Nine Lessons & Carols at Malmesbury Abbey
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Transcript of Nine Lessons & Carols at Malmesbury Abbey
NINE LESSONS & CAROLS
BY CANDLELIGHT
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
to all on whom his favour rests.
(Luke 2:14)
SUNDAY 21 S T DECEMBER 2014 , 6 . 30PM
V ICAR ' S WELCOME
I warmly welcome you to Malmesbury Abbey for our Service of
Nine Lessons and Carols. I hope you have a seat. This may well be
your very first time at this service, or perhaps the ‘Nine Lessons’ is
an important part of your Christmas every year and you can sing
all the verses of all the carols without referring to the words at all.
Regardless, I hope nobody leaves the Abbey tonight without
considering afresh how the birth of Jesus Christ changed the
course of human history.
Our service is one of beauty and tremendous joy. Candles will
light the Abbey to signify that ‘a people walking in darkness have
seen a great light.’ Our 12th century walls will resound to beautiful
and mysterious music echoing the singing of the angels that first
holy night. And ancient, God-breathed, readings from scripture
will in essence say one thing – that Christ was born that you and I
might know peace and salvation though him. That is a personal
message for each of us, and it is the good news that still
permeates the darkness of our broken world two thousand years
on.
May God bless you this night, may you be inspired, and may He
bless you and those you love this Christmas.
Revd Canon Neill Archer
Christmas, 2014.
Guidance for the Service
• Because of the large number of candles in this service
there is a significant risk – please take care with your
candle at all times
• Please secure all loose hair and clothing, and when
candles are being lit please take great care when passing
the light to others
• Please stand for hymns and sit for all readings; except the
9th Lesson when we all stand and face the gospel in the
centre of the Abbey.
• There is a retiring collection for the ministry of
Malmesbury Abbey. If you are a UK taxpayer please use
the gift aid envelope provided. Many thanks.
• You can also donate by text. Please text 70070 and enter
the code MALM12.
Organ Preludes
Organist: Mark Bensted B.Mus. FTCL
Director of Music: John Hughes M.A. (Cantab) ARCO
Paean on ‘Of the Father’s love’ John Cook
Variations on ‘Unto us a Son is born’ Geoffrey Shaw
Nativité Marcel Dupré
Please remain seated in silence during the final organ preludes as
the Abbey is gradually darkened and candles lit.
Chorale Prelude on ‘In Dulci Jubilo’ Marcel Dupré
Kyrie Eleison Maurice Duruflé
Hymn Once in Royal David’s city
A soloist and the Malmesbury Abbey Choir sing the first two verses
nd through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, 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 gentle
Is our Lord in Heav’n above,
And He leads His children on
To 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;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
A
Please sit
Bidding Prayer Revd Canon Neill Archer
Vicar, Malmesbury Abbey
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
in 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.
Choir Veni Redemptor Gentium
Andrew Smith
Saviour of the nations, come,
Recognised as the Virgin’s child,
so that the world marvels
that God ordained such a birth for him.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned
From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same;
Captive leading death and hell,
High the song of triumph swell!
Brightly doth the manger shine
Glorious in its light divine.
Let no sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.
To Christ the most holy King
And to you the Father be glory,
And with the Holy Spirit,
World without end. Amen.
1st Lesson Genesis 3:8-14
The Fall of Humanity
Read by Revd John Monaghan
Curate, Malmesbury Abbey
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn O come O come Emmanuel
come, O come, Emmanuel!
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Rod of Jesse! free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of hell, thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O
O come, thou dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Key of David come
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, thou Lord of Might,
Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
2nd Lesson Gen 22:15-18
The Promise of Blessing
Read by Diana Crowe
Churchwarden
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir Christ the Apple Tree
Stanford Scriven
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green:
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree.
His beauty doth all things excel:
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought:
I missed of all; but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.
I'm weary’d with my former toil,
Here I will sit and rest awhile:
Under the shadow I will be,
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,
It keeps my dying faith alive;
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.
(Text inspired by Song of Songs 2:3)
Hymn It came upon a Midnight Clear
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, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
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 hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
I
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
3rd Lesson Isaiah 9:2,6,7
The Prophecy of the Messiah
Read by Jeff Staton
Headteacher, Malmesbury CE
Primary School
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir O nata lux de lumine
Thomas Tallis
O Light born of Light, Jesus, Redeemer of the world,
with loving-kindness deign to receive suppliant praise and prayer.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be members of thy blessed body.
4th Lesson Micah 5:2-5a
The Prophecy of Bethlehem
Read by Revd Linda Sullivan
Curate, Malmesbury Abbey
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn God rest ye merry gentlemen
od 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 power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
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:
G
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed Babe to find:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this Infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and charity
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface:
Choir Ave Maria
Franz Biebl
The angel of the Lord visited Mary
and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Mary said: See the servant of the Lord.
May it happen to me according to your word.
Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
And the Word became flesh
and lived among us.
Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Glory and honour to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
(Based on Luke 1:28, 38, 42 & John 1:14)
5th Lesson Luke 1:26-38
The Annunciation to Mary
Read by Alan McAdam
Treasurer, Malmesbury Abbey
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir Away in a Manger
Basque traditional, arr. Jacques
Away 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
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, ‘til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And fit us to heaven to live with Thee there
Hymn Silent Night
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.
Silent night, holy night,
shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
(unaccompanied)
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
S
6th Lesson Luke 2:1-7
The Birth of Jesus
Read by Lesley Wilson
Churchwarden
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir O Magnum Mysterium
Morten Lauridsen
Oh great mystery, and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new born Lord, lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy
to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia
Hymn In the bleak mid-winter
n the bleak mid-winter 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 mid-winter long ago.
I
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him nor earth sustain;
Heav’n and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim worship night and day,
A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air -
But only His mother in her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved with a kiss.
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.
7th Lesson Luke 2:8-16
The Shepherds & the Angels
Read by Jessica Shaw
The Mix
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir Gloria & Et in terra pax
from Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth peace to all
On whom his favour rests.
(Luke 2:14)
8th Lesson Matthew 2:1-11
The Magi
Read by Rob Hitchings
Malmesbury Abbey Books
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Choir Videntes Stellam
Francis Poulenc
Seeing the star, the wise men
were overwhelmed with great joy;
and entering the dwelling,
they offered to the Lord
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Matthew 2:10,11)
Hymn Of the Father’s love begotten
Please turn to face the gospel as it is processed and read during the
following hymn:
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!
At His Word the worlds created;
He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean
In their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the light of moon and sun,
Evermore and evermore!
9th Lesson John 1:1-14
The Word
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
O
This is He whom seers and sages
Sang of old with one accord;
Whom the writings of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore him
Angels and Archangels sing
Powers, dominions bow before him
and extol our God and King
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!
Sermon Revd Canon Neill Archer
Vicar, Malmesbury Abbey
Prayers Revd John Monaghan
Curate, Malmesbury Abbey
Hymn O Come all ye faithful
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;
Child, for us sinners,
poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace thee with love and awe;
Who would not love thee,
Loving us so dearly?
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, in the highest;
O
Yea Lord, we greet thee,
born that happy morning,
Jesu to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
The Christmas Blessing
May the Father, who has loved the eternal Son
from before the foundation of the world,
shed that love upon you his children.
Amen.
May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one
things earthly and heavenly,
fill you with joy and peace.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
by whose overshadowing Mary became the God-bearer,
give you grace to carry the good news of Christ.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen
Hymn Hark the herald angels sing
ark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn 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 newborn 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 newborn King!”
H
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 newborn King!”
Please remain standing
Dismissal
May God, who has called us out of darkness
into his marvellous light,
bless us and fill us with peace.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Organ Voluntary
Prelude & Fugue in B major Marcel Dupré
During which the choir and clergy recess
CHR I STMAS EVE & DAY
Christmas Eve 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 8am BCP Holy Communion
9.30am Holy Communion with Organ
11am Family Celebration
CHORAL EVENSONG IN 2015
Malmesbury Abbey Choir regularly sings Choral Evensong,
usually, but not always, on the second Sunday of the month at
6.30pm. A tranquil abbey, the King James Version of the Bible,
the 17th century words of the Book of Common Prayer and very
beautiful choral music from across the centuries. Our dates in
2015 are: Jan 11, Feb 8, Mar 1, Apr 5, May 10, June 14, July 12, Sep
13, Oct 11, plus other special services.
More details from 01666 826666, or online at:
issuu.com/malmesburyabbey/docs/choral_evensong_in_2015
www.mamlesburyabbey.com