HOLY TRINITY, HILDERSHAM Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Christmas 2015 Hildersham Chancel Order Mediaeval Stained Glass of of Service the Virgin Mary breast feeding baby Jesus Please note that the items will not be announced individually, the Service will proceed as detailed on this sheet; carols with the words printed on this sheet are for all to join in except where indicated. The Congregation are asked to stand for the General Carols and for the Ninth Lesson PLEASE TAKE THIS SOUVENIR SERVICE SHEET HOME WITH YOU
Welcome to Hildersham Church We Wish You All a Very Happy Christmas ------------------------------------- You are cordially invited to stay for Seasonal Refreshments following this Service Hildersham House Group is a group of village residents from several different Christian denominations. They meet every fortnight for Bible Study, taking it in turns to meet in each others homes. For more information about the group just contact one of the members, some of whom are reading the lessons at this service.
Processional Carol Once in Royal David s City Soloists only: All: 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. 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 meek and lowly lived on earth our Saviour holy. And, through all his wondrous childhood, he would honour and obey, love and watch the lowly maiden in whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he. 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 feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness. And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that Child who seemed so helpless 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,
with the oxen standing round, we shall see him; but in heaven, set at God's right hand on high; when like stars his children crowned, all in white shall wait around. Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895), Music: Irby (Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876) Welcome, Bidding Prayer and the Lord s Prayer Choir Carol All my heart this night rejoices Words: P Gerhardt Music: Johann Cruger Carol (all) Lo! He comes with clouds descending Lo! he comes with clouds descending, once for favoured sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 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 worshipers; 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 glory; claim the kingdom for thine own: O come quickly, O come quickly Alleluia, come, Lord, come. Words: Charles Wesley (1707-88) Music: 18thC English melody First Lesson Rev Kathy Bishop (Hildersham House Group) God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent s head Genesis 3. 8-15 Carol (All, All Men & All Women) Good King Wenceslas All: Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even; Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, Gath'ring winter fuel. All Men: 'Hither, page, and stand by me; If thou know'st it, telling- Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?' All Women: Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, By Saint Agnes' fountain.' All Men 'Bring me flesh, and bring me wine! Bring me pine logs hither! Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither.' All: Page and monarch forth they went, Forth they went together, Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather. All Women: 'Sire, the night is darker now, And the wind blows stronger; Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.' All Men: 'Mark my footsteps, good my page, Tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly.' All: In his master's steps he trod, Where the snow lay dinted; Heat was in the very sod Which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing. John M Neale (1818-1866) Second Lesson Hilary Cunningham (Hildersham House Group) God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed Genesis 22. 15-18 Choir Carol Cherry Tree Carol Words: Traditional Arranged: David Wilcocks
Carol (all) A great and mighty wonder A great and mighty wonder! A full and holy cure! The Virgin bears the Infant, With Virgin-honour pure! Repeat the hymn again! To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men The Word becomes Incarnate, And yet remains on high: And Cherubim sing anthems To shepherds from the sky. While thus they sing your Monarch, Those bright angelic bands, Rejoice, ye vales and mountains! Ye oceans, clap your hands! Refrain Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored, The Infant born in Bethlehem, The Saviour and the LORD! And idol forms shall perish, And error shall decay, And CHRIST shall wield His sceptre, Our LORD and GOD for aye. Refrain Mega Kai paradoxon thauma Germanus (c.634-c.732) translated John Mason Neale (1818-1866) Third Lesson Mark Huntsman (Hildersham House Group) Refrain Refrain Refrain Christ s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah Isaiah 9. 2,6-7
Carol (all) Joy to the world Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; let us our songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of is love, and wonders of is love, and wonders, wonders of his love. Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), 1719 Music: Antioch (George Frederick Handel, 1685-1759, arranged Lowell Mason, 1792-1872 Fourth Lesson Cathy Myer (Hildersham House Group) The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown Isaiah 11. 1-4, 6-9 Choir Carol Tomorrow shall be my dancing day Words: Traditional Music: English Traditional Melody arranged David Iliff
Carol (all) It came upon the midnight clear It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold, "Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King!" The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing. Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled; and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovering wing, and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing. Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long; beneath the angel strain have rolled two thousand years of wrong; and warring humankind hears not the love song which they bring. O hush the noise and cease your strife, and hear the angels sing. For, lo! the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendours fling,
and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing. Words E H Sears (1810-76) Music: Arthur Sulivan (1842-1900) Fifth Lesson Clare Daracott (Hildersham House Group) The Angel Gabriel salutes the Virgin Mary St. Luke 1. 26-35, 38 Scenes from Holy Trinity Church Hildersham Murals The Annunciation The Magnificat (all) MY soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his hand-maiden. 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. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. The Visitation The Virgin Mary & St Elizabeth -John The Baptist Mother
Carol (All) O little town of Bethlehem 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 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. 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!
Words: Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) Music R Vaughan Williams(1872-1958) Sixth Lesson Alice Huntsman St Luke tells of the Birth of Christ St Luke 2. 1, 3-7
Carol (all seated) Away in a manger 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 side until morning is nigh. Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask thee to stay close by me for ever, and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with thee there. John Thomas Macfarland (1851-1913), Seventh Lesson Muriel Crampin (Hildersham House Group) The shepherds go to the Manger St Luke 2. 8-11 Carol (all) While shepherds watched their flocks While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down, and glory shone around. "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind; "Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind. "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:
"The heavenly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed, all meanly wrapped in swathing bands, and in a manger laid." Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith appeared a shining throng of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song: "All glory be to God on high and on earth be peace; good will henceforth from heaven to me begin and never cease." Words: Nahum Tate (1652-1715) Music: Winchester Old, arranged William Henry Monk, 1823-1889) Eighth Lesson Raymond Humphrys (Hildersham House Group) The Wise Men are led by the Star to Jesus St Matthew 2. 1-11 Choir Carol The Three Kings Words and Music : Peter Cornelius Carol (all) As with gladness As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold, as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright; so, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led to thee. As with joyful steps they sped, Savior, to thy lowly bed, there to bend the knee before thee whom heaven and earth adore; so may we with willing feet ever seek thy mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare at thy cradle rude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin's alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly King. Holy Jesus, every day keep us in the narrow way, and, when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last where thy need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide. In the heavenly country bright need they no created light; thou its light, its joy, its crown, thou its sun which goes not down; there for ever may we sing alleluias to our King. Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898) Music: C Kocher (1786-1872) Please remain standing Ninth Lesson - Revd. Dr Julie Norris St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation St John 1. 1-14
Carol (all) O come, all ye faithful The collection will be taken during this carol 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; O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. God from God, Light from Light, lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb; only-begotten Son of the Father; (Refrain) O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Lo! star-led chieftains, magi, Christ adoring, offer him frankincense and gold and myrrh; we to the Christ-child bring our hearts oblations:(refrain) O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; glory to God, in the highest; (Refrain) O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born that happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing; (Refrain) O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord. Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880), 1841; - William Thomas Brooke (1848-1917). Adeste fideles probably John Francis Wade, 1711-1786);
Collects and Blessing Carol (all) Hark! The Herald-Angels sing 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. 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 as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark, the herald-angels sing glory to the new-born King. 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. Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1739; Mendelssohn (Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholody, 1809-1847) ---ooo000ooo--- You are cordially invited to stay for Seasonal Refreshments following this Service ----------------------------- Hildersham Carol Singers will be singing their way around the village on Monday 21 st December from 7pm Please open your door and give generously Our Candle-Lit Christmas Day Service Will take place at 9.15 am Holy Eucharist with Children s Activities PLEASE TAKE THIS SOUVENIR SERVICE SHEET HOME WITH YOU The PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Trinity, Hildersham: Charity Registration No. 1153435