, Hell, and Sin, which Adam s transgressions involved us in. Then let us be merry, put sorrow away, our Savior, Christ Jesus, was born on this day. THE ANNUNCIATION O Magnum Mysterium Cristobal Morales HYMN 19 To a Maid Engaged to Joseph (Vs. 1-3) Annunciation The Welcome No music He heard, and no angels He saw As He lay in His wrappings of linen and straw; And the ox and the ass could not kneel and adore For the poor creatures never were angels before. The palace He found was an old cattle stall With a broken-down roof and a windowless wall, And it looked so ashamed of its spider-worn wood; But it tried to be Heaven, as well as it could. 2 Fr. Leonard Feeney

3 A dull stable-lantern that hung dark and dim Was the small bit of moonlight that flickered on Him. Now it longed to be beautiful, starry and bright; And it sputtered and wept for the dearth of its light. But a Lady of Beauty stood over His head. While she gathered the strewings about for His bed. And her soul was as sweet as a fresh-budding rose And as white as the fusion of myriad snows. And her hands did not soil this immaculate prize, And her breath did not sully the bloom in His eyes. On her breast sweet and safe could He slumber and nod: The lily-white village-maid, Mother of God. A Spotless Rose A spotless Rose is blowing, sprung from a tender root, Of ancient seers foreshowing, of Jesse promised fruit; Its fairest bud unfolds to light amid the cold, cold winter, and in the dark midnight The Rose which I am singing, whereof Isaiah said, Is from its sweet root springing in Mary, purest Maid; For through our God s great love and might, The Blessed Babe she bare us in a cold, cold winter s night. A Hymn to the Virgin Of one that is so fair and bright Velut maris stella, [As the star of the sea,] Brighter than the day is light, Parens et puella: [Mother and maiden:] I cry to thee, thou see to me, Lady, pray thy Son for me, Tam pia, [So pious,] That I may come to thee. Maria! All this world was forlorn Eva peccatrice, [Sinful Eve,] Till our Lord was y-born De te genetrice. Mother of you.] With ave it went away darkest night, and comes the day Salutis; [Of salvation;] the well springeth out of thee. Virtutis. [Of virtue.] Lady, flow r of ev rything, Rosa sine spina, [A rose without a thorn,] Thou bare Jesu, Heaven s King, Gratia divina: [Divine grace:] Of all thou bear st the prize, Lady, queen of paradise Eleceta: [Chosen:] Maid mild, mother es Effecta. Effecta. [Fulfilled.] Herbert Howells Benjamin Britten Ave Maria Franz Schubert 3

4 HYMN 19 To a Maid Engaged to Joseph (Vs. 4-6) Annunciation Lute-Book Lullaby Sweet was the song the virgin sang, when she to Bethlehem Juda came, and was delivered of a Son that blessed Jesus was to name. Lulla, lulla, lullaby, sweet Babe sang she, and rocked Him sweetly on her knee. Sweet Babe, sang she, My son, and also a Saviour born, who hast vouch-safed from on high to visit us that were forlorn. Lulla, lulla, lullaby, sweet Babe sang she, and rocked Him sweetly on her knee. Henry Kihlken The Holy One of Mary And this is He whom Heaven hymns, All trembling in His white young limbs, Whom choirs adore and seraphs bless- Unspeakable His helplessness. A Baby's cheek the wind would kindle. Ah, holy weaver and blessed spindle, That spun the little swaddling clothes To sheathe so sweet, so fair a rose! Dull stable-lamp, my love you are- Shine bright and be His morning star. Full many a moon would give her light To hang upon your beam tonight, And flood the wondrous sanctuary And shine on Him and His Mother Mary. O Sacred Love and Life and Law Whose mercy-mingled power I draw To live, to breathe, and be aware Of sunlight and the brimming air! Great Bosom whence my spirit sprang, For Whom my soul in hunger sang, O white with Age that overflows The showering of a million snows, Sinew and Strength and Might unriven, Upholder of the stars and Heaven, Fr. Leonard Feeney 4

5 How camest Thou to choose a stall? Ah, Little Brother, how small, how small! What need to know the bitter cold Eternal One-an hour old! And yet did not the Eternal Three Foreknow how bitter the cold would be! The dark comes over this little town, A woman is pulling her shutter down, A woman is making her window bright To welcome her Saviour on Christmas night. The clouds are draping the starless hill, The moon is quenched at the Father's will, The Angels are crowding the snowy moor, A lantern hangs on the chapel door, The sounds of the singers arise and pass, A beggar is crawling to Midnight Mass. The shadowy winds are still awhile, The children turn in their sleep and smile. May God have mercy and shield us well Who hear the stroke of the midnight bell! "Good-night, sweet Jesu, and take Thy rest, Be happy now in Thy narrow nest, Thou must not notice Thy mother weep Hear her lullaby and go to sleep!" Balulalow A Cradle Song O my deir hert, young Jesus sweit, Prepare thy creddil in my spreit, And I sall rock thee in my heart And never mair from thee depart. But I sall praise thee evermoir With sangis sweit unto thy gloir; The knees of my hert sall I bow, And sing that richt Balulalow! Peter Warlock Mary s Lullaby Arr. Richard William-Smith 5

6 HYMN (seated) Virgin s Slumber Song Max Reger Mariä Wiegenlied (See insert) First time: Choir Second time: Congregation A Lullaby/Away in a Manger Lulee, lulay, I could not love thee more if thou wast Christ, Christ the King. Now tell me, how did Mary know that in her womb should sleep and grow the Lord of everything? Lulee, lulay, an angel stood with her who said, That which doth stir like summer in thy side shall save the world from sin. Then stable, hall and inn shall cherish Christmastide. Lulee, lulay, and so twas that Day. And did she love Him more because an angel came to prophesy His name? Ah no, not so. Lulee, lulay, she could not love Him more, but loved Him, just the same. Lulee, lulay. Thomas Bold Lo, How a Rose John Leavitt (Es ist ein Ros) 1. Prelude 2. Chorale Lo, how a rose is growing, a bloom of finest grace; The prophets had foretold it: A branch of Jesse s race Would bear one perfect flow r Here in the cold of winter and darkest midnight hour. 3. Ritornello 4. Aria The rose of which I m singing, Isaiah had foretold He came to us through Mary who sheltered him from cold. Through God s eternal will this child to us was given at midnight calm and still. 5. Chorus A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure; The Virgin bears the infant with virgin honor pure! Repeat the hymn again; To God on high be glory and peace on earth, amen. 6. Chorale Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, The infant born in Bethl em, the Savior and the Lord. Repeat the hymn again; To God on high be glory and peace on earth, amen. 6

7 READING "O whoever you may be who feel yourself on the tide of this world drifting in storms and tempests rather than treading firm ground, turn not your eyes from the effulgence of this star, unless you wish to be submerged... if she holds you, you do not fall, if she protects you, you have no fear; with her to lead you, you tire not; with her favour, you will reach your goal, conscious thus within yourself how rightly the word was spoken: 'And the Virgin's name was Mary.'" Bernard, Homily 2:17, Respice stellam (ante A.D. 1153). Good People All, This Christmastime Frank Ferko Good people all, this Christmastime, consider well and bear in mind what our good God for us has done in sending his beloved Son. With Mary holy we should pray to God with love, this Christmas Day: In Bethlehem upon that morn there was a blessed Messiah born. Come, let us then our tribute pay to our good God, as well we may, for all his grace and mercy shown through his Son to us till then unknown; And when through life we wend our way mid trials and sufferings, day by day, in faith and hope, what e er befall, we ll wait in peace his holy call. BLESSING Members of The Chancel Choir and The Men s Chorus with Soloists: Deborah Fallon Julie Ramseyer Marion Galbraith Glenn Visscher Scott Gothe Karyn Visscher Jayson Greenberg Michele Yampolsky Jo Potter Instrumentalists: Amy Butler, cello Marnie Kaller, cello Melissa Healy, flute Nancy Schearer, flute Recorder Consort Robin Bruen Scott Gothe Daryl Lancaster Kristi Shade, harp Joel Ramseyer, organ Misa Lawrence Julie Ramseyer Glenn Visscher 7

8 The Presbyterian Church in Morristown Sanctuary: 57 Park Place, Morristown, NJ Parish House and Offices: 65 South Street, Morristown, NJ Phone: Fax: