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carols byCandlelightwashington national cathedral
Christmas at Washington National CathedralOn behalf of Mariann Edgar Budde, the Bishop of Washington, and on behalf of the Cathedral Chapter and theCathedral staff, I welcome you to Washington National Cathedral’s celebration of Christmas. You are here at one ofChristianity’s three most holy times (Easter and Pentecost being the others)—a day on which we give thanks for thecoming among us of God in the life and witness of Jesus. Christmas is about what theologians call the Incarnation—the “enfleshment”—of God in us. God has become one of us in Jesus. From now on, we human beings and all that weare—our joys, our sorrows, our achievements, our losses—are blessed and transformed by God’s healing and freeinglove.Because God comes among us in a child born in humble surroundings, Christians have always seen this holiday as anespecially important reminder of the preciousness of children and of all those who are more vulnerable in our society.At this time of year we are especially mindful of the suffering of children in our world. Poverty, disease, violence alltake an especially painful toll on children, and as followers of the infant Jesus we continue to advocate for them andfor those who care for them.Christmas is a time both for thanksgiving and renewal. As we gather in this beautiful space, our liturgy and our musicremind us both of how much we have to be thankful for and how urgently God calls each of us to be agents of loveand healing in a broken world. We hope that you will find tonight’s worship both soothing and stirring, and that youwill leave here comforted and renewed in your commitment to love God by serving human beings created in God’simage. To learn more about our ministry and ways for you to engage in and support it, please visit our website at www.nationalcathedral.org.Merry Christmas and Blessings in the New Year!Gary HallDean of the Cathedral
six o'clock in the eveningdecember 22, december 23 and december 24, 2013carillon preludeEvening prelude on “Gartan”John Knox (b. 1932)O come all ye faithfulAdeste fideles; arr. Ronald Barnes (1927-1997)A Virgin Most PureAnonymous; arr. Milford Myhre (b. 1931)What child is this, who, laid to restGreensleeves; arr. Frank P. Law (1918-1985)The holly and the ivyTraditional; arr. Milford MyhreO little town of BethlehemSt. Louis; arr. Milford MyhrePastoral Symphony from MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel (1685-1759); arr. Edward M. NassorJoy to the world!Antioch; arr. Frank P. Law (1917-1985)Ding dong! merrily on highJehan Tabourot (1519-1595) arr. Edward M. Nassor (b.1957)Once in royal David’s cityIrby; arr. Milford MyhreSilent nightStille Nacht; arr. Hans Uwe Hielscher (b.1945)Hark! the herald angels singMendelssohn; arr. Albert C. Gerken (b.1938)organ voluntaryChorale Prelude on ‘In dulci jubilo’Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694)Sinfonia from the Christmas OratorioJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), arr. Robert GowerNoël-ÉtrangerLouis-Claude Daquin (1694-1772)NoëlLouis-Claude DaquinToccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’Andrew Carter (b. 1939)Prelude on ‘The holly and the ivy’Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995)Bring a Torch, Jeanette IsabellaKeith Chapman (1945-1989)The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas CarolPercy Grainger (1882-1961)welcomeintroitWhat sweeter musicRichard Rodney Bennett (b. 1936)What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing the birth of this our heav'nly King? Awake the voice! Awakethe string! We see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshine and his showers turns all the patient groundto flowers. Dark and dull night, fly hence away and give the honour to this day, that sees December turned to May. Ifwe may ask the reason say: we see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshine and his showers turns all thepatient ground to flowers. The darling of the world is come, and fit it is we find a room to welcome him. The noblerpart of all the house here is the heart: we see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshine and his showersturns all the patient ground to flowers. Which we will give him, and bequeath this holly and this ivy wreath, to do himhonour who's our King, and Lord of all this revelling. We see him come, and know him ours, who with his sunshineand his showers turns all the patient ground to flowers. What sweeter music can we bring than a carol, for to sing thebirth of this our heav'nly King?3
hymn at the processionO come, all ye faithfulSung by all, standing.4Adeste fideles
the acclamation of the nativityOfficiantPeopleGood news and great joy to all the world: a Savior is born in Bethlehem.O come let us adore him.OfficiantPeopleBlessed be the one, holy and living God.Glory to God for ever and ever.biddingBeloved in Christ, we come to hear again the message of the angels, and to go in heart and mind to Bethlehem; tosee the loving-kindness of God, and the Holy Child, lying in a manger. Give us by your grace, O God, such love andwonder that, with shepherds and angels and pilgrims unknown, we too may adore the child Jesus: Prince of peace,Shepherd of hearts, Joy of the earth.Yet first, because this of all things would rejoice Jesus’ heart, let us pray to him for the needs of the whole world, and ofall people; for peace upon the earth he came to save; for love and unity within the Church he did build; for goodwillamong all the nations of the earth.And particularly at this time let us remember the poor, the cold, the hungry, the oppressed; the sick and those whomourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and little children; and all who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love himnot, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.Lastly, let us remember all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitudewhich no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus, we forevermoreare one. Amen.the lord's prayerOfficiantPeopleThese prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, saying each in our own languagethe words that Christ himself has taught us.Notre Père , Padre nuestro , Vater unser ,Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is inheaven. 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, and the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.The people are seated.carolThe Sparrows' CarolBob Chilcott (b. 1955)We are sparrows, sparrows in the snow, frost on feathers and ice in our bones so let us have a crumb, a crumb or two,we'll sing the sparrows' carol for you. A sparrow flew up to heaven on high, he sang for the Maker of the sky so let ushave a sip, a sip or three, and a sparrow will sing from your Christmas tree! We are sparrows, sparrows in the snow, froston our feathers and ice in our bones so let us have a crumb, a crumb or two, we'll sing the sparrows' carol for you. Thesparrow who flew from Bethlehem afar sang Hallelujah, Hallelujah! so let us have a coin, a coin or four, and sparrowsno longer shall be poor! We are sparrows, sparrows in the snow, frost on our feathers and ice in our bones so let ushave a crumb, a crumb or two, we'll sing the sparrows' carol for you. A sparrow sang loud when the Christ was born, hesang from the holly and from the hawthorn so let us have a bite, to be of good cheer, and you shall have a Christmas tolast all year! We are sparrows, sparrows in the snow, frost on our feathers and ice in our bones so let us have a crumb, acrumb or two, we'll sing the sparrows' carol for you.5
first lessonIsaiah 52: 7–10In which the prophet proclaims hope for the futureHow beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, whoannounces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together theysing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins ofJerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm beforethe eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.A period of silent reflection follows each reading.carolSing lullabyHerbert Howells (1892-1983)Sing lullaby, sing lullaby, while snow doth gently fall. Sing lullaby to Jesus born in an oxen’s stall. Sing lullaby, singlullaby. Sing lullaby to Jesus born now in Bethlehem, the naked blackthorn's growing to weave his diadem. Sing lullabyto Jesus. Sing lullaby, sing lullaby, while thickly snow doth fall. Sing lullaby to Jesus, the Saviour of all. Sing lullaby,sing lullaby.second lessonIn which the prophet proclaims that God will come and save usIsaiah 35:1–10The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossomabundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel andSharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm thefeeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come withvengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, andthe ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. Forwaters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and thethirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. Ahighway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’speople; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up onit; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, andcome to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrowand sighing shall flee away.carolTomorrow shall be my dancing dayJohn Gardner (1917-2011)Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play, to call my truelove to my dance: Sing, O 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, O my love, mylove, 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, O my love, my love, my love; this have I donefor my true love. Then afterwards baptized I was; the Holy Ghost on me did glance, my Father's voice heard fromabove, to call my true love to my dance. Sing, O my love, my love, my love; this have I done for my true love.6
hymnO little town of BethlehemSung by all, standing.7Forest Green
The people are seated.third lessonIn which the angel Gabriel appears to MaryLuke 1:26–38In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to aman whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said,“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort ofgreeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor 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 theSon of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over thehouse of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am avirgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadowyou; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in herold age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will beimpossible 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.carolO magnum mysteriumMorten Lauridsen (b. 1943)O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio!Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluja.O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the birth of the Lord, and him lying in a manger.Blessed Virgin whose womb was worthy to carry the Lord Christ. Alleluia.fourth lessonIn which John the Baptist is bornLuke 1:57–80Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lordhad shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child,and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” Theysaid to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what namehe wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed.Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over alltheir neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heardthem pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand
carol The Sparrows' Carol Bob Chilcott (b. 1955) We are sparrows, sparrows in the snow, frost on feathers and ice in our bones so let us have a crumb, a crumb or two, we'll sing the sparrows' carol for you. A sparrow flew up to heaven on high, he sang for the Maker of the sky so let us
