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FRIENDS OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

Wednesday 23 December 2020 6pm Oxford Time

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Welcome to Christ Church. We are so delighted to be able to welcome Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, with their guests, to a service of Lessons and Carols as we prepare for Christmas.

At this very strange Christmas, much is different and perhaps disappointing. Yet it is more important than ever to remember that Christmas is, at heart, the good news that the God who made us and loves us came to be with his people in Jesus. In this service we will hear again the story of our salvation: that into this shadowed and pain-filled world, God comes. Jesus is born to bring hope and healing. The God who made us never abandons his people, and promises to be with us forever.

We are grateful to be able to share those promises and that love with you as we worship together this evening. May God’s love bless you. And may Jesus, who is God with us, be with you today and for ever..

Organ Music before the Serviceplayed by Felix Kirkby, Junior Organ Scholar

Noël X Louis-Claude Daquin (1694–1772)

Les Bergers Olivier Messiaen (1908–92)(from La Nativité du Seigneur)

Cover image: ‘The Virgin and Child with Saint Jerome, the Magdalen and the Infant Saint John’ (JBS 165) Parmigianino (1503–1540) (copy after)

© Christ Church Picture Gallery

reproduced by permission of the Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford.

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ORDER OF SERVICE

Please remain seated for the Introit.

CHOIR INTROIT

As I walked down the road at set of sun The lambs were coming homewards one by one I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem.

Beside an open door as I drew nigh I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby She sang about the lambs at close of day And rocked her tiny King among the hay.

Across the air the silver sheepbells rang ‘The lambs are coming home,’ sweet Mary sang ‘Your star of gold, your star of gold is shining in the sky So sleep, my little King, go lullaby.’

As I walked down the road at set of sun The lambs were coming homewards one by one I heard a sheepbell softly calling them Along the little road to Bethlehem.

Words: Margaret Rose (d. 1958)Music: Michael Head (1900–76)

Please stand.

THE BIDDING PRAYER

We have come together as the family of God, in our Father’s presence, to anticipate the great festival of Christmas. In this service we hear and receive the good news of the birth of Christ, and we offer to God our thanksgiving, praise and prayers. As we gather in the name of Christ, we pray first for the world he came to save:

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for all those who are far from home, from family and from those they love, that they may know the presence of Jesus the Emmanuel, God with us;

for the Church, that we may be enabled to surrender anew to God’s holy wisdom, and bear the news of God’s love to a needy world;

for the world, which is already Christ’s, that all its peoples may recognise their responsibility for its future, and may be inspired by the message of Christmas to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace in every place;

for all in special need: the anxious, the lonely, the fearful and the bereaved; those sick in the hospitals, care homes and homes of this city; those whose work puts them at risk; those for whom this year has been particularly difficult; that the peace of the Christ-child may bring hope and healing to all who sit in darkness.

We commend all whom we love, or who have asked for our prayers, to the unfailing mercy of our heavenly Father; saying together, as Christ has taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on 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.

May the Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of angels bring us all. Amen.

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Please sit.

FIRST LESSONGenesis 3: 8–15

read by Jonathon Silk, Friends’ Chorister

Adam and Eve confess their disobedience in the Garden of Eden.

Adam and Eve heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’

Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’

The Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’

Thanks be to God.

CHOIR CAROL

Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple, an apple that he took. As clerkès finden, written in their book.

Words: Sloane Manuscript 2593, 15th centuryMusic: Matthew Martin (b. 1976)

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had never our Ladie abeen heav’ne queen.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was, therefore we moun singen Deo gracias!

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SECOND LESSONIsaiah 40:1–11

read by Dr Kathryn Murphy, Council of Friends

A voice cries out: Prepare the way of the Lord.

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Thanks be to God.

CHOIR CAROL

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Words: Isaiah 40: 5Music: George Frederick Handel (1685–1759),

from Messiah

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THIRD LESSONMicah 5:2–4

read by Elizabeth HarrisonHonorary Secretary of the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral

From little Bethlehem shall come the ruler promised by God.

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

Thanks be to God.

CHOIR CAROL

Away in a manger, no crib for a 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 cradle till 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 take us to heaven to live with thee there.

Words: anonymous (first published in 1882) Music: David Maw (b. 1967)

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FOURTH LESSONLuke 1:26–38

read by Dr Rosemary Fennell, Friend of Christ Church Cathedral

The angel Gabriel greets the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her,

‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 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 ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’

Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to 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 holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’

Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Thanks be to God.

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CHOIR CAROL

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,ora pro nobis peccatoribus,nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Words: traditional Latin prayer, based on Luke 1:28, 42 Music: Peter Philips (1561–1628)

FIFTH LESSONLuke 2:1–7

read by the Sub Dean, the Revd Canon Richard Peers St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Thanks be to God.

Hail Mary, full of grace,the Lord is with you;blessed are you among women,and blessed the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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CHOIR CAROL

In dulci jubilo, Nun singet und seid froh! Unsers Herzens Wonne liegt in praesepio, Und leuchtet als die Sonne Matris in gremio, Alpha es et O!

O Jesu parvule Nach dir ist mir so weh! Tröst’ mir mein Gemüte O puer optime Durch alle deine Güte O princeps gloriae. Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas! O Nati lenitas! Wir wären all verloren Per nostra crimina So hat er uns erworben Coelorum gaudia Eia, wären wir da!

Ubi sunt gaudia Nirgend mehr denn da! Da die Engel singen Nova cantica, Und die Schellen klingen In regis curia. Eia, wären wir da!

In quiet rejoicing Now sing with hearts aglow! Our delight and pleasure lies in a manger, and shines like the sun in his mother’s lap. You are Alpha and Omega.

O tiny Jesus, For you I long always; Comfort my heart’s blindness, (O best of boys!) With all Thy loving kindness. O Prince of glory, draw me to you.

O love of the Father, O gentleness of the Son. Deeply were we stained through our sins. But you have gained for us the joy of heaven O that we were there!

Where are joys In any place but there? There are angels singing new songs And there the bells are ringing in the king’s court. O that we were there!

Words: Heinrich Seuse (1295–1366)Music: Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)

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Please stand.

THE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

O God, who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of thine 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. Amen.

THE FRIENDS’ PRAYER

Almighty God, we give you thanks that this Cathedral Church stands as an enduring witness to your presence and is a place where all may gather in your name. Prosper the work of the Friends, that through their prayer, support and care, this house may speak of your love for the world shown through your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE BLESSING

May Christ who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Organ Music after the Serviceplayed by Benjamin Collyer, Senior Organ Scholar

Dieu parmi nous Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)(from La Nativité du Seigneur)

Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Some liturgical materials in this service are copyright and reproduced here by permission: Common Worship © The Archbishops’ Council 2000–2008.CCLI Church Copyright Licence 262098, One License Church Copyright Licence A-733591

0CHRISTMAS 2020

Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 3pm Service of Lessons and Carols Livestreamed on YouTube 11.30pm Festal Midnight Eucharist with incense Ticketed service, livestreamed on YouTube President: The Sub Dean Preacher: The Archdeacon of Oxford

Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 8am Holy Communion (1662) No tickets necessary 11am Choral Eucharist for Christmas Ticketed service, livestreamed on YouTube President: The Sub Dean Preacher: The Bishop of Oxford 6pm Said Evening Prayer No tickets necessary

All services are free to attend

www.chch.ox.ac.uk/christmas2020

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