CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL THE ADVENT CAROL SERVICE Our Lord says, Surely, I come quickly. Even so: come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20
THE ADVENT O ANTIPHONS The Advent antiphons, or refrains, all begin with O and were sung before and after the Magnificat at Vespers. In the mediaeval rite of Salisbury Cathedral, which was widely followed in England before the Reformation, the antiphons began on 16 th December and included the additional O Virgin of Virgins on 23 rd December. In the Book of Common Prayer, 16 th December is designated O Sapientia O Wisdom. The antiphons have been used widely since the eighth century today, we add our voice to the ongoing prayer of the Church. The antiphons have been arranged (probably by monks) with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - the Latin words ERO CRAS are formed, meaning Tomorrow, I will come. Emmanuel O Emmanuel Rex O King of the Nations Oriens O Day Spring Clavis O Key of David Radix O Root of Jesse Adonai O Ruler of the House of Israel Sapientia O Wisdom Virginem O Virgin of Virgins Each of the antiphons refers to a title of the Messiah and a messianic passage from the Old Testament. Today the antiphons are most familiar to us in the hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Christian Copyright Licence: CCLI 1001724 2
THE ADVENT PROSE Pour down, O heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Turn your fierce anger from us, O Lord, and remember not our sins for ever. Your holy cities have become a desert, Zion a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation; our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you. Pour down, O heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. We have sinned and become like one who is unclean; we have all withered like a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have swept us away. You have hidden your face from us, and abandoned us to our iniquities. Pour down, O heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. You are my witnesses, says the Lord, And my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know me and believe me. I myself am the Lord, and none but I can deliver; what my hand holds, none can snatch away. Pour down, O heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Comfort my people, comfort them; my salvation shall not be delayed. I have swept your offences like a cloud; fear not, I shall save you. I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your redeemer. Pour down, O heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Rorate Caeli Mode i 3
THE BIDDING PRAYERS AND INTRODUCTION Priest All Readers The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And with your spirit. As we meet to celebrate anew the coming of God s kingdom, we hear revealed the mystery of God s loving purpose for us how that when we were afar off, he met us in his Son and brought us home; how he humbled himself to take our human nature, that we might share his divine glory. Let us then so celebrate this coming with our carols and hymns of praise, that our lives may be charged with his life; that we may bear witness to his glory and so bring light to those in darkness. We pray for those among whom the Christ was born: the poor and the helpless, the aged, the young; the cold, the hungry and the homeless; the victims of poverty, injustice and oppression, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, those in despair or in the shadow of death. We hear again the message of peace on earth, and goodwill among all his people, we pray for the leaders of the nations, that all may be inspired to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace the world over. May we bear true witness to this hope in a divided world, we pray for the peace and unity of Christ s Body, the Church universal, that the whole earth may live to praise his name. Priest COLLECT In the words our Saviour taught us we pray: Our Father Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now and in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty, to judge the living and the dead that we may rise to the life immortal; through him... Amen Please sit 4
READING ~ THE FIRST ANTIPHON O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other mightily, and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence. Remain seated Cf Ecclesiastes 24:3, Wisdom 8:1 VERSE O Come, thou Wisdom from on high! Who madest all in earth and sky, Creating man from dust and clay: To us reveal salvation s way. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. FIRST READING Divine Wisdom Makes its appeal to us A Reading from book of Proverbs Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8:1-4, 10 & 11 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 5
HYMN Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for favoured sinners slain; Thousand thousand saints attending Swell the triumph of his train: Alleluya! Alleluya! Alleluya! God appears, on earth to reign. Every eye shall now behold him Robed in dreadful majesty; Those who set at nought and sold him, Pierced and nailed him to the tree, Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see. Those dear tokens of his passion Still his dazzling body bears, Cause of endless exultation To his ransomed worshippers: With what rapture, With what rapture, With what rapture, Gaze we on those glorious scars! Yea, Amen! Let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the power and the glory: Claim the kingdom for thy own: O Come quickly! O Come quickly! O Come quickly! Alleluya! Come, Lord, come! Words: Charles Wesley (1707 88) Melody: T Olivers (1725 99) Tune: Helmsley 6
READING ~ THE SECOND ANTIPHON: O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the Burning Bush and gave him the law in Sinai; Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. Remain seated Cf Exodus 3:2, 24:12 VERSE O Come, O Come Adonai, Who in thy glorious majesty From Sinai s mountain, clothed with awe, Gavest thy folk the ancient law. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. THE SECOND READING Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush A Reading from the Book of the Exodus Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up. When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am. Then he said, Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. He said further, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:1-6 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 7
HYMN Hills of the North, rejoice, Echoing songs arise, Hail with uniting voice, Him who made earth and skies: He comes in righteousness and love, He brings salvation from above. Isles of the Southern seas, Sing to the listening earth, Carry on every breeze Hope of a world s new birth: In Christ shall all be made anew, His word is sure, his promise true. Lands of the East, arise, He is your brightest morn, Greet him with joyous eyes, Praise shall his path adorn: The God whom you have longed to know In Christ draws near, and calls you now. Shores of the utmost West, Lands of the setting sun, Welcome the heavenly guest In whom the dawn has come: He brings a never-ending light Who triumphed o er our darkest night. Shout as you journey on, Songs be in every mouth, Lo, from the North they come, From East and West and South: In Jesus all shall find their rest, In him the sons of earth be blest. Based on C.E. Oakley (1832 65) Tune: Little Conrad 8
READING ~ THE THIRD ANTIPHON O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples, before you kings will shut their mouths, to you the nations will make their prayer: Come and deliver us and delay no longer. Remain seated Cf Isaiah 11.10; 45.14; 52:15 Romans 15:12 VERSE O Come, Thou Root of Jesse! draw The quarry from the Lion s claw; From those dread cavern of the grave, From nether hell, thy people save. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel THE THIRD READING God's Spirit will be upon the One who is to come from the root of Jesse, that is, the royal house of David A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious. Isaiah 11: 1-4a & 10 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 9
HYMN 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. 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. 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! Phillips Brooks (1835 93) Tune: Forest Green 10
READING ~ THE FOURTH ANTIPHON O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel; you open and no one can shut; You shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Remain seated Cf Isaiah 22.12; 42:7 VERSE O Come, thou Lord of David s Key! The Royal door fling wide and free; safeguard for us the heavenward road, And bar the way to death s abode. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. THE FOURTH READING The promise of an age of peace A Reading from the Prophet Micah In days to come, the mountain of the Lord s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 4:1-5 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 11
HYMN Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus, laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky, looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee Lord Jesus, Look down from the sky, And stay by my bedside, till morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask thee to stay, Close by me forever, and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children, in thy tender care, And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there. Anonymous Philadelphia 1883 12
READING ~ THE FIFTH ANTIPHON O Dayspring, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Remain seated Cf Malachi 4.2 VERSE O Come, O Come, thou Dayspring bright! Pour on our souls thy healing light; Dispel the long night s lingering gloom, And pierce the shadows of the tomb. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. THE FIFTH READING The birth of John the Baptist, the great forerunner of Christ A Reading from the Gospel according to Saint Luke Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, No; he is to be called John. They said to her, None of your relatives has this name. Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, His name is John. And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, What then will this child become? For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. St Luke 1: 57-68 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 13
HYMN 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. All 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. 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 cares when we are sad, And he shares when we are glad. 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, We 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. Mrs C.F. Alexander (1818 95) Tune: Irby 14
READING ~ THE SIXTH ANTIPHON O King of the nations, and their Desire; the Cornerstone, making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay. Remain seated Cf Isaiah 28:16, Ephesians 2:14 VERSE O Come, Desire of nations! Show Thy kingly reign on earth below; Thou Corner-stone, uniting all, Restore the ruin of our fall. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. THE SIXTH READING The testimony of John the Baptist to Jesus A Reading from the Gospel according to Saint Mark John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. St Mark 1: 4-8 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 15
HYMN 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, Heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Verse 3 by Choir and Singers Enough for him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for him, whom angels fall before, The ox and ass and camel, which adore. All: Angels and archangels may have gathered there, Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; But his mother only, In her maiden bliss, Worshipped the beloved, with a kiss. 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 (1830 94) Music: Darke 16
READING ~ THE SEVENTH ANTIPHON O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, the Desire of all nations, and their salvation: Come and save us, O Lord our God. Remain seated Cf Isaiah 7:14 VERSE O Come, O Come, Emmanuel! Redeem thy captive Israel, That into exile drear is gone Far from the face of God s dear Son. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. THE SEVENTH READING The prophet brings God's promise of comfort and peace A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 40:1-4 The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 17
HYMN The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honour thee, thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, To me be as it pleaseth God, she said, my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name. Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say - Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! Sabine Baring-Gould (1834 1924) 18
READING ~ THE EIGHTH ANTIPHON O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a Divine Mystery. THE MAGNIFICAT Please stand. The Altar is censed during the Magnificat. +My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. St Luke 1:46ff Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. FINAL PRAYERS Priest All Priest All The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. Let us pray: Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. St Luke 1:28ff 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. Amen. 19
RECESSIONAL HYMN O Come, O Come, Emmanuel! Redeem thy captive Israel, That into exile drear is gone Far from the face of God s dear Son. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. O Come, thou Wisdom from on high! Who madest all in earth and sky, Creating man from dust and clay: To us reveal salvation s way. O Come, O Come Adonai, Who in thy glorious majesty From Sinai s mountain, clothed with awe, Gavest thy folk the ancient law. O Come, Thou Root of Jesse! draw The quarry from the Lion s claw; From those dread cavern of the grave, From nether hell, thy people save. O Come, thou Lord of David s Key! The Royal door fling wide and free; Safeguard for us the heavenward road, And bar the way to death s abode. O Come, O Come, thou Dayspring bright! Pour on our souls thy healing light; Dispel the long night s lingering gloom, And pierce the shadows of the tomb. O Come, Desire of nations! Show Thy kingly reign on earth below; Thou Corner-stone, uniting all, Restore the ruin of our fall. Repeat Verse 1 Cologne, 1710, based on the ancient Advent Antiphons. Tr T.A. Lacey et al 1853 1931 20