Festival of Lessons and Carols

Our worship begins at the sound of the bell, please stand as the choir and the sacred ministers enter.

(Choir)
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.

(Choir)
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.

(All)
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heav’n above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.

(All)
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;
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

Words: Cecil F. Alexander (1818-1895)
Music: Henry J. Gauntlett (1805-1876)
Verses 1-3 harmonised by Arthur H. Mann (1850-1929)
Verse 4 arranged by David V. Willcocks (1919-2015)

Please remain standing.

Bidding Prayer

Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmas-tide our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Therefore, let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought us by this Holy Child.

But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in this city and diocese.

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are for ever one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

Please sit.

Once, as I remember

Sung by the Choir

Once, as I remember;
At the time of Yule,
After mid-December.
When it bloweth cool,
I o’er heard a Mother
Was a-singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu,
La-lullay-lu, Lullay la-lu.’

Near as man was able,
On my knee fell I,
In the Bethl’em stable
Where the babe did lie,
And the Virgin mother
Was a-singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu,
La-lullay-lu, Lullay la-lu.’

Ox and ass around him,
Courtier-like did stand:
Fair white linen bound him,
Spun by Mary’s hand,
While the Virgin mother
Was a-singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu,
La-lullay-lu, Lullay la-lu.’

Ev’r among and o’er us
Angel quire ’gan sing
Antiphons in chorus
To the new-born King,
Then the Virgin mother
Fell a-singing ‘Sweet Jesu,
La-lullay-lu, La-lullay-lu,
La-lullay-lu, Lullay la-lu.’

Words: George R. Woodward (1848-1934)
Music: 17^th century Italian carol
arranged by Charles Wood (1866-1926)

Please stand.

Hymn

Of the Father’s heart begotten.
Ere the world from chaos rose,
He is Alpha: from that Fountain
All that is and hath been flows;
He is Omega, of all things
Yet to come the mystic Close,
Evermore and evermore.

O how blest that wondrous birthday,
When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Brought to birth mankind’s salvation,
By the Holy Ghost conceived;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
In her loving arms received,
Evermore and evermore.

Sing, ye heights of heav’n, his praises;
Angels and Archangels, sing!
Where-so-e’er ye be, ye faithful,
Let your joyous anthems ring,
Ev’ry tongue his name confessing,
Countless voices answering,
Evermore and evermore.

Words: (Latin) Aurelius C. Prudentius (348-413)
translated by Robert Davis (1866-1937)
Music: Plainsong melody from ‘Piae Cantiones’ (1582)

Lesson: Genesis 3.8-14

The Fall

Read by Aaran Fleet
Chorister of St Mary’s Church, Whitkirk

Sussex Carol

Sung by the Choir

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring,
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night;
‘Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore. Amen’.

Words & Music: English traditional carol
arranged by Philip S. Ledger (1937-2012)

Lesson: Isaiah 9.2,6,7

The prophecy of the Messiah’s birth

Read by Martin Jenkins
Landlord of the Brown Cow Public House

The Word made flesh

Sung by the Choir

I sing the birth was born tonight,
The author both of life and light;
The angels so did sound it,
And, like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it.

The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed our soul from danger,
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger.

The Father’s wisdom willed it so,
The son’s obedience knew no ‘No’;
Both wills were in one stature,
And, as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made flesh indeed,
And took on him our nature.

What comfort by him we do win,
Who made himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!
To see this babe, all innocence,
A martyr born in our defence,
Can man forget the story?

Words: Benjamin Jonson (1573-1637)
Music: Philip Wilby (b. 1949)

Please stand.

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.

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.

Words: Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)
Music: English traditional melody
Verses 1 & 2 arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Verse 3 arranged by Thomas Armstrong (1898-1994)

Please sit.

Lesson: Luke 1.26-38

The Annunciation to Mary

Read by Jo Horsfall
Chief Executive Officer of Cross Gates Good Neighbours

I wonder as I wander

Sung by the Choir

I wonder as I wander, out under the sky,
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor ordinary people like you and like I –
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from the heavens a star’s light did fall,
And promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heaven for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.

Words: Appalachian traditional text
Music: Carl Rütti (b. 1949)

Please stand.

Hymn

Virgin-born, we bow before thee:
Blessèd was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, maid and mother mild,
Blessèd was she in her child.

Blessèd was the breast that fed thee;
Blessèd was the hand that led thee;
Blessèd was the parent’s eye
That watched thy slumb’ring infancy.

Blessèd she by all creation,
Who brought forth the world’s salvation,
Blessèd they, for ever blest,
Who love thee most and serve thee best.

Virgin-born, we bow before thee:
Blessèd was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, maid and mother mild,
Blessèd was she in her child.

Words: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Music: German carol melody (14^th century)
harmonised by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Please sit.

Lesson: Luke 2.1-7

The birth of Jesus

Read by Gemma Quarmby
Headteacher of Whitkirk Primary School

Carol of the bells

Sung by the Choir

Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring,
Tell all the world, Jesus is King.
Loudly proclaim with one accord
The happy tale, welcome the Lord.
Ring Christmas bells, sound far and near,
The birthday of Jesus is here.
Herald the news to old and young,
Tell it to all, in ev’ry tongue.

Ring Christmas bells, tell loud and long,
Your message sweet, peal and prolong.
Come all ye people, join in the singing,
Repeat the story told by the ringing.
Ring Christmas bells, throughout the earth,
Tell the glad news of Jesus’ birth.
Loudly proclaim, with one accord,
The happy tale, welcome the Lord.

Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring,
Tell all the world, Jesus is King.
Loudly proclaim with one accord
The happy tale, welcome the Lord.
Ring Christmas bells, sound far and near,
The birthday of Jesus is here.
Herald the news to old and young,
Tell it to all, in ev’ry tongue.

Ring Christmas bells, tell loud and long,
Your message sweet, peal and prolong.
Come all ye people, join in the singing,
Repeat the story told by the ringing.
Ring Christmas bells, throughout the earth,
Tell the glad news of Jesus’ birth.
Loudly proclaim, with one accord,
The happy tale, welcome the Lord.
Ring Christmas bells, merrily ring.
Tell all the world: Jesus is King!

Words: Minna L. Hohman (written in 1947)
Music: Ukrainian folk chant arranged by Mykola D. Leontovych (1877-1921)

Please stand.

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 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.

Words: 19^th century (American)
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
arranged by Richard H. Lloyd (1933-2021)

Please sit.

Lesson: Luke 2.8-16

The shepherds go to the manger

Read by Geoffrey North
Chair of The Friends of Temple Newsam Park

O men from the fields

Sung by the Choir

O men from the fields!
Come gently within.
Tread softly, softly,
O men coming in!

Mavourneen is going
From me and from you,
Where Mary will fold him
With mantle of blue!

From reek of the smoke,
And cold of the floor,
And the peering of things
Across the half-door.

O men from the fields!
Soft, softly come through,
Mary puts round him
Her mantle of blue!

Words: Padraic Colum (1881-1972)
Music: Arnold A. Cooke (1906-2005)

In dulci jubilo

Sung by the Choir

In dulci jubilo, Let us our homage shew;
Our heart’s joy reclineth In praesepio,
And like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O, Alpha es et O!

O Jesu parvule! My heart is sore for thee!
Hear me, I beseech thee, O Puer optime!
My prayer let it reach thee, O Princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te, Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas, O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stainèd Per nostra crimina;
But thou hast for us gainèd Coelorum gaudia,
O that we were there, O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia, If that they be not there?
There are angels singing Nova cantica,
There the bells are ringing In Regis curia:
O that we were there, O that we were there!

Words: English text translated from German
by Robert L. Pearsall (1795-1856)
Music: 14^th century German melody
arranged by Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)

Please stand.

Hymn

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour    
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heav’nly Father
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace,
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

Words & Music: English traditional carol
arranged by David V. Willcocks (1919-2015)

Please sit.

Lesson: Matthew 2.1-11

The magi are led by the star to Jesus

Read by Katie Burgess
Paramedic Special Operations

Cantique de Noël

Sung by the Choir

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angel-voices!
O night divine, O night, when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angel-voices!
O night divine, O night, when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand;
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
He knows our need, he guardeth us from danger;
Behold your King! before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! before the lowly bend!
He knows our need, he guardeth us from danger;
Behold your King! before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! before the lowly bend!

Words: John S. Dwight (1813-1893)
Music: Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856)
arranged by John E. West (1863-1929)

Please stand.

Hymn

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a king on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring, to crown him again —
King for ever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship him, God most high:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Glorious now, behold him arise,
King, and God, and sacrifice!
Heav’n sings alleluia,
Alleluia the earth replies:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Words & Music: John H. Hopkins (1820-1891)
arranged by David V. Willcocks (1919-2015)

Please remain standing.

Lesson: John 1.1-14

The Incarnation of the Word of God

Read by The Reverend Canon Matthew Peat
Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Whitkirk

Please sit.

Rejoice and be merry

Sung by the Choir

Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth,
O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on earth:
For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation: his praises we’ll sing.
Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth,
O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on earth:
For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation: his praises we’ll sing.

A heavenly vision appeared in the sky,
Vast numbers of angels the shepherds did spy,
Proclaiming the birthday of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation: his praises we’ll sing.
Likewise, a bright star in the sky did appear
Which led the wise men from the East to draw near;
They found the Messiah, sweet Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation: his praises we’ll sing.

And when they were come, they their treasures unfold,
And unto him offered myrrh, incense and gold.
So blessèd for ever be Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation: his praises we’ll sing,
His praises, his praises we’ll sing.
Rejoice and be merry, rejoice and be merry,
Rejoice and be merry, rejoice and be merry,
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!

Words: English traditional carol text
Music: John M. Rutter (b. 1945)

Please stand.

During the next carol a collection, our financial offering in support of the work of the Church both at St. Mary’s and across our diocese, is taken.

You can place cash or giving envelopes in the collection plates as they are passed around. If you would prefer, or if you miss the plate, you can also give by tapping your contactless card or device on the giving plate by the door as you leave, or on our donations page.

Hymn

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 of God,
Light of light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

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?
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 heav’n above;
Glory to God
In the highest:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

Words: John F. Wade (1711-1786)
translated by Frederick Oakley (1802-1880) and others
Music: John F. Wade (1711-1786)
arranged by David V. Willcocks (1919-2015)

Please remain standing.

The Collect for Christmas Eve

Almighty God, you make us glad
with the yearly remembrance
of the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ:
grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer,
so we may with sure confidence behold him
when he shall come to be our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Blessing

May he who by his Incarnation
gathered into one things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with the sweetness
of inward peace and goodwill;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Hymn

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 th’angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem:
Hark! the herald-angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heav’n 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 heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris’n 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.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and others
Music: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Verse 3 arranged by David V. Willcocks (1919-2015)