SAINT THOMAS CHURCH FIFTH AVENUE in the CITY OF NEW YORK The Reverend Canon Carl F. Turner Rector The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster Stephen Buzard, Acting Director of Music Benjamin Sheen, Acting Organist Welcome to Saint Thomas Church, a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Our mission is to worship, love and serve Our Lord Jesus Christ through the Anglican tradition and our unique choral heritage. Please switch off all cellular telephones and pagers. A SERVICE OF CHRISTMAS LESSONS AND CAROLS Wednesday, December 16, 2015 12:10 p.m. and Saturday, December 19, 2015 4 p.m. PRELUDE In dulci jubilo, BWV 608 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) HYMN O little town of Bethlehem Weihnachten, Op. 145, no. 3 Prelude on O little town of Bethlehem Max Reger (1873-1916) Gordon Phillips (1908-1991) FOREST GREEN O All: 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. All: 2. For Christ is born of Mary; And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together, Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth. Choir Only: 3. How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, Still the dear Christ enters in. All: 4. 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 BIDDING AND LORD S PRAYER Please be seated at the conclusion of the prayers.
INVITATORY CAROL Wassail Carol Wassail, wassail, wassail, sing we In worship of Christ s nativity. Now joy be to the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, That one God is in Trinity, Father of Heaven, of mightès most. William Mathias (1934-1992) And joy to the virgin pure That ever kept her undefiled, Grounded in grace, in heart full sure, And bare a child as maiden mild. Bethlehem and the star so shen, That shone three kingès for to guide, Bear witness of this maiden clean; The kingès three offered that tide. And shepherds heard, as written is, The joyful song that there was sung: Gloria in excelsis! Gloria in excelsis! Gloria in excelsis! With angel s voice it was out rung. Now joy be to the blessedful child, And joy be to his mother dear; Joy we all of that maiden mild, And joy have they that make good cheer. Wassail, wassail, wassail, wassail, sing we In worship of Christ s nativity. Anonymous Sixteenth Century Carol FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent s head. CAROL Adam lay ybounden Boris Ord (1897-1961) Adam lay ybounden, Bounden in a bond; Four thousand winter Thought he not too long. And all was for an apple, An apple that he took, As clerkes finden Written in their book. HYMN Unto us a boy is born! U NTO us a boy is born! The King of all creation, came he to a world forlorn, the Lord of every nation. 2. Cradled in a stall was he with sleepy cows and asses; but the very beasts could see that he all men surpasses. Fifteenth Century English Carol Ne had the apple taken been, The apple taken been, Ne had never Our Lady Abeen heavené queen. Blessèd be the time That apple taken was; Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! PUER NOBIS NASCITUR 3. Herod then with fear was filled; A prince, he said, in Jewry! All the little boys he killed at Bethlehem in his fury. 4. Now may Mary s son, who came so long ago to love us, lead us all with hearts a-flame unto the joys above us. 5. Unto us a boy is born! The King of all creation, came he to a world forlorn, the Lord of every nation. Fifteenth Century Latin Carol SECOND LESSON Please be seated. Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9 The prophet foretells Christ s peaceable Kingdom.
CAROL The holly and the ivy arranged by Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941) The holly and the ivy When they are both full grown; Of all the trees that are in the wood The holly bears the crown. O the rising of the sun And the running of the deer, The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a blossom As white as any flower; To be our sweet Saviour. Refrain The holly bears a berry As red as any blood; To do poor sinners good. Refrain The holly bears a prickle As sharp as any thorn; On Christmas Day in the morn. Refrain The holly bears a bark As bitt r as any gall; For to redeem us all. Refrain HYMN Lo, how a Rose L O, how a Rose e er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming as seers of old have sung. It came, a blossom bright, amid the cold of winter, Traditional English Carol 2. Isaiah twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind, with Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To show God's love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when half spent was the night. ES IST EIN ROS 3. O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; true man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load. Traditional Fifteenth Century German Carol THIRD LESSON Please be seated. Saint Luke 1:26-35, 38 The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary. CAROL I sing of a maiden Patrick Hadley (1899-1973) I sing of a maiden That is makeless; King of all kings To her son she ches. He came all so still Where his mother was, As dew in April That falleth on the grass. He came all so still To his mother s bower, As dew in April That falleth on the flower. He came all so still Where his mother lay, As dew in April That falleth on the spray. Mother and maiden Was never none but she: Well may such a lady God s mother be. Traditional Fifteenth Century Carol
FOURTH LESSON Saint Luke 2:1, 3-20 Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. Please remain seated. AT THE OFFERING, CAROL Novo profusi gaudio Matthew Martin (b. 1976) Novo profusi gaudio, Benedicamus Domino. Omnes gentes, plaudite, Car notre Saviour est né; Over all blessed he be, Rex Alpha et O. A solis ortus cardine, Comme le monde est long et lé, All mankind maketh glee, Angeli canunt Deo. Enixa est puerpera, Que Saint Esprit en engrossa; Blessed be time that she said ya, Gabriele nuncio. Ex illibata virgine Est nascu le Roi de Majesté; The hirds him see in low degree Jacentem in presepio. Gloria tibi, Domine, Fontaine de grâce et de pitié; Of all thy goodness we thank thee; Benedicamus Domino. Anonymous, Fifteenth Century HYMN In the bleak midwinter I N 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. 2. 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 incarnate, Jesus Christ. CRANHAM 3. Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss. 4. 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 FIFTH LESSON Please remain standing for the Lesson and Collect. Saint John 1:1-14 Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
THE COLLECT Officiant People Officiant The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. THE GREETINGS Please be seated. HYMN Angels we have heard on high A NGELS we have heard on high Singing sweetly through the night, And the mountains in reply Echoing their brave delight 2. Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer? What great brightness did you see? What glad tidings did you hear? 3. Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord the new-born King. 4. See him in a manger laid Whom the angels praise above; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While we raise our hearts in love. GLORIA Traditional French Carol VOLUNTARY Sinfonia to Cantata 29: Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, Johann Sebastian Bach BWV 29 arranged by Benjamin Sheen (b. 1989) PARISH NOTICES Please Note: Unauthorized recordings and the taking of unauthorized photographs at SAINT THOMAS CHURCH FIFTH AVENUE are prohibited. The Bookstore is located on the first floor of the Parish House. For your holiday shopping convenience, the Bookstore will open today following this service. Major credit cards are accepted. Saint Thomas has a number of classes for adult theological education. Every Sunday a class meets at 10 o'clock on the fifth floor of the parish house; this is often an extended Bible study, and is generally taught by Father Austin. On most Mondays, he repeats the class at 12:40 p.m. on the second floor.... On most Fridays at 12:45 p.m., Father Spurlock leads a Bible study on the second floor.... The Rector's Christian Doctrine Class meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. from January 12 through early May. This class covers the basics of Christian faith and practice as they have been received in our church, and it is especially for people who want to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church.... Father Austin leads a monthly seminar book discussion, "Good Books & Good Talk"; this seminar will discuss The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark on Monday, January 25, at 6:15 p.m. Then in February the book will be The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris.... And there are occasional lectures and shorter courses. For news, click on the "theology" tab of our website, or drop a line to vaustin@saintthomaschurch.org. Thursday, December 17 5:30 p.m. Tickets required A Ceremony of Carols, Opus 28 Benjamin Britten Dancing Day John Rutter The Boys of Saint Thomas Choir Bridget Kibbey, harp Stephen Buzard, conductor
Saturday, December 19 4 p.m. A Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys Music of Mathias, Ord, Walford Davies, Hadley and Matthew Martin Sunday, December 20, THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 11 a.m. A Festival of Lessons and Carols and Festal Eucharist Music of Howells, Ledger, Scott, Biebl, Praetorius, Pearsall, Willcocks and Victoria 4 p.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Music of Gardner, Ledger, Tavener, Scott, Howells, Pearsall, Mathias and Willcocks Wednesday, December 23 12:10 p.m. The Blessing of the Crèche: A service for children and their families Music of Britten, Rutter and Hadley Thursday, December 24, CHRISTMAS EVE 4 p.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Music of Gardner, Ledger, Tavener, Scott, Howells, Pearsall, Mathias and Willcocks 10:30 p.m. (Doors open at 10 p.m.) FESTIVAL MUSIC FOR TRUMPET AND ORGAN Scott McIntosh, Trumpet Benjamin Sheen, Organ 11 p.m. THE SOLEMN EUCHARIST OF THE NATIVITY Music of Sheppard, Handel, Ledger, Rutter, Preston, Darke and Scott Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys Sermon by The Rector Friday, December 25, CHRISTMAS DAY 11 a.m. SOLEMN EUCHARIST Music of Malcolm, Sweelinck, Ledger, Rutter, Preston and Darke Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys Sermon by The Rector PARISH OFFICES One West Fifty-third Street New York, New York 10019 Church Telephone 212.757.7013 www.saintthomaschurch.org administration@saintthomaschurch.org SAINT THOMAS CHOIR SCHOOL The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster 202 West 58th Street New York, New York 10019 A boarding school for choristers in grades 3-8 For information: Choir School Telephone 212.247.3311 www.choirschool.org