Advent Lessons and Carols - The Hill School

A FESTIVALOFEIGHT LESSONS AND CAROLSSUNDAY, DECEMBER 12III ADVENT, A.D. MMX

CONCERNING THE SERVICEIt is our custom to maintain silence in the Alumni Memorial Chapel. Inorder not to spoil the service for other members of the congregation,please do not talk unless it is absolutely necessary. Please turn offchiming digital watches and cell phones.A Christmas Carol service has been observed in the Alumni MemorialChapel since at least 1931; around 1990, this observance first tookthe form of the Service of Lessons and Carols.The Service of [Nine] Lessons and Carols was first devised by theRight Reverend Edward White Benson (1829-1926; Bishop of Truro,1877-1882; Archbishop of Canterbury from 1882) for use in hisCathedral Church of St. Mary, Truro, Cornwall, at Christmas of 1880,after the founding of the cathedral that previous May.For the first Christmas after the World War I Armistice, the VeryReverend Eric Milner-White, Dean of the Chapel at King's College,Cambridge, arranged a service based on Archbishop Benson's model;partly as a result of regular broadcasts on the BBC, this form ofworship has spread around the world.Arthur Henry Mann was the Organist at King's when the servicebegan, and successive musicians at the college and at churchesaround the world have chosen or composed different pieces toaccompany the lessons—though since 1919, "Once in Royal David'sCity" has been the almost universal choice for the processional hymn,as it will be for us.The Alumni Memorial Chapel's Keith Merrill Memorial Organ,originally installed in 1965, is undergoing a major renovation. Inspring of 2009, the mechanisms of the Choir, Swell and Pedaldivisions were completely overhauled; 2010 saw the completereconstruction of the Great Division (the section worshippers usuallysee) and the organ console. In 2011, the Choir, Swell and Pedal will berevoiced, and a new frame will be constructed for the Great. We thankthe alumni, faculty, parents and friends whose generouscontributions continue to support this renovation project. Please planto join us for a rededication service and concert in October, 2011.

ORGAN PRELUDE The congregation is silent during the organ music before the service.Annunciation and Nativity from Arthur M. Hynd, A History of Woodcut.Nativity detail used on Annual Christmas Carol Service bulletin, 1976-1988.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN, “ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY”SoloChoirChoirChoirAllAllOnce in royal David's citystood a lowly cattle shed,where a mother laid her babyin 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 mean, and lowly,lived on earth our Savior holy.And, through all his wondrous childhood,he would honor and obey,love, and watch the lowly maidenin whose gentle arms he lay:Christian children all must bemild, 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 so dear and gentleis our Lord in heaven above;and he leads his children onto the place where he is gone.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 Frances Humphreys Alexander (1818-1895)Music, "Irby," Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876), harmonized by A. H. Mann (1850-1929); descant, Sir David Willcocks (1919- )

CAROL, “BREAK FORTH, O BEAUTEOUS HEAVENLY LIGHT”Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light,And usher in the morning.Ye shepherds, shrink not with affright,But hear the angel’s warning.This child, now weak in infancy,Our confidence and joy shall be,The pow’r of Satan breaking,Our peace eternal making.Words, Johann Rist (1607-1667)Music, Johann Schop (d. 1665?), harmonized Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)Adam and Eve, engraving, 1504: Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)

HYMN, “PEOPLE LOOK EAST” The Congregation stands.1 People, look East. The time is nearof the crowning of the year.Make your house fair as you are able,trim the hearth and set the table.People, look East and sing today:Love the guest is on the way.2 Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,one more seed is planted there:Give up your strength the seed to nourish,that in course the flow’r may flourish.People, look East and sing today:Love the rose is on the way.3 Birds, though you long have ceased to build,guard the nest that must be filled.Even the hour when wings are frozenGod for fledgling time has chosen.People, look East and sing today:Love the bird is on the way.4 Stars, keep the watch. When night is dimone more light the bowl shall brim,shining beyond the frosty weather,bright as sun and moon together.People, look East and sing today:Love the star is on the way.5 Angels, announce with shouts of mirthChrist who brings new life to earth.Set every peak and valley hummingwith the word, the Lord is coming.People, look East and sing today:Love the Lord is on the way.Words, Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), © 1957 Eleanor FarjeonMusic, Besançon CarolFrom Wonder, Love, and Praise, © 1997 the Church Pension Fund. All rightsreserved. Used by permission of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY. The Congregation is seated.

CAROL, “THE HOLLY AND THE IVY”The holly and the ivy,When they are both full grown,Of all the trees that are in the woodThe holly bears the crown.Refrain: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 the lily flower,And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,To be our sweet Saviour.The holly bears a berryAs red as any blood,And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,To do poor sinners good.The holly bears a prickleAs sharp as any thorn,And Mary bore sweet Jesus ChristOn Christmas Day in the morn.The holly bears a barkAs bitter as any gall,And Mary bore sweet Jesus ChristFor to redeem us all.Traditional English CarolMusic arranged by Alice Parker (1925- ) and Robert Shaw (1916-1999)Ornament from the 1945 Christmas Candlelight Carol Service bulletin

THE FIFTH LESSONThe Lord will be among us; we are summoned to rejoice. ZEPHANIAH 3:14-18Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all yourheart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgmentsagainst you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, theLORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more. On that day it shall besaid to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. TheLORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice overyou with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loudsinging as on a day of festival.CAROL, “MASTERS IN THIS HALL”1. Masters in this Hall,Hear ye news to-dayBrought from over sea,And ever I you pray:Refrain:Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!Nowell, sing we clear!Holpen are all folk on earth,Born the Son of God so dear:Nowell! Nowell! Nowell!Nowell, sing we loud!God to-day hath poor folk raisedAnd cast a-down the proud.2. Going o'er the hills,Through the milk-white snow,Heard I ewes bleatWhile the wind did blow:Then to Bethlem townWe went two and two,And in a sorry placeHeard the oxen low:3. Therein did we seeA sweet and goodly mayAnd a fair old man,Upon the straw she lay:And a little childOn her arm had she,"Wot ye who this is?"Said the hinds to me:4. This is Christ the Lord,Masters be ye glad!Christmas is come in,And no folk should be sad:Words, William Morris (1834-1896)Music, Traditional French, arranged by Alice Parker (1925- ) and Robert Shaw(1916-1999)

THE SIXTH LESSONThe Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of theMost High LUKE 1:26-58IN the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galileecalled Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of thehouse of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said,“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed byhis words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her,“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you willconceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will begreat, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give tohim the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacobforever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “Howcan this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will comeupon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore thechild to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relativeElizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month forher who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” ThenMary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to yourword.” Then the angel departed from her. In those days Mary set out and wentwith haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house ofZechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the childleaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimedwith a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of yourwomb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes tome? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my wombleaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment ofwhat was spoken to her by the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies theLord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on thelowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercyis for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strengthwith his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He hasbrought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he hasfilled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helpedhis servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise hemade to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Maryremained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Now thetime came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors andrelatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoicedwith her.

The Annunciation, woodcut from The Life of the Virgin, 1511: Albrecht Durer(1471-1528)

HYMN, “THE ANGEL GABRIEL FROM HEAVEN CAME” The Congregation stands1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came,his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,most highly favored lady,” Gloria!2 “For know a blessèd Mother thou shalt be,all generations laud and honor thee,thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,most highly favored lady,” Gloria!3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,“my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name.”Most highly favored lady, Gloria!4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was bornin Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say—“Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!Words, Basque carol; para. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)Music, “Gabriel’s Message,” Basque carol; harm. Edgar Pettman (1865-1943) The Congregation is seated.

CAROL, “IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER”1 In 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 awaywhen he comes to reign:in the bleak midwintera stable-place sufficedthe Lord God incarnate,Jesus Christ.3 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.Words, Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)Music, “Cranham,” Gustav Theodore Holst (1874-1934)

THE SEVENTH LESSONJesus is born at Bethlehem, and worshipped by shepherds. LUKE 2:1-20IN those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the worldshould be registered. This was the first registration and was taken whileQuirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city ofDavid called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family ofDavid. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who wasexpecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver herchild. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth,and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Inthat region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over theirflock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of theLord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Donot be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth andlying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of theheavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, andon earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them andgone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now toBethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has madeknown to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the childlying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been toldthem about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherdstold them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard andseen, as it had been told them.

CAROL, “ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH”Angels we have heard on high,Sweetly singing o’er the plains,And the mountains in replyEchoing their joyous strains:Gloria in excelsis deo.Shepherds, why this jubilee?Why your joyous strains prolong?What the gladsome tidings beWhich inspire your heav’nly song?Gloria in excelsis deo.Come to Bethlehem and seeHim whose birth the angels sing;Come, adore on bended kneeChrist the Lord, the newborn King.Gloria in excelsis deo.See him in a manger laidWhom the choirs of angels praise;Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,While our hearts in love we raise.Gloria in excelsis deo.Words, traditional French macaronic carol, trans. James Chadwick (1813-1882)Music, traditional French, arranged by Alice Parker (1925- )

THE EIGHTH LESSONSaint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation. JOHN 1:1-18IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Wordwas God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into beingthrough him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has comeinto being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shinesin the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sentfrom God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, sothat all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came totestify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into theworld. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet theworld did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people didnot accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gavepower to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of theflesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and livedamong us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full ofgrace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said,‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From hisfullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given throughMoses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. Itis God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made himknown.Virgin of the Apocalypse, with Chi-Rho and Alpha-Omega (Rev. 12:1-6), from the1949 Annual Christmas Carol Service bulletin, drawn by The Rev. Nicholas B.Phelps ‘52 and cut on linoleum by Brian S. Kirby ‘53.

HYMN, “IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR” The Congregation stands and hand candles are lighted.1 It came upon the midnight clear,that glorious song of old,from angels bending near the earthto touch their harps of gold:“Peace on the earth, good will to men,from heaven’s all-gracious King.”The world in solemn stillness layto hear the angels sing.2 Still through the cloven skies they comewith peaceful wings unfurled,and still their heavenly music floatso’er all the weary world;above its sad and lowly plainsthey bend on hovering wing,and ever o’er its Babel-soundsthe blessed angels sing.3 Yet with the woes of sin and strifethe world has suffered long;beneath the heavenly hymn have rolledtwo thousand years of wrong;and warring humankind hears notthe tidings which they bring;O hush the noise and cease your strifeand hear the angels sing!4 For lo! the days are hastening on,by prophets seen of old,when with the ever-circling yearsshall come the time foretold,when peace shall over all the earthits ancient splendors fling,and all the world give back the songwhich now the angels sing.Words, Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876), alt.Music, “Carol,” Richard Storrs Willis (1819-1900) The Congregation remains standing for closing prayers.

COLLECT & BLESSINGThe ChaplainOGOD, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your onlySon Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as ourRedeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to beour Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now andfor ever. Amen.May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us ingreat humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from allsin. Amen.May he whose second Coming in power and great glory we await make yousteadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent berewarded with unending life. Amen.And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, beupon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.HYMN, “HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING”Hark, the herald angels singglory 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 singglory 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, th’ incarnate Deity.Pleased as man with us to dwell,Jesus, our Emmanuel!Hark, the herald angels singglory to the new-born King!Hail, the heaven-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 we no more may die,born to raise us from the earth,born to give us second birth.Hark, the herald angels singglory to the new-born King!Words, Charles Wesley (1707-1788), alt.Music, "Mendelssohn," Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847); descant, Sir DavidWillcocks (1919- )ORGAN POSTLUDE

PARTICIPANTSTHE REVEREND JOHN WM. HOUGHTON, PH.D., CHAPLAINMR. MARK RIGG, S.T.M., ASSOCIATE CHAPLAINMR. STEPHEN C. LONGENECKER, JR., OAKLAWN-TUTTLE DIRECTOR OF VOCAL MUSICMR. WILLIAM P. CONRAD, SCHOOL ORGANISTAUGUSTUS SAWATZKISACRISTANSCALVIN WENTLINGALEXANDER PUMPHREY, EMERITUSTHE HILLTONESTHE HILLTREBLESMR. DAVID ALLAINJEMO CASSIDYJONATHAN CORSONRENEE DONADOMR. DAVID DOUGHERTYVOCAL ENSEMBLESTHE COMMUNITY CHORUSLECTORSMRS. KAY DOUGHERTYMR. LOUIS JEFFRIESMRS. JULIA KALISENJOLIE LEVENGOODKATHRYN MALONE, PH.D.THE GLEE CLUBTHE CHORUSMR. KARL MIRANMR. JAMES REIFSNYDERCAITLIN STUVENOTROSA VOLPEACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Christmas greens are given to the greater glory of Almighty God in lovingmemory of W. Scott Bryant '77 by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh F. Bryant.The poinsettias are given to the greater glory of Almighty God in loving memory ofMr. and Mrs. George C. Whiteley, Jr., by their daughter, Mrs. John H. Woodward.Thanks are due to Mrs. Christy Parker, Mr. Brian Hanlon, and their manyassistants in the task of greening the Chapel.We are grateful, as well, to those who are serving as acolytes, lectors, and ushersfor the service.Finally, thanks are due to Mr. and Mrs. David Dougherty, for their continuingsupport of worship and music at the school.