On Christmas night    Sussex Carol, arr. Philip Ledger (1937-2012)

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.

News of great joy, new of great mirth,
News of our merciful King’s birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?

When from our sin he set is free
All for to gain our liberty? When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place.
When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place.

Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the newborn King.

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night.
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night.

“Glory to God and peace to men
Now and for evermore, amen!”

Magnificat: Collegium Regale    Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel, as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Voluntary    My spirit be joyful from Cantata 146    Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
arr. E. Power Biggs

Bruce Henley, assisting organist
Trumpets: Thomas Hintz, Jeffrey Higgins