CHRISTMAS LESSONS AND CAROLS - Grace Episcopal Church

Than they had been asleep:{Refrain}Quoth I, ‘Fellows mine,Why this guise sit ye?Making but dull cheer,Shepherds though ye be?’{Refrain}‘Shepherds should of rightLeap and dance and sing,Thus to see ye sit,Is a right strange thing’:{Refrain}Quoth these fellows then,‘To Bethlem town we go,To see a mighty lordLie in manger low’:{Refrain}‘How name ye this lord,Shepherds? then said I,‘Very God,’ they said,‘Come from heaven high’;{Refrain}This is Christ the Lord,Masters, be ye glad!Christmas is come in,And no folk should be sad:{Refrain}Text: William MorrisMusic: French traditional carol arranged by David WillcocksREADING CAROL OF PATIENCE ROBERT GRAVESShepherds armed with staff and sling,Ranged along a steep hillside,Watch for their anointed KingBy all prophets prophesied –Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.Hour by hour they scrutinizeComet, planet, planet, star,Till the oldest shepherd sights,‘I am frail and he is far.’Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.‘Born, they say, a happy child;Grown, a man of grief to be,8

From all careless joys exiled,Rooted in eternity.’Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.Then another shepherd said:‘Yonder lights are Bethlehem;There young David raised his headDestined for the diadem.’Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.Cried the youngest shepherd: ‘ThereOur Redeemer comes tonight,Comes with starlight on his hair,With his brow exceeding bright.’Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.‘Sacrifice no lamb nor kid,Let such foolish fashions pass;In a manger find him hid,Breathed upon by ox and ass.’Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.Dance for him and laugh and sing,Watch him mercifully smile,Dance although tomorrow bringEvery plague that plagued the Nile.Sing patience, patience,Only still have patience.CAROLWhat sweeter musicWhat sweeter music can we bringThan a carol, for to singThe birth of this our heav'nly King?Awake the voice! Awake the string!Dark and dull night, fly hence away,And give the honour to this dayThat sees December turn'd to MayThat sees December turn'd to may.Why does the chilling winter's mornSmile, like a field beset with corn?Or smell like a meadow newly shornThus on the sudden? Come and seeThe cause, why things thus fragrant be:'Tis he is born, whose quick'ning birthGives life and lustre, public mirth,To heaven and the underearth.We see him come, and know him ours,Who, with his sunshine and his show'rs,9

Turns the patient ground to flow'rs,Turns all the patient ground to flow'rs.The darling of the world is come,And fit it is, we find a roomTo welcome him, to welcome him.The nobler part of all the house here, is the heart,Which we will give him; and bequeathThis holly, and this ivy wreath,To do him honour; who's our King,And Lord of all this reveling.What sweeter music can we bringThan a carol, for to singThe birth of this our heav'nly King,The birth of this our heav'nly King.Text: John RutterMusic: John RutterREADING MATTHEW 2:1-12THE WISEMENCAROLLord, when you came to earthLord, when you came to earth,Humbled by virgin birth,Born of a maiden mild,Mary the undefiled;Told by the prophets long,God’s own beloved Son,Now is salvation won,You come to save us;Hear as we sing the true story of Christmas!See, in the cattle stallJesus, the child for all,Lying in helpless state,He whom the nations waitLong since the world began,This is God’s timeless plan,Sending his Son, a manDying to save us;We kneel to worship the glory of Christmas!Come to that stable bare,Watch o’er his mother’s care,Join with the Kings to seeMeekness in Majesty.Follow his star to day,Hear what the Gospels say,This is the only way;10

Christ comes to save us;Born in a manger, the true light of Christmas!Words: Barry RoseMusic: Traditional Swedish melody; arr. Barry RoseREADING BC : AD U. A. FANTHORPEThis was the moment when BeforeTurned into After, and the future’sUninvented timekeepers presented arms.This was the moment when nothingHappened. Only dull peaceSprawled boringly over the earth.This was the moment when even energetic RomansCould find nothing better to doThan counting heads in remote provinces.And this was the momentWhen a few farm workers and threeMembers of an obscure Persian sectWalked haphazard by starlight straightInto the kingdom of heaven.CAROLNo small wonderSmall wonder the star,Small wonder the light,The angels in chorus,The shepherds in fright;But stable and manger for God –No small wonder!Small wonder the kings,Small wonder they boreThe gold and the incense,The myrrh, to adore:But God gives his life on a cross –No small wonder!Small wonder the love,Small wonder the grace,The power, the glory,The light of his face;But all to redeem my poor heart –No small wonder!Text: Paul Wigmore11

Music: Paul EdwardsREJOICING & CELEBRATINGREADING CHRISTMAS SIR JOHN BETJEMANThe bells of waiting Advent ring,The Tortoise stove is lit againAnd lamp-oil across the nightHas caught the streaks of winter rainIn many a stained-glass window sheenFrom Crimson lake to Hookers Green.The holly in the windy hedgeAnd round the Manor House the yewWill soon be stripped to deck the ledge,The altar, font and arch and pew,So that the villagers can say‘The church looks nice’ on Christmas Day.Provincial Public Houses blaze,Corporation tramcars clang,On lighted tenements I gaze,Where paper decorations hang,And bunting in the red Town HallSays ‘Merry Christmas to you all’.And London shops on Christmas EveAre strung with silver bells and flowersAs hurrying clerks the City leaveTo pigeon-haunted classic towers,And marbled clouds go scudding byThe many-steepled London sky.And girls in slacks remember Dad,And oafish louts remember Mum,And sleepless children’s hearts are glad.And Christmas-morning bells say ‘Come!’Even to shining ones who dwellSafe in the Dorchester Hotel.And is it true,This most tremendous tale of all,Seen in a stained-glass window’s hue,12

A Baby in an ox’s stall ?The Maker of the stars and seaBecome a Child on earth for me ?And is it true ? For if it is,No loving fingers tying stringsAround those tissued fripperies,The sweet and silly Christmas things,Bath salts and inexpensive scentAnd hideous tie so kindly meant,No love that in a family dwells,No caroling in frosty air,Nor all the steeple-shaking bellsCan with this single Truth compare –That God was man in PalestineAnd lives today in Bread and Wine.CAROLCandlelight CarolHow do you capture the wind on the water?How do you count all the stars in the sky?How can you measure the love of a mother,Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglowShine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him,Seraphim round him their vigil will keep;Nations proclaim him their lord and their Savior,But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglowShine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger:Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay.Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation:A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglowShine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo!Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.Words: John RutterMusic: John RutterCAROLSee amid the winter's snow13

(Choir)1 See amid the winter's snow,Born for us on earth below;See the tender Lamb appears,Promis'd from eternal years:ALL: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.(Choir)2 Lo, within a manger liesHe who built the starry skiesHe who, throned in height sublime,Sits amid the cherubim:ALL: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.(Choir)3 Say, ye holy shepherds, sayWhat your joyful news todayWherefore have ye left your sheepOn the lonely mountain steep?ALL: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.(Choir)4 As we watch'd at dead of night,Lo, we saw a wondrous light;Angels singing "Peace on earth"Told us of the Saviour's birth:ALL: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.(Choir)5 Sacred infant, all divine,What a tender love was thine,Thus to come from highest blissDown to such a world as this:ALL: Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.(All)14

6 Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,By thy face so meek and mild,Teach us to resemble thee,In thy sweet humility:Hail, thou ever-blessed morn;Hail, redemption's happy dawn;Sing through all Jerusalem,Christ is born in Bethlehem.Words: E. CaswellMusic: John Goss; arranged by David WillcocksCOLLECT AND BLESSINGOfficiant:Officiant:O, God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembranceOf the birth of thy only Son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as weJoyfully receive him for our redeemer, so we may with sureConfidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge;Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, oneGod, world without end. AMEN.May he who by his Incarnation gathered into oneThings earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullnessOf inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing ofGod Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,Be upon you and remain with you always. AMEN.HYMN IN PROCESSIONO COME , ALL YE FAITHFULAdeste fidelesO come, all ye faithful,Joyful and triumphant,O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;Come and behold himBorn the King of Angels:(Refrain)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:(Refrain)See how the shepherds,15

Summoned to his cradle,Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;We too will thitherBend our joyful footsteps:(Refrain)Lo! star-led chieftains,Magi, Christ adoring,Offer him incense, gold and myrrh;We to the Christ ChildBring our hearts’ oblations:(Refrain)Child, for us sinnersPoor and in the manger,Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love;Who would not love thee,Loving us so dearly?(Refrain)Sing, choirs of angels,Sing in exultation,Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;Glory to GodIn the highest:(Refrain)Yea, Lord, we greet thee,Born this happy morning,Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n;Word of the Father,Now in flesh appearing:(Refrain)The Voluntary Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’ Andrew Carter16

ST. NICHOLAS CHOIRJodi Bennett, ChoirmasterEmma MacMillanHeather JonesMadeline FennellClara MacMillanCollins RiceHenley BallDorothy BehreNoah SmithBailey AllenEmily BallElizabeth HowellChandler ChurchKitty RiceAlex MoringVirginia HerbertAmelia RiderMarjorie HerbertBethany SchroederHenry BehreMarinesa FabrizioElizabeth AndersonLeila MilesSusannah SmithAllison WendtClarissa RiderGRACE CHURCH CHOIRScott Bennett, Organist & ChoirmasterSOPRANOElizabeth AndersonLisa BeltonJodi BennettSarah Wade BoatwrightMarsha CallahanSarah ChristianSheila ChristiePat GouldRachel LindsayKaren RiderMary Rudisill17Laura SchroederJean WadeEsther WilliamsSophia ZimmermannTENORWayne FrenchJohn HethcoxJason LuttrellPhillip PowellBrian ScholtensAlex Schroeder

Char StricklinAnna Lee TurnerALTOMary Beth BerryKaren BostickM.E. CanadayRuth GoldsmithKay HunterKaren MarrolliRandy McPhailCamille ReynoldsMartha RudisillTerry RitchenCarol StanfordBASSBill ChristianBarry GoldsmithBob RamellaEd RitchenSteve RussellJason RobersonJohn SchroederBen SheltonRichard ShowSteve SkardonRoy SmithSam StaffordDerek WadeHal Wade18