Leaflet - Saint Thomas Church

SAINT THOMAS CHURCH FIFTH AVENUE 

in the 

CITY OF NEW YORK 

The Reverend Andrew C. Mead, OBE, DD, Rector 

John Scott, LVO, D.Mus., Organist and Director of Music 

The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster 

Welcome to Saint Thomas, 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. 

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 23, 2012 

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS 

at 11 a.m and 4 p.m. 

PRELUDE Fanfare on ‘Antioch’ Gerre Hancock 

(1934-2012) 

Offetoire sur Deux Noëls Felix-Alexandre Guilmant 

(1837-1911) 

The Holy Boy John Ireland 

(1879-1962) 

In dulci jubilo` Dietrich Buxtehude 

(c. 1637-1707) 

HYMN Once in royal David’s city All stand. IRBY 

Chorister Only: 

NCE in royal David’s city 

O 

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 Only: 

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. 

All: 

3. And, through all his wondrous childhood, 

He would honor and obey, 

Love, and watch the lowly maiden 

In whose gentle arms he lay; 

Christian children all must be 

Mild, obedient, good as he. 

THE BIDDING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Cecil Frances Alexander 

Please remain standing. 

All: 

4. 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. 

All: 

5. 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. 

All: 

6. 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.

INVITATORY CAROL Sussex Carol arranged by Philip Ledger 

(1937-2012) 

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? 

Please be seated. 

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. 

Seventeenth Century Traditional English Carol 

2 

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.” 

FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 

God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. 

Reader: A Chorister 

CAROL Adam our father Richard Lloyd 

(b. 1933) 

O flos de Jesse virgula laus tibi sit gloria. 

1. Adam our father was in bliss, 

and for an apple of little price, 

he lost the bliss of paradise, Pro sua superbia. 

2. And all that ever of him 

came the right way to hellënam†, 

both Isaiah and Abraham, Teste prophecia. 

3. Then these prophets preached aforn†, 

that a child should be born to buy what Adam 

had forlorn, Sua morte propria. 

4. Moses first in his law told a child 

there should be born so bold to buy again 

what Adam sold, Sua nocte pessima. 

Fifteenth Century 

†hellënam = took, †aforn = before 

5. Isaiah, without leasing, 

prophesied in his preaching, of Jesse’s root 

a flower should spring, De virgine purica. 

6. When time came of God Almight, 

that would bring mankind to right, 

in a maiden he gan light, Que vocatur Maria. 

7. Now is he born, that blissful child, 

of Mary mother, maiden mild; 

fro the fiend he us shield, Que creavit omnia. 

8. Pray we to him with all our mind, 

that hath made all mankind, 

he bring us allë to good end. In die novissima. 

SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18 

God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed. 

Reader: A Member of the Sunday School 

HYMN God rest you merry, gentlemen All stand to sing. GOD REST YOU MERRY 

G 

OD rest you merry, gentlemen, 

Let nothing you dismay, 

Remember Christ our Saviour 

Was born on Christmas Day; 

To save us all from Satan’s power 

When we were gone astray. 

O tidings of comfort and joy, 

Comfort and joy; 

O tidings of comfort and joy! 

2. From God our heavenly Father 

A blessed 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!

3. “Fear not, then,” said the angel, 

“Let nothing you affright; 

This day is born a Saviour 

Of a pure virgin bright, 

To free all those who trust in him 

From Satan’s power and might.” 




London Carol, Eighteenth Century 


3 

4. 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 

Doth bring redeeming grace. 




THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 

Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah. 

Reader: A Gentleman of the Choir 

CAROL A great and mighty wonder arranged by Antony Baldwin 

(b. 1957) 

A great and mighty wonder, 

a full and holy cure! 

The Virgin bears the Infant 

with virgin-honor pure: 

Repeat the hymn again! 

“To God on high be glory, 

and peace on earth to men.” 

While thus they sing your Monarch, 

those bright angelic bands, 

rejoice, ye vales and mountains, 

ye oceans, clap your hands: 




Fourteenth Century German Carol 

The Word becomes incarnate, 

and yet remains on high; 

and cherubim sing anthems 

to shepherds from the sky; 




FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11:1-9 

The prophet foretells Christ’s peaceable Kingdom. 

Reader: The Director of Music 

CAROL A spotless rose Herbert Howells 

(1892-1983) 

A spotless rose is blowing, 

Sprung from a tender root, 

Of ancient seers’ foreshowing, 

Of Jesse promised fruit; 

Its fairest bud unfolds to light 

Amid the cold, cold winter, 

And in the dark midnight. 

Fourteenth Century English Carol 

The rose which I am singing, 

Whereof Isaiah said 

Is from its sweet root springing 

In Mary, purest maid; 

For, through our God’s great love and might, 

The blessed babe she bare us 

In a cold, cold winter’s night. 

FIFTH LESSON Saint Luke 1:26-38 

The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Reader: The Headmaster of the Choir School

CAROL The voice of the angel Gabriel Philip Ledger 

1. When gentle Joseph wedded was to Israel’s Hebrew maid, the angel Gabriel came from heav’n, 

And to the virgin said: ‘Hail blessed Mary, full of grace, the Lord remain on thee: 

Thou shalt conceive and bear a son, our Saviour for to be’: 

Then sing you all, both great and small, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell! 

We may rejoice to hear the voice of the angel Gabriel. 

2. Then Joseph thought to shun all shame and Mary to forsake; but God’s dear angel in a dream 

His mind did undertake: ‘Fear not old Joseph, she’s thy wife, she’s still a spotless maid; 

There’s no conceit or sin at all against her can be laid’: 



3. So Mary and her husband kind together did remain, 

Until the time of Jesus’ birth, as scripture doth make plain. as mother, wife, and virtuous maid, 

Our Saviour sweet conceived; and in due time to bring us him, with whom we all are saved. 



Cornish Traditional 

SIXTH LESSON Saint Luke 2:1-7 

Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus. 

Reader: A Member of the Congregation 

HYMN It came upon the midnight clear All stand to sing. NOEL 

I 

T 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. 

2. 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 hov’ring wing, 

and ever o’er its Babel sounds 

the blessed angels sing. 

Edmund H. Sears 


SEVENTH LESSON Saint Luke 2:8-16 

The shepherds go to the manger. 

Reader: A Warden of the Parish 

4 

Choir Only: 

3. 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 man at war with man hears not 

the love-song which they bring; 

O hush the noise ye men of strife 

and hear the angels sing! 

4. For lo! the days are hast’ning on, 

by prophet bards foretold, 

when with the ever circling years 

comes round the age of gold. 

when peace shall over all the earth 

its ancient splendours fling, 

and the whole world give back the song 

which now the angels sing.

CAROL AT THE OFFERING In dulci jubilo arranged by Robert Lucas de Pearsall 

(1795-1856) 

In dulci jubilo, 

O Patris caritas! 

Let us our homage shew! 

O Nati lenitas! 

Our heart’s joy reclineth 

Deeply were we stained 

In praesepio 

Per nostra crimina; 

And like a bright star shineth, 

But thou hast for us gained 

Matris in gremio. 

Coelorum gaudia. 

Alpha es et O. 

O that we were there! 

O Jesu parvule! 

I yearn for thee alway! 

Hear me, I beseech thee, 

O Puer optime! 

My prayer let it reach thee, 

O Princeps Gloriae! 

Trahe me post te! 

Fourteenth Century German Carol 

Ubi sunt gaudia where, 

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! 

HYMN Of the Father’s love begotten All stand to sing. DIVINUM MYSTERIUM 

O 

F the Father’s love begotten, 

ere the worlds began to be, 

He is Alpha and Omega, 

He the source, the ending, he, 

Of the things that are, that have been, 

And that future years shall see, 

Evermore and evermore. 

2. O that birth for ever blessed, 

When the Virgin, full of grace, 

By the Holy Ghost conceiving, 

Bore the Savior of our race; 

And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer, 

First revealed his sacred face, 


Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius 


EIGHTH LESSON Saint Matthew 2:1-12 

The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus. 

Reader: A Priest of the Parish 

3. Let the heights of heaven adore him; 

Angel hosts, his praises sing; 

Powers, dominions, bow before him, 

And extol our God and King; 

Let no tongue on earth be silent, 

Every voice in concert ring, 


4. Christ, to thee with God the Father, 

And, O Holy Ghost, to thee, 

Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving, 

And unwearied praises be; 

Honor, glory, and dominion, 

And eternal victory, 


CAROL A babe is born William Mathias 

(1934-1992) 

A babe is born all of a may, 

There came three kings out of the East, 

To bring salvation unto us. 

To worship the King that is so free, 

To him we sing both night and day 

With gold and myrrh and frankincense, 

Veni creator Spiritus. 

A solis ortus cardine. 

At Bethlehem, that blessed place, 

The child of bliss now born he was; 

And him to serve God give us grace, 

O lux beata Trinitas. 

Fifteenth Century English Carol 

The angels came down with one cry, 

A fair song that night sung they 

In the worship of that child: 

Gloria tibi Domine. Noël! 

NINTH LESSON Please stand for the Ninth Lesson and the Christmas Collect. 

Saint John 1:1-14 

Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation. 

Reader: The Rector 

5

THE CHRISTMAS COLLECT 

Officiant The Lord be with you. 

People And with thy spirit. 

Officiant Let us pray. 

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born 

of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be 

renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the 

same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. 

THE GREETINGS Please be seated. The Rector 

AT 4 P. M., CAROL Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child Kenneth Leighton 

(1929-1988) 

Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child, By, by, lully, lullay. 

O sisters too, how may we do 

For to preserve this day? 

This poor youngling, for whom we do sing, 

By, by, lully, lullay. 

That woe is me, poor child for thee! 

And ever morn and may, 

For thy parting, nor say nor sing, 

By, by, lully, lullay. 

Coventry Carol, Fifteenth Century 

AT 4 P. M., THE BLESSING Please kneel. 

6 

Herod the king, in his raging, 

Charged he hath this day 

His men of might, in his own sight, 

All children young to slay. 

HYMN All stand to sing. MENDELSSOHN 

H 

ARK! 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 


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. 



Charles Wesley 

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored; 

Christ, the everlasting Lord; 

Late in time behold him come, 

Offspring of the Virgin’s womb. 

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; 

Hail the incarnate Deity, 

Pleased as man with man to dwell; 

Jesus, our Emmanuel! 


Glory to the new-born King!

AT 11 A. M., THE BLESSING Please kneel. 

The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at the High Altar at the conclusion of the 11 a.m. Service. 

VOLUNTARY (11 a.m.) In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 Johann Sebastian Bach 

(1685-1750) 

(4 p.m.) Toccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol George Baker 

(b. 1951) 

The greens today are offered to the glory of God and in memory of the following: 

Mary Clark deBrabant and Margaret Crane Hurlbut. 

The complete December calendar is available in the Narthex and in the reception area of the Parish House. It may also be 

found on our website at www.SaintThomasChurch.org. 

PARISH NOTICES 

Please Note: Unauthorized recordings and the taking of unauthorized photographs at SAINT THOMAS CHURCH 

FIFTH AVENUE are prohibited. 

If you are a visitor this morning, we welcome you to Saint Thomas Church and hope that you come back soon. We 

encourage you to complete a Welcome Card which you can find in the rack at the end of the pews or in the narthex at the 

front of the church. 

Nursery: Parents of infants and young children, whether member or guest, should know about our Nursery care that is 

available for the 9 and 11 a.m. liturgies and through the 10 a.m. Christian Education hour. If you would like to avail 

yourself of this service for worship, or to attend the adult classes, please ask one of our ushers to direct you. Once at the 

nursery, parents will be asked to sign in their children and will receive a silent pager for use during the service. 

There is no guided tour of the Church today. Tours resume on January 6, 2013. 

Reminder about year-end contributions to Saint Thomas Church. All donations, including cash gifts, must be 

postmarked by December 31, or received in the Finance Office by noon on December 31, to qualify as a deduction for 

2012 tax purposes. Likewise, gifts of stock must be received in the Church’s investment account by December 31, 2012. 

For stock transfer instructions or other questions, please contact Ann Hall Kaplan at akaplan@SaintThomasChurch.org or 

212.757.7013 ext 414. If you have not yet made a pledge to the 2013 Every Member Canvass, please consider doing so 

now. Many thanks to all who have given so generously to Saint Thomas Church. 

The Bookstore, located on the first floor of the Parish House, is open following the 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. services. The 

Bookstore will be closed Sunday and Monday December 30 and 31. The Bookstore reopens on January 6. 

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 

Many Psalms ask God to intervene and help, but what is the morality in such requests (particularly when they involve the 

defeat or destruction of the foe)? You are welcome to join the continuing study of the ethics of the Psalms, Sundays at 

10 a.m. on the fifth floor of the Parish House, through December 30. 

Aquinas on angels will be offered on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. beginning January 9 … The Rector's Christian Doctrine 

class begins Tuesday, January 15, at 6:30 p.m. Brochures are now available in the narthex … Father Austin will have a 

“public conversation” with some professional visual artists, new to our parish, on Thursday, January 24, at 6:30 p.m. … 

The Hobbit will be discussed on Monday, January 28, at 6:15 p.m. … Drop a line to vaustin@SaintThomasChurch.org 

for regular updates on theology at Saint Thomas. 

7

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE 

 

Monday, December 24, CHRISTMAS EVE 

4 p.m. 

A Service of Lessons and Carols and The Blessing of the Creche 

The Rector’s Christmas Message to the children 

Music of Carter, Walford Davies, Hancock and Gardner 

10:15 p.m. (Doors open at 10 p.m.) 

FESTIVAL MUSIC FOR TRUMPET AND ORGAN 

11 p.m. 

THE SOLEMN EUCHARIST OF THE NATIVITY 

Music of Malcolm, Handel, Willcocks, Rutter and Darke 

Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys 

Sermon by The Rector 

 

Tuesday, December 25, CHRISTMAS DAY 

11 a.m. 

THE SOLEMN EUCHARIST OF THE NATIVITY 

Music of Shephard, Sweelinck, Willcocks, Rutter and Preston 

Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys 

Sermon by The Rector 

† 

ASSISTING CLERGY 

The Reverend Victor Lee Austin, Ph.D., Theologian-in-residence 

The Reverend Michael D. Spurlock, Curate 

The Reverend Joel C. Daniels, Assisting Priest 

The Reverend Canon John Andrew, OBE, DD, Rector Emeritus 

STAFF 

John Scott, LVO, Organist and Director of Music 

Benjamin Sheen, Acting Assistant Organist 

Roberta S. Brill, Verger 

Edward J. Givins, Assistant Verger 

Barbara W. Pettus, Director of Administration and Finance 

Ann H. Kaplan, Director of Development 

Douglas M. Robbe, Secretary to The Rector 

PARISH OFFICES 

One West Fifty-third Street 

New York, New York 10019 

Church Telephone 212.757.7013 

www.SaintThomasChurch.org 

inquiries@SaintThomasChurch.org 

SAINT THOMAS CHOIR SCHOOL 

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 

The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster 

www.ChoirSchool.org 

8

Leaflet - Saint Thomas Church

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?