Service Schedule:
3:50 p.m. Choral Prelude (Youth Choir)
4:00 p.m. Family Eucharist sung by the Youth Choir
10:30 p.m. Choral Prelude (Adult Choir) with string quartet
11:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist sung by the Adult Choir with string quartet
Worship at Home:
Click here: 4 p.m. Service Bulletin – 11 p.m. Service Bulletin – Sermon Text
4 p.m. Service Live Stream:
11 p.m. Service Live Stream:
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Service Music:
Choral Prelude at 3:50 p.m. with the St. John’s Youth and Alumnae Choir
Hymn 102 Once in Royal David’s city Irby
Stanzas 1 & 2, choir; stanzas 3-6, congregation
No small wonder Paul Edwards (b. 1955)
Text: Paul Wigmore
Small 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 bore
The 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!
Nativity carol words and music by John Rutter (b. 1945)
Born in a stable so bare,
Born so long ago;
Born ‘neath light of star
He who loved us so.
Wise men from distant far land,
Shepherds from starry hills
Worship this babe so rare,
Hearts with his warmth he fills.
Cradled by mother so fair,
Tender her lullaby;
Over her son so dear
Angel hosts fill the sky.
Far away silent he lay,
Born today, your homage pay,
For Christ is born for aye,
Born on Christmas Day.
Holy Eucharist Rite II at 4:00 p.m. sung by the Youth and Alumnae Choir; sermon by The Rev’d Susan Pinkerton.
Processional Hymn 83 O come, all ye faithful Adeste fideles, arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Gloria S280 Robert Powell (b.1932)
Sequence Hymn 115 What child is this Greensleeves
Offertory Anthem Brightest and best arr. Malcolm Archer (b. 1962)
Words: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Soloists: Britt Emerick, Emma Evica
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.
Shall we not yield Him, In costly devotion
Odors of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Sanctus S130 Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Fraction anthem S164 Jesus, lamb of God Franz Schubert
Communion Anthem Still, still, still Austrian Carol, arr. Norman Luboff (1917-1987)
Words: Marilyn Keith, Alan Bergman
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
Communion Hymn 101 Away in a manger Cradle Song
Post-communion Hymn 111 Silent night Stille nacht
Closing Hymn 87 Hark the herald angels sing Mendelssohn, arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Voluntary Carillon-Sortie Henri Mulet (1878-1967)
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Choral Prelude at 10:30 p.m. with the St. John’s Adult Choir and string quartet
String Quartet Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 Per la notte di Natale Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
I. Vivace – Grave – Allegro
Choir Rise up, shepherd, and follow African-American spiritual
There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn,
It will lead to the place where the Christ was born.
If you take good heed to the angel’s words,
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow the star of Bethlehem,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Choir This is the truth sent from above Traditional English, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all both rich and poor.
The first thing which I do relate,
Is That God did man create
The next thing which to you I tell,
Woman was made with man to dwell.
Thus we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose
For so a promise soon did run
That He’d redeem us with a Son.
And at this season of the year
Our blest Redeemer did appear
He here did live, and here did preach,
And many thousands He did teach.
Thus He in love to us behaved,
To show us how we must be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what He did say.
String Quartet Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 Per la notte di Natale Arcangelo Corelli
II. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio
Choir O radiant dawn James MacMillan (b. 1959)
O Radiant Dawn, Splendour of eternal Light,
Sun of Justice:
come, shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Isaiah had prophesied,
‘The people who walked in darkness have seen the great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.’
Amen.
String Quartet Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8 Per la notte di Natale Arcangelo Corelli
V. Largo – Pastorale
Holy Eucharist Rite II at 11:00 p.m. sung by the Adult choir with string quartet and organ; sermon by the Rev’d Susan Pinkerton.
Processional Hymn 83 O come, all ye faithful Adeste fideles, arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Gloria S280 Robert Powell (b.1932)
Sequence Hymn 115 What child is this Greensleeves
Offertory Anthem Still, still, still Austrian Carol, arr. Norman Luboff (1917-1987)
Words: Marilyn Keith, Alan Bergman
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
The world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,
One can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,
Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
‘Tis the eve of our Saviour’s birth.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number,
Watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream,
Of the joyous day to come.
Sanctus S130 Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Fraction anthem S164 Jesus, lamb of God Franz Schubert
Communion Motet O magnum mysterium Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio. O beata Virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia.
O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. O blessed virgin, whose body was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia.
Communion Hymn 101 Away in a manger Cradle Song
Postcommunion Hymn 111 Silent night Stille nacht, st. 3 arr. Wolfgang Lindner
Closing Hymn 87 Hark the herald angels sing Mendelssohn, arr. David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Voluntary Carillon-Sortie Henri Mulet (1878-1967)