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.
CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24, 2010
A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS and
THE BLESSING OF THE CRECHE ― 4 p.m.
PRELUDE Three Versets on ‘Away in a manger’ Mark Blatchly
(b. 1960)
Chorale Prelude on ‘Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen,’ Op. 122 Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
Nativité, from ‘Symphonie-Passion,’ Op. 23 Marcel Dupré
(1886-1971)
HYMN Once in royal David’s city All stand. IRBY
Chorister Only:
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.
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 BLESSING OF THE CRECHE
Cecil Frances Alexander
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.
The image of the child Jesus is brought to the Crèche.
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.

HYMN Please kneel and join in the singing of the Hymn STILLE NACHT
S
ILENT night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Joseph Mohr
FIRST LESSON Please be seated.
Saint Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
CAROL The Salutation Carol Alan Gibbs
(b. 1932)
Nowell, Nowell! This is the salutation of the angel Gabriel.
Tidings true there become new, Sent from the Trinity
By Gabriel to Nazareth, City of Galilee.
“A clean maiden, a pure virgin, By her humility Shall now conceive the Person Second in Deity.”
When that he presented was Before her fair visage,
In most demure and goodly wise He did to her homage;
And said, “Lady, from heaven so high, That Lordés heritage, For he of thee now born will be; I’m sent on his message.”
Hail, virgin celestial The meek’st that ever was! Hail temple of the Deity!
Hail, mirror of all grace! Hail virgin pure!
I thee ensure, Within a little space, Thou shalt conceive and him receive That shall bring great solace.
Then bespake the maid again And answered womanly,
“Whate’er my Lord commandeth me I will obey truly.”
With “Ecce sum humillima Ancilla Domini; Secundum verbum tuum.” She said, “Fiat mihi.”
Fifteenth Century Carol
SECOND LESSON Saint Luke 2:1-14
Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
CAROL All my heart this night rejoices Johann Georg Ebeling
(1637-1676)
arranged by Leo Nestor
(b. 1948)
All my heart this night rejoices
As I hear, Far and near, Sweetest angel voices.
“Christ is born!” their choirs are singing,
Till the air Everywhere Now with joy is ringing.
Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, Doth entreat, “Flee from woe and danger!
Brethren come! from all doth grieve you,
You are freed; All you need I will surely give you.”
Paul Gerhardt
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Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish;
Live to thee, And with thee, Dying shall not perish.
But shall dwell with thee for ever,
Far on high, In the joy That shall alter never.
Come, then, let us hasten yonder!
Here let all, Great and small, Kneel in awe and wonder!
Love him who with love is yearning!
Hail the star That from far Bright with hope is burning!

THIRD LESSON Saint Luke 2:15-20
The shepherds go to the manger.
HYMN While shepherds watched All stand to sing. WINCHESTER OLD
w
HILE shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
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
The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:
Nahum Tate
SALUTATION AND COLLECT Please kneel.
Officiant The Lord be with you.
People And with thy spirit.
Officiant Let us pray.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
UR 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, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Officiant says the Collect.
THE GREETINGS Please be seated.
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4. “The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.”
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.”
HYMN Please stand and join in the singing of the Hymn. CRADLE SONG
A
O
WAY in a manger, no crib for his 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.
Children are invited to come forward during the Hymn.
Traditional Carol
Please be seated.
THE RECTOR’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO THE CHILDREN
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.

AT THE OFFERING, CAROL Personent hodie arranged by John Rutter
(b. 1945)
Personent hodie
On this day, earth shall ring
Voces puerulae,
with the song children sing
Laudantes jucunde
to the Lord, Christ our King,
Qui nobis est natus,
born on Earth to save us;
Summo Deo datus,
him the Father gave us.
Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
And created from the womb of the Virgin.
In mundo nascitur,
Pannis involvitur,
Praesepi ponitur
Stabulo brutorum,
Rector supernorum,
Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
Magis tres venerunt.
Parvullum inquirunt,
Bethlehem adeunt,
Stellulam sequendo,
Ipsum adorando
Aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.
Omnes clericuli,
Pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli:
Advenisti mundo,
Laudes tibi fundo
Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo
from Piae Cantiones (1582)
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His the doom, ours the mirth;
when he came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw his birth;
ox and ass beside him
from the cold would hide him.
The Prince thwarted the intrigues of hell.
God’s bright star, o’er his head,
Wise Men three to him led;
kneel they low by his bed,
lay their gifts before him,
praise him and adore him.
Offering him gold, incense and myrrh.
On this day angels sing;
with their song earth shall ring
praising Christ, heaven’s King,
born on earth to save us;
peace and love he gave us.
Likewise glory to God in the highest.
CAROL How far is it to Bethlehem? arranged by Simon Lindley
(b. 1948)
How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far.
Shall we find the stable-room lit by a star?
Can we see the little Child, is He within?
If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in?
May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them, and see Jesus asleep?
If we touch His tiny hand will He awake?
Will He know we’ve come so far just for His sake?
Great kings have precious gifts, and we have naught;
Little smiles and little tears are all we brought.
For all weary children Mary must weep.
Here, on His bed for straw, sleep, children, sleep.
God in His mother’s arms, babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find their heart’s desire.
Frances Chesterton
THE BLESSING Please kneel.

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
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!
Charles Wesley
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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 as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
VOLUNTARY Noël ‘Tous les Bourgeois de Châtres’ Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
(1727-1799)
CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE
È
Friday, December 24, CHRISTMAS EVE
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, David Willcocks, John Rutter and Darke
Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys
Sermon by The Rector
È
Saturday, December 25, CHRISTMAS DAY
11 a.m.
SOLEMN EUCHARIST
Music of Richard Shephard, Sweelinck, John Rutter and Simon Preston
Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys
Sermon by The Rector
È
Sunday, December 26, THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY
Holy Eucharist at 8 and 9 a.m.
11 a.m.
FESTAL EUCHARIST
Music of Pitoni, Palestrina and Handl
Sung by The Gentlemen of The Choir
Sermon by Father Daniels
È
January 16, 2011, THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
11 a.m. & 4 p.m.
EPIPHANY PROCESSION WITH CAROLS
Sung by The Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys

PARISH NOTICES
Saint Thomas Sunday School classes are in recess until Sunday, January 9, when classes will resume for all youth
and children from 3 years old to high school seniors. For more information, or to register, please contact Father Spurlock
at 212.757.7013 or mspurlock@SaintThomasChurch.org.
Basic Christianity: The Rector's Christian Doctrine Class begins on Tuesday, January 11. This is a good course for
anyone who would like to study basic matters: Trinity, Incarnation, Bible, sacraments, history, the Episcopal Church, and
so forth. It will meet most Tuesdays through early May, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Besides being a good overview of
Christian faith and practices, the doctrine class is preparation, for those who want it, for confirmation or reception in the
Episcopal Church.
"What's Up with Authority?" Father Austin will give this public lecture on Wednesday, January 19, at 6:30 p.m. How
does authority help us flourish as human beings? Is it a good thing even when it errs? This lecture will not presuppose
any particular study of the topic, and it is open to the public.
Please visit our website at www.SaintThomasChurch.org for a complete calendar of all worship services, classes and
other events.
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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, The Nancy B. and John B. Hoffmann Organist and Director of Music
Frederick Teardo, Associate Organist
Kevin Kwan, 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
administration@SaintThomasChurch.org
SAINT THOMAS CHOIR SCHOOL
202 West 58th Street
New York, New York 10019
A boarding school for choristers in grades 3 to 8
For information:
Choir School Telephone 212.247.3311
The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster
www.ChoirSchool.org
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