christmas carol 2013
CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE
with
The Choir of All Saints’ Cathedral Mong Kok
and
The King’s Choir fromKings College London
SUNDAY, 15TH DECEMBER 2013
AT 7.30 P.M.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN (Congregation stands)
Once in Royal David’s City (1st verse choir only)
1. Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that Mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
2. He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall:
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
3. And through all his wondrous childhood
Day by day like us he grew,
He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew:
And he feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.
4. And our eyes at last shall see him
Through his own redeeming love,
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
5. Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him: but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high,
Where like stars his children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.
WELCOME (sit)
THE BIDDING PRAYER The Reverend Stephen Miller,
Senior Chaplain
The Mission to Seafarers
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON Genesis 3.8 – 15
Mr. Will Bryant, Intern (The Episcopal Church USA)
The Mission to Seafarers
A Tender Shoot Joint Choir
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 mid-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.
(Words by William Bartholomew, Music by Otto Goldschmidt)
2ND LESSON Genesis 22.15 – 18
Mr. Alan Loynd
Nautical Institute Hong Kong Branch
HYMN (Congregation stands)
WHAT CHILD IS THIS
1. What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him love,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
2. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby :
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.
3RD LESSON Isaiah 9.2, 6 & 7 (Sit)
Captain Luca Ferrerio, Assistant Chaplain
The Mission to Seafarers
For unto us a child is born Joint Choir
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
and the government shall be upon His shoulder;
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
For to us a child is born (from Handel's "Messiah")
4TH LESSON Isaiah 11.1 – 9 (Sit)
The Reverend Martina Platte, Port Chaplain
German Seamen’s Mission
INSTRUMENTAL
The First Nowell/Away in a Manger String Quartet
HYMN (Congregation stands)
While Shepherds watched their Flocks by night
1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
2. ‘Fear not,’ said he (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind);
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
3. To you in David’s town this day
Is born of David’s line
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:
4. The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.’
5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:
6. ‘All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace;
Good-will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease.’
5TH LESSON Luke 1.26 – 38 (sit)
Mr. Anthony Nightingale, Chairman
Sailors Home & The Mission to Seafarers
HYMN (Congregation stands)
The Angel Gabriel
1. 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 favoured lady.’
Gloria!
2. ‘For known a blessèd Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee
thy son shall be Emmanuel by seers foretold;
most highly favoured lady.’
Gloria!
3. 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 favoured lady.
Gloria!
4. 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 favoured lady.’
Gloria!
6TH LESSON Matthew 1.18 – 23 (sit)
Ms. Sol Paderagao
A Flying Angel
Shine, Advent Candle, Shine! Youth Choir
Christmas is a Time to Love
Come, o come, Emmanuel;
Change our darkness into light;
Come, o come, o Prince of Peace;
Send a ray of hope tonight.
REFRAIN:
Shine, Advent candle! Shine, Advent candle!
Shine Advent candle - candle shine!
Come, o come, Emmanuel;
Save our children hear our plea;
Come, o come, o Prince of Peace;
Light of Nations, set us free!
(REFRAIN)
Come, o come, Emmanuel;
Advent promise, life made new;
Come, o come, Prince of Peace;
We prepare our hearts for you.
(REFRAIN)
Candle shine!
(Words and Music by Shafferman)
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love.
We often start to worry
And people get upset
If things don't go alright on Christmas day.
What we should remember
In all the push and shove
Is Christmas is a time to love.
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love.
Maybe things don't sound right
Or look the way they should
And maybe they're not perfectly in tune.
It really doesn't matter
Lets keep our eyes above
Cos' Christmas is a time to love.
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love.
(Words and Music by Ernie Rettino and Debby Kerner-Rettino)
7TH LESSON Luke 2.8 – 16 (Sit)
Mr. Colin Shaftesley, Hon. Secretary
Sailors Home & The Mission to Seafarers
Cherry Tree Carol Men’s Ensemble
When Joseph was an old man, and an old man was he,
When he married Mary in the land of Galilee.
And as they were walking through an orchard so good,
Where were cherries and berries as red as any blood.
O then bespoke Mary, with words both meek and mild,
"Pluck me one cherry, Joseph; for that I am with child. "
“Go to the tree then, Mary, and it shall bow to thee;
And tyou shall gather cherries by one, by two, by three.”
Then bowed down the highest tree unto our Lady’s hand;
“O eat your cherries, Mary, O eat your cherries now;”
Then Mary plucked a cherry, as red as any blood,
Then Mary went she homewards all with her heavy load.
(English traditional carol arranged by David Willcocks)
HYMN (Congregation stands)
Silent Night
1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round you virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, Holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
3. Silent night, Holy night,
Son of God love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
8TH LESSON Matthew 2.1 – 11
Father Valan Arockiaswamy, SVD,
Port Chaplain
Apostleship of the Sea
Angel’s Carol Joint Choir
Have you heard the sound of the angel voices
Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?
Have you seen the star shinning out so brightly,
As a sign from God that Christ the Load is here?
Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven,
To the humble shepherds who have waited long?
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Hear the angels sing their joyful song.
He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness,
Like a gentle snow fall in the gentle night;
He is come in joy like the sun at morning
Filling all the world with radiance and with light.
He is come in love as the child of Mary;
In a simple stable we have seen his birth:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear them sing “Peace on earth”
He will bring new light to a world in darkness,
Like a bright star shining in the skies above;
He will bring new hope to the waiting nations
When he comes to reign in purity and love
Let the earth rejoice at the Savior’s coming;
Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Hear the angels singing “Christ is born”.
(Words and Music by John Rutter)
9TH LESSON John 1.1 – 14
The Reverend Catherine Graham, Chaplain
St. John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Joint Choir
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;
**Chorus
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. (**)
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. (**)
Then afterwards baptized I was;
The Holy Ghost on me did glance,
My Father’s voice heard I from above,
To call my true love to my dance. (**)
(Words and Music by John Gardner)
OFFERTORY HYMN (Congregation stands)
During which the collection will be taken for the Chaplains’ Christmas Appeal for Christmas gifts for seafarers.
O come, all ye faithful
1. 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!
2. God of God,
Light to 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!
3. See how the Shepherds,
Summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
4. Lo! star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child
Bring our heart’s oblations:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
5. Child, for us sinners
Poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love;
Who would not love thee,
Loving us so dearly?
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
6. 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!
PRAYERS The Reverend Stephen Miller, Senior Chaplain
The Mission to Seafarers
HYMN (Congregation stands)
Hark, the herald angels sing
1. Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled:
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen 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 new-born King.
BLESSING
RECESSIONAL HYMN (Congregation stands)
Eternal Father
1. Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biss’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
2. O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Thank you!
We are most grateful to All Saints’ Cathedral Choir and The King’s Choir for leading the singing in our worship. Our thanks also to all who took part in reading the lessons.
We wish you and your family all the blessings of Christmas and hope that you will stay and join us for the party that follows tonight’s service.
