Welcome to the Anglican Parish of PROCESSION & SOLEMN HIGH MASS 10.30AM CHRISTMAS DAY Preacher: The Rev d Dr Daniel Dries (Rector, Christ Church St Laurence) Setting: Missa Sacncti Joannis de Deo (Haydn) Motet: Our Lady of December ( James) Postlude: Chorale Fantasia Vom himmel hoch, da komm ich her (Pachelbel) 25 December 2017
SOLEMN HIGH MASS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING Welcome, and Merry Christmas from the parish of Christ Church St Laurence. This booklet is designed to assist visitors and first-time worshippers at this service of Solemn High Mass. We hope you will be uplifted by your visit, and that you will return again. Throughout this booklet, = indicates that a minister, officiant or reader speaks or sings alone; + indicates that the congregation responds in unison. All stand as the bell rings. The procession enters the church from the west door during which the choir sings the Introit. INTROIT Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis: cuius imperium super humerum eius: et vocabitur nomen eius, magni consilii Angelus. Cantate Domino canticum novum: quia mirabilia fecit. A child is born to us, and a Son is given to us: whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, the Angel of great counsel. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful things. The organist improvises while the procession is made ready. At the commencement of the procession, the Deacon sings: v vv v Let us proceed in peace. In the name of Christ. A - men. As the procession leaves the altar, the choir and congregation sing the processional hymn. PROCESSIONAL HYMN: New English Hymnal, 30 1. 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: Christ the Lord. 2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin s womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: Christ the Lord. 2
3. See how the Shepherds, Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps: Christ the Lord. 4. Lo! star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring, Offer him incense, gold, and myrrh; We to the Christ Child Bring our heart s oblations: Christ the Lord. 5. Child, for us sinners Poor and in the manger, Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love; Who would not love thee, Loving us so dearly? Christ the Lord. 6. Sing, choirs of Angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God In the Highest: Christ the Lord. 7. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: Christ the Lord. Text in Latin, 18th century, translated by Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880 and others Tune Adeste Fideles, probably by J. F. Wade 1711-86; descant, Sir David Willcocks, 1919-2015 Bles-sed be God, Fa- ther, Son and Ho- ly Spi-rit. Bles- sed be God s king- dom, now and for- ev- er. The Lord be with you. And also withyou. 3
The people remain standing as the choir sings the Kyrie and then the Gloria, which may be sung in either Latin or English. KYRIE Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO Gloria in excelsis Deo, (please be seated) et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex coelestis Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you. We give you thanks for your great glory, O Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, O Lord God, Lamb of God Son of the Father who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are holy you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit. In the glory of God the Father. Amen. The people stand. The priest sings the Collect of the day. COLLECT = God Most High, whose eternal Word chose a dwelling among us, that we might live in your presence: grant us a spirit of wisdom to know how rich is the glory you have given us, and how great is the hope to which we are called in the Word made flesh; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. + Amen. 4
The people sit. FIRST LESSON Isaiah 52.7-10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. = The word of the Lord. + Thanks be to God. PSALM 98 1. O sing to the Lord a new song: for he has done marvellous things; 2. His right hand and his holy arm: they have got him the victory. 3. The Lord has made known his salvation: he has revealed his just deliverance in the sight of the nations. 4. He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness towards the house of Israel: and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 5. Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth: break into singing and make melody. 6. Make melody to the Lord upon the harp: upon the harp and with the sounds of praise. 7. With trumpets and with horns: cry out in triumph before the Lord, the king. 8. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it: the good earth and those who live upon it. 9. Let the rivers clap their hands: and let the mountains ring out together before the Lord; 10. For he comes to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. The flowers in the church today are given to the Glory of God in loving memory of Ken and Mary Wood 5
EPISTLE Hebrews 1.1-12 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint of God s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have begotten you? Or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, Let all God s angels worship him. Of the angels he says, He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire. But of the Son he says, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions. And, In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end. = The word of the Lord. + Thanks be to God. The organist improvises while the Gospel procession is made ready. When the priest stands to bless the deacon, the people stand. When the Gospel procession begins, the acclamation is sung by the choir. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION + Alleluia. A holy day has dawned upon us. Come you nations and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth. + Alleluia. The procession moves to the centre of the church. The people turn to face the deacon, who vv begins the Gospel reading with: The Lord And also be with you. with you. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, Lord Je - sus Christ. 6
GOSPEL John 1.1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. = This is the Gospel of the Lord. + Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. The organist improvises as the Gospel procession moves back to the sanctuary. The preacher is led to the pulpit. SERMON The people sit. The sermon is given by the Rector of Christ Church St Laurence, the Rev d Dr Daniel Dries. At the conclusion of the sermon, the people stand and sing the Creed together. Readings: The Revised Common Lectionary in NRSV (1997), Mowbray, London. Introit, Collect and Psalm: A Prayer Book for Australia (1995), Broughton Books, Sydney. Propers: The Roman Missal (1969 & 1983), E.J.Dwyer (Aust.). Reproduced with permission. 7
CREED vvvv vvvvvvvvvvv We believe in one God, + the Father, the almighty, ma-ker of heaven and vvvvvvvvvvv earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Je-sus vvvvvvvvvvv Christ, the on-ly son of God, e-ter-na-lly be-gott-en of the Fa-ther, vv v v vvvvvvvvvvvv b God from God, light from light, true God from true God, be-got-ten, vvvvvvvvvvvvvv not made, of one being with the Fa-ther, through him all things were vvvvvvvvvvv made. For us and for our salvation he came down from Heaven. vv v vvvvvvvv was incarnate of the Ho-ly Spi-rit and the vir-gin Ma-ry, and be- came vvvvvvvvvvvb tru-ly hu-man. For our sake he was cru-ci-fied un-der Pontius Pi-late, vvvvvvvvvvv bb he suf-fered death and was bu-ried. On the third day he rose a-gain, in ch vvvvvvvvvvv ac-cor-dance with the scrip-tures. He asc-en-ded in to heaven, and is 8
cvvcvvv vvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv vv vvvvvvvvv vvvvvvvvvvv v vvvvvvvvvvvvv sea-ted at the right hand of the Father. He will come a-gain in glo-ry to judge the li-ving and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. We bel-ieve in the Ho-ly Spi-rit, the Lord, the gi-ver of life who proceeds from the Fa-ther, and the Son, who with the Fa-ther and the Son is wor-shipped and glo-ri-fied, who has spo-ken through the prophets. We be-lieve in one ho -ly catho-lic and ap-os-to-lic Church. We ac-knowledge one baptism for the forgive-ness of sins. We look for the res-urrec-tion of the dead, and the life of the world to come. A-men. THE PRAYERS The people remain standing. The prayers are led from the lectern. After each prayer, the following is sung: Lord, in your mer - cy, + hear our prayer. 9
The final prayer is for those who have departed this life, and concludes: = Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, + And let light perpetual shine upon them. The following is then recited on a monotone: = Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers. + Grant that what we have asked in faith we may by your grace receive, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE PENITENTIAL RITE The deacon reads the invitation to confession. The people kneel. Merciful God, + Our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, and in what we have failed to do: we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves; we repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Thh e priest pronounces the absolution: = Almighty God, who has promised forgiveness to all who turn to him in faith: pardon you and set you free from all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness and keep you in eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen. The people stand. THE GREETING OF PEACE We are the bo - dy of Christ. + His spi-rit is with us. The peace of the Lord be al-ways with you. + And al-so with you. All are invited to exchange a greeting of peace with one another. The choir sings the Offertory sentence. Two members of the congregation bring the gifts of bread and wine from the back of the church to the altar. The offertory hymn is sung, during which the collection is made, and the altar, gifts and people are censed. OFFERTORY SENTENCE Almighty God, the saving work of Christ made our peace with you. May our offering today renew that peace within us and give you perfect praise. 10
OFFERTORY HYMN: New English Hymnal, 42 1. While shepherds watched their 4. The heavenly Babe you there shall find flocks by night, To human view displayed, All seated on the ground, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, The angel of the Lord came down, And in a manger laid. And glory shone around, 2. Fear not, said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind); Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. 3. To you in David s town this day Is born of David s line A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign: 5. Thus spake the seraph and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels, praising God who thus Addressed their joyful song: 6. All glory be to God on high, And on the Earth be peace; Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease. Nahum Tate, 1652-1715; tune Winchester Old, First published in Thomas Este s Psalter in 1592; descant, Armstrong At the end of the offertory hymn, the priest says: = Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. Through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings for your glory and for the service of your kingdom. + Blessed be God for ever. THE v GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. + And al - so with you. v vvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Lift up your hearts. + We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. vvvvvvvvvvvvv + It is right to give our thanks and praise. 11
The priest sings a prayer appropriate to the season, concluding with:...therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying: The sanctuary bell is rung three times. All kneel. The choir sings the Sanctus and Benedictus. SANCTUS & BENEDICTUS Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. The prayer of consecration continues until the priest sings: We worship you Fa-ther, in songs of ne - ver end-ing praise. v + Blessing and honour and glo-ry and power are yours for ev-ver and e - ver. A - men. The priest sings a further prayer, which concludes: Let us pro-claim the my - ste-ry of faith. + Christ has died, Christ is ri - sen, Christ will come a - gain. THE vv vvv v v vvvvv LORD S PRAYER As our saviour Christ has taught us, we are con- fi-dent to pray: 12
+ Our Father in hea-ven, hall-owed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as in hea-ven, Give us today our dai-ly bread. For-give us our sins, as we for-give those who sin a-gainst us. Save us from the time of tri-al and de-li-ver us from e - vil. now and for ev - er. For the kingdom, the pow-er and the glory are yours A - men. As the bread is broken, the priest says: We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. We who are many are one body, + For we all share in the one bread. The choir sings the Agnus Dei, during which preparations are made for communion. AGNUS DEI Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace. 13
The priest invites the people to communion with the following words: = Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper. + Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. COMMUNION If you are a communicant member of another denomination, you are very welcome to come to the Altar and participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion in our Church. During the communion the choir sings a motet. The congregation remains seated for the singing of the Communion hymns. COMMUNION HYMN: New English Hymnal, 43 1. Child of the stable s secret birth, The Lord by right of the lords of earth, Let angels sing of a King newborn, The world is weaving A crown of thorn: A crown of thorn for that infant head Cradled soft in the manger bed. 3. Voice that rang through the courts on high Contracted now to a wordless cry, A voice to master the wind and wave, The human heart And the hungry grave: The voice of God through the cedar trees Rolling forth as the sound of seas. 2. Eyes that shine in the lantern s ray; A face so small in its nest of hay, Face of a child who is born to scan The world of men made through The eyes of man: And from that face in the final day Earth and heaven shall flee away. 4. Infant hands in a mother s hand, For none but Mary can understand Whose are the hands and the fingers curled But his who fashioned And made the world; And through these hands in the hour of death Nails shall strike to the wood beneath. 5. Child of the stable s secret birth, The Father s gift to a wayward earth, To drain the cup in a few short years Of all our sorrows, our sins, and tears- Ours the prize for the world he trod, Risen with Christ; at peace with God. Timothy Dudley-Smith, b. 1928 Tune Newtown St Luke, Anthony Caesar b. 1924 14
(The congregation remains seated ) COMMUNION HYMN: New English Hymnal, 34 1. 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. 3. And through all his wondrous childhood 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. 2. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. Text, Mrs C. F. Alexander c.1818-95; Tune Irby, H. J. Gauntlett 1805-76, revised by A. H. Mann 1850-1929 and Editors of the New English Hymnal The people stand. The choir sings the post-communion sentence. COMMUNION SENTENCE All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Alleluia. THE SENDING OUT OF GOD S PEOPLE The priest sings a final prayer, which concludes: = Father, + We offer ourselves to you, as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Lord. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen. A final blessing is pronounced, after which the deacon sings: = Go in the peace of Christ. + Thanks be to God. 15
FINAL HYMN: New English Hymnal, 26 1. 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 the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem: Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King. 3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen 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. 2. Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time, behold him come Offspring of a Virgin s womb! Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel: Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King. Charles Wesley 1707-88 and others; tune Mendelssohn, From a chorus by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1809-47; descant, Sir David Willcocks, 1919-2015 THE MEMORIAL OF THE INCARNATION (Angelus) = The Angel of the Lord brought tidings 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, Jesus. + Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. = Behold the handmaid of the Lord. + Be it unto me according to your word. = Hail Mary... + Holy Mary... The people genuflect. = And the Word was made flesh, + And dwelt among us. = Hail Mary... + Holy Mary... = Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. + That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. = We beseech you, O Lord, to pour your grace into our hearts; that as we have known the incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of an angel, so by his Cross and Passion, we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. + Amen. POSTLUDE 16