Service Previews, Recordings & Sermons

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)