Nine Lessons and Carols, Part XI: Collect and Blessing

The service concludes with the Collect of the Day (a prayer specifically for the occasion), a Blessing and a closing carol.

Pastor: The Lord be with you.
All: And with thy spirit.

Pastor: Let us pray.
O God, who makest us glad
with the yearly remembrance
of the birth of Thy only Son,
Jesus Christ:
Grant that
as we joyfully receive Him for our Redeemer,
so we may with sure confidence behold Him,
when He shall come to be our judge;
who liveth and reigneth with Thee
and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
world without end.

All: Amen.

Pastor: Christ, Who by His incarnation
gathered into one things
earthly and heavenly,
grant you the fullness
of inward peace and goodwill,
and make you partakers of the divine nature;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.

All: Amen.

~~~~~


David Willcocks, "O Come, All Ye Faithful"

O 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.

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.


Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
‘Glory to God
In the highest.’

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesu, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing.

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part X: The Ninth Reading

[The congregation stands for the ninth reading]

St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

JOHN 1:1-14(ESV):

1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made
that was made.

4 In him was life,
and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness,
to bear witness about the light,
that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light,
but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light,
which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world,
and the world was made through him,
yet the world did not know him.

11 He came to his own,
and his own people
did not receive him.

12 But to all who did receive him,
who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man,
but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Egil Hovland, "The Glory of the Father"

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We beheld the glory of the Father,
We beheld the glory of the Father
Full of grace and truth.

In the beginning was the Word.
The Word was with God,
The Word was with God.
In Him was life,
and the life was the Light of men.
He came to his own
And His own,
And His own received Him not.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We beheld the glory of the Father,
We beheld the glory of the Father
Full of grace and truth.

~~~~~


Gustav Holst, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part IX: The Eighth Reading

The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.

MATTHEW 2:1-12 (ESV):

1 Now after Jesus was born
in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold,
wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

2 saying, “Where is he
who has been born king of the Jews?
For we saw his star when it rose
and have come to worship him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this,
he was troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him;

4 and assembling
all the chief priests and scribes of the people,
he inquired of them
where the Christ was to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly
and ascertained from them
what time the star had appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
“Go and search diligently for the child,
and when you have found him,
bring me word,
that I too may come and worship him.”

9 After listening to the king,
they went on their way.
And behold,
the star that they had seen when it rose
went before them
until it came to rest
over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star,
they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And going into the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother,
and they fell down and worshiped him.
Then, opening their treasures,
they offered him gifts,
gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And being warned in a dream
not to return to Herod,
they departed to their own country
by another way.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Ulfert Smidt, Organ Choral, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

~~~~~


JS Bach, BWV 1, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süße Wurzel Jesse!
Du Sohn Davids aus Jakobs Stamm,
Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
Hast mir mein Herz besessen,
Lieblich,
Freundlich,
Schön und herrlich,
groß und ehrlich,
reich von Gaben,
Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben.

How glorious shines the morning star
With truth and blessing from the Lord,
The darling root of Jesse!
You, David's Son of Jacob's stem,
My King and my Bridegroom
who has taken possession of my heart, are
Lovely,
Kindly,
Beautiful and magnificent,
great and righteous,
rich in blessings,
Exalted and supurbly noble.

~~~~~


"The Three Kings"

[The baritone solo sings one melody with the text, "The Three Kings" while the choir accompanies him with the carol, "How Brightly Shines the Morning Star." The choir parts are in italics.]

Three Kings from Persian lands afar
To Jordan follow the pointing star:
And this the quest of the travelers three,
Where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar
Our Jesse tree now bloweth.

The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
The kings to Bethlehem make their way,
And there in worship they bend the knee,
As Mary’s child in her lap they see;
Their royal gifts they show to the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.

Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line,
For thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
My soul with love o’erfloweth.

Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
The Kings are traveling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
Shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
Offer thy heart to the infant King.

Thy word, Jesu, Inly feeds us,
Rightly leads us, Life bestowing.
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part VIII: The Seventh Reading

The shepherds go to the manger.

LUKE 2:8-20 (ESV):

8 And in the same region
there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were filled with fear.

10 And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.

11 For unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.

12 And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby
wrapped in swaddling cloths
and lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away
from them into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go over to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened,
which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 And they went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in a manger.

17 And when they saw it,
they made known the saying
that had been told them
concerning this child.

18 And all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things,
pondering them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
as it had been told them.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Carl Schalk, "Before the Marvel of this Night"

~~~~~


"Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

Hark! 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 th’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 th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav’nly 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!"

~~~~~



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

Then why should men on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad:
Then why should we on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad:
When from our sin He set us free,
All for to gain our liberty.

When sin departs before Your grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
When sin departs before Your 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 forevermore. Amen."

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part VII: The Sixth Reading

St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

LUKE 2:1-7

1 In those days a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered.

2 This was the first registration
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be registered,
each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
from the town of Nazareth,
to Judea,
to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,
who was with child.

6 And while they were there,
the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths
and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for them in the inn.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


"Away in a Manger"

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky look 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 until 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 for heaven to live with Thee there.

~~~~~


"Tomorrow Shall Be my Dancing Day"

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

Then was I born of a virgin pure,
Of her I took fleshly substance
Thus was I knit to man's nature
To call my true love to my dance.

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

In a manger laid, and wrapped I was
So very poor, this was my chance
Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass
To call my true love to my dance.

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.


Tomorrow shall be my dancing day;
I would my true love did so chance
To see the legend of my play,
To call my true love to my dance;

Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love,
This have I done for my true love.

~~~~~


"The Holly and the Ivy"

The Holly and the Ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The Holly bears the crown.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a blossom,
As white as lily-flower;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To be our sweet Savior.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a berry,
As red as any blood;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To do poor sinners good.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a prickle,
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
On Christmas Day in the morn.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly bears a bark,
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
For to redeem us all.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

The Holly and the Ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The Holly bears the crown.

O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the quire,
Sweet singing in the quire.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part VI: The Fifth Reading

The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

LUKE 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed
to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David.
And the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And he came to her and said,
“Greetings, O favored one,
the Lord is with you!”

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
and tried to discern what sort of greeting
this might be.

30 And the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive
in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus.

32 He will be great
and will be called the Son
of the Most High.
And the Lord God will give to him
the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign
over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel,
“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born
will be called holy—the Son of God.

36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth
in her old age has also conceived a son,
and this is the sixth month with her
who was called barren.

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38 And Mary said,
“Behold, I am the servant
of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Basque Carol, "Gabriel's Message"

The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
"All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

"For know a blessèd mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name."
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say—
"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

~~~~~


Britten, "Ceremony of Carols"

05. AS DEW IN APRILLE

I sing of a maiden that is makèles [matchless]:
King of all kings to her son she ches [chose]

He came also stille there his moder [mother] was,
As dew in Aprille [April] that falleth on the grass.

He came also stille to his moder's bour [bower],
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the flour.

He came also stille there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the spray.

Moder and mayden was never none but she:
Well may such a lady Goddes moder be.

06. THIS LITTLE BABE

This little Babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at His presence quake,
Though He Himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise
the gates of hell He will surprise.

With tears He fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrows looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need,
And feeble Flesh His warrior's steed.

His camp is pitched in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib His trench, haystalks His stakes;
Of shepherds He his muster makes;
And thus, as sure His foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that he hath pight [pitched].
Within His crib is surest ward;
This little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part V: The Fourth Reading

The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.

ISAIAH 11:1-9 (ESV):

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.

7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Otto Goldschmidt, "A Tender Shoot"

A tender shoot has started up
From a root of grace,
As ancient seers imparted
From Jesse’s holy race;
It blooms without a blight,
Blooms in the cold bleak winter,
Turning our darkness into light.

This shoot, Isaiah taught us,
From Jesse’s root should spring;
The Virgin Mary brought us
The branch of which we sing:
Our God of endless might
Gave her this child to save us,
Thus turning darkness into light.

~~~~~


Jan Sandström, Det är en ros utsprungen

Det är en ros utsprungen
av Jesse rot och stam.
Av fädren ren besjungen
den står i tiden fram,
En blomma skär och blid,
Mitt i den kalla vinter
i midnatts mörka tid.

~~~~~


Michael Praetorius, "Lo, How a Rose"

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
as men of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright
amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ’twas foretold it,
the rose I have in mind;
With Mary we behold it,
the virgin mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
she bore to men a Savior,
When half spent was the night.

Nine Lessons and Carols, Part IV: The Third Reading

The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.

ISAIAH 9:2-7(ESV):

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot
of the tramping warrior
in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

~~~~~


Methimon o Theos
"God is With Us"
Byzantine Chant
Plagal 2nd Tone

God is with us.

Band together, you peoples,
and be dismayed,
for God is with us.

Listen, all you far countries,
for God is with us.

Gird yourselves and be dismayed,
for God is with us.

And even if you gird yourselves,
again you be dismayed,
for God is with us.

For a Child has been born for us,
a Son given to us,
for God is with us.

Authority rests upon His shoulders,
for God is with us.

And He is named Wonderful Counselor,
for God is with us.

Mighty God,
for God is with us.

Everlasting Father,
for God is with us.

Prince of Peace,
for God is with us.

God is with us.

Band together, you peoples,
and be dismayed,
for God is with us

Take counsel together,
but it shall be brought to naught,
for God is with us.

Speak a word,
but it will not stand,
for God is with us.

Do not fear what it fears,
or be in dread,
for God is with us.

The Lord of hosts,
Him you shall regard as holy;
let Him be your fear,
for God is with us.

And I will hope in Him
and be saved by Him,
for God is with us.

See, I and the children
whom the Lord has given me,
for God is with us.

~~~~~


Sigfrid Karg-Elert, Organ Prelude, In Dulci Jubilo

~~~~~


Robert Lucas Pearsall, In Dulci Jubilo
"In Sweet Jubilation"

In dulci jubilo
let us our homage shew;
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio,
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio.
Alpha es et O.

O Jesu parvule,
I yearn for thee alway!
Listen to my ditty,
O Puer optime,
Have pity on me, pity,
O princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas,
O Nati lenitas!
Deeply were we stainèd
Per nostra crimina;
But thou hast for us gainèd
Coelorum gaudia.
O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia, where,
If that they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantica,
There the bells are ringing
In Regis curia:
O that we were there!

NOTE: The translation of the Latin text is found on page 19 of this service folder.