Westminster Abbey. Sung Eucharist. CHRISTMAS DAY 25 th December am

Transcription

1 Westminster Abbey Sung Eucharist CHRISTMAS DAY 25 th December am

2 DEAN S WELCOME Welcome to Westminster Abbey as you join the community in a tradition of worship in this holy place that has already lasted a thousand years. You come into the presence of almighty God to hear his holy Word and to join in the celebration of the Eucharist, to sing the Christmas hymns and to be uplifted by the music. It is our prayer that you will experience during this service the joy and peace of Christmas and be strengthened in your Christian pilgrimage of life. DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION Today s Sung Eucharist is broadcast live by BBC Television. As a result the Distribution of Holy Communion will be at two separate points during the service, as indicated within the booklet. At the appropriate time, please come forward as directed by the Vergers and Stewards. All who regularly receive Holy Communion in their own churches are welcome to do so at this service. If you are not a communicant you are welcome to come forward for a Blessing. If you do so please carry this service sheet as an indication to those administering. Please join in singing the hymns and in saying the words printed in bold type. Members of the congregation are kindly requested to refrain from using private cameras, video or sound recording equipment. Please ensure that mobile phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are switched off. Large-print orders of service are available from the Vergers. The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T. During the offertory hymn a collection is taken: it will be divided equally between Shelter and Crisis (supporting homeless people in London) and the work of the Abbey. If you are a UK taxpayer and would like to take advantage of the Gift Aid scheme please ask for a Gift Aid envelope. The cover illustration, of the Nativity, is taken from The Litlyngton Missal, commissioned by Nicholas Litlyngton, Abbot of Westminster, in Setting: Franz Joseph Haydn ( ) Missa Sancti Nicolai Music before the service: Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her BWV 769 Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BuxWV 223 Dieterich Buxtehude (c ) Noël sur les flûtes Louis-Claude Daquin ( ) Noël from Esquisses byzantines Henri Mulet ( ) 2

3 The Gathering All stand as the Clergy move to the Great West Door. All sing THE HYMN: Christians, awake! salute the happy morn, whereon the Saviour of the world was born; rise to adore the mystery of love which hosts of angels chanted from above; with them the joyful tidings first begun of God incarnate and the Virgin s Son. Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, who heard th angelic herald s voice, Behold, I bring good tidings of a Saviour s birth to you and all the nations on the earth: this day hath God fulfilled his promised word, this day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. To Bethl em straight the enlightened shepherds ran to see the wonder God hath wrought for man, and found, with Joseph and the blessèd Maid, her son, the Saviour, in a manger laid: joyful, the wondrous story they proclaim the first apostles of his infant fame. 3

4 Like Mary let us ponder in our mind God s wondrous love in saving lost mankind; trace we the babe, who hath retrieved our loss, from his poor manger to the bitter cross; then may we hope, angelic hosts among, to sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song. Yorkshire 24 NEH John Byrom ( ) John Wainwright ( ) The President says: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The President greets the congregation to which all respond: and also with you. All remain standing. The President introduces THE PRAYERS OF PENITENCE, after which all say: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen. The President gives THE ABSOLUTION. All respond: Amen. All sit after the opening phrase GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO sung by the Choir: Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 4

5 All stand for THE COLLECT. The President sings: Let us pray. A short period of silence is kept. Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Liturgy of the Word All sit for THE OLD TESTAMENT READING, read from the Nave Pulpit: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns. Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52: 7 10 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. All stand to sing THE HYMN: A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure! the virgin bears the infant with virgin-honour pure. Repeat the hymn again! To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men! The word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high! and Cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky. Since all he comes to ransom, by all be he adored, the infant born in Bethl em, the Saviour and the Lord. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen 21 NEH Greek, St Germanus ( ) German carol melody translated by John Mason Neale ( ) 5

6 All sit for THE EPISTLE, read from the Great Lectern: Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint of God s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Hebrews 1: 1 4 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. All stand for THE PROCESSION OF THE GOSPEL during which the choir sings: Hodie Christus natus est: hodie Salvator apparuit: hodie in terra canunt Angeli, laetantur Archangeli: hodie exsultant justi, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Alleluia! Today Christ is born: today the Saviour has appeared: today the angels sing on earth, the archangels rejoice: today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory be to God on high. Alleluia! Francis Poulenc ( ) Magnificat Antiphon of Christmas Day All remain standing for THE GOSPEL, facing the reader. When the Gospel is announced the reader says: The Lord be with you; and also with you. Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John. Glory to you, O Lord. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. St John 1: 1 14 This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 6

7 THE SERMON by The Very Reverend Dr John Hall Dean of Westminster All stand to say THE NICENE CREED: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. All remain standing for THE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION. At the end of each petition there is said: Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. The Intercession ends: Merciful Father, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 7

8 The Liturgy of the Sacrament All remain standing for THE PEACE. The President says: Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called the Prince of Peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you; and also with you. Members of the Congregation may greet each other with a sign of peace, most commonly a handshake. All remain standing to sing THE HYMN during THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS. Bread and wine are presented at the altar. Of the Father s heart begotten, ere the world from chaos rose, he is Alpha: from that Fountain all that is and hath been flows; he is Omega, of all things yet to come the mystic Close, evermore and evermore. O how blest that wondrous birthday, when the maid the curse retrieved, brought to birth mankind s salvation, by the Holy Ghost conceived; and the Babe, the world s Redeemer, in her loving arms received, evermore and evermore. This is he, whom seer and sibyl sang in ages long gone by; this is he of old revealèd in the page of prophecy; lo! he comes, the promised Saviour; let the world his praises cry! evermore and evermore. Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises; Angels and Archangels, sing! wheresoe er ye be, ye faithful, let your joyous anthems ring, every tongue his name confessing, countless voices answering, evermore and evermore. Divinum mysterium 33 NEH Corde natus ex parentis Prudentius (348 c 413) from Piae Cantiones Theoderici Petri Nylandensis 1582 translated by Robert Furley Davis ( ) arranged by David Willcocks (b 1919) 8

9 All remain standing for THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP, and THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER: The President continues the Eucharistic Prayer. The Choir sings SANCTUS: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. All remain standing. The President continues the Eucharistic Prayer. Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again. The President continues the Eucharistic Prayer, at the end of which all sing: Amen. All remain standing. The President says: As we join our prayers with those of the Church Universal, so we say, each in our own language, the prayer that Jesus Christ has taught us, Notre père, qui es aux cieux Vater Unser im Himmel Padre nostro che sei nei cieli Padre nuestro, que esta en el cielo 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. 9

10 All remain standing for THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD. The President breaks the consecrated bread, saying: We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. The President says: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed. The Congregation is invited to sit. The President and other ministers begin THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION to those seated in the Lantern and Quire. Those wishing to receive Communion come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive Communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Gluten-free wafers are at each communion station. If you require one please indicate so to the priest. Those who do not wish to receive Communion are invited to come for a blessing. Please carry this booklet with you to indicate to the priest that you are asking for a blessing. The minister says to each communicant: The Body of Christ. Amen. The Blood of Christ. Amen. During Communion, the Choir sings: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace. 10

11 In dulci jubilo in sweet delight let us our homage shew; our heart s joy reclineth in praesepio, in the manger and like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio. in a mother s lap Alpha es et O. you are Alpha and Omega O Jesu parvule! O infant Jesus I yearn for thee alway! Hear me, I beseech thee, O Puer optime! O holiest child My prayer let it reach thee, O princeps gloriae! O Prince of Glory Trahe me post te! Lead me along with you O Patris caritas, the Father s love O Nati lenitas! the mercy of the Son Deeply were we stained per nostra crimina; through our sins but thou hast for us gained caelorum gaudia. the joy of heaven O that we were there! Ubi sunt gaudia, Where are joy and gladness? where, if that they be not there? There are angels singing nova cantica, new songs there the bells are ringing in Regis curia: in the King s hall O that we were there! Old German carol arranged by Robert Pearsall ( ) translated by Robert Pearsall 11

12 After Communion All stand to sing THE HYMN: 12 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: Sing, choirs of Angels, sing in exultation, sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; glory to God in the Highest: Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing: Adeste fideles 30 NEH Adeste fideles attributed to John Francis Wade attributed to John Francis Wade ( ) translated Frederick Oakeley ( ) descant by Philip Ledger ( )

13 All remain standing to say THE POST-COMMUNION PRAYER: God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen. The President pronounces THE BLESSING, to which all respond: Amen. Go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God. All remain standing as the Choir processes to the west end of the Abbey. The organist plays: In dulci jubilo BWV 729 Johann Sebastian Bach At am the BBC transmission ends. The President and other ministers begin THE DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION to those who have not yet received. All remain standing to say THE PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS: We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. The President says: Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. 13

14 The Congregation is invited to sit. Those wishing to receive Communion come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive Communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Glutenfree wafers are at each communion station. If you require one please indicate so to the priest. Those who do not wish to receive Communion are invited to come for a blessing. Please carry this booklet with you to indicate to the priest that you are asking for a blessing. The minister says to each communicant: The Body of Christ. Amen. The Blood of Christ. Amen. During communion the choir sings THE MOTET: O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio. O beata virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia! O great mystery and wondrous sign, that the animals should see the Lord born, lying in a manger. Blessed is the Virgin, whose womb was counted worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! Tomás Luis de Victoria (c ) respond for Matins of Christmas Day All remain seated to sing THE HYMN: 14 See amid the winter s snow, born for us on earth below; see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years: Hail, thou ever blessed morn; hail, redemption s happy dawn; sing through all Jerusalem, Christ is born in Bethlehem.

15 Lo, within a manger lies he who built the starry skies; he who, throned in height sublime, sits amid the cherubim: Say, ye holy shepherds, say what your joyful news today; wherefore have ye left your sheep on the lonely mountain steep? As we watched at dead of night, lo, we saw a wondrous light: angels singing Peace on earth told us of the Saviour s birth: Sacred infant, all divine, what a tender love was thine, thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this: Teach, O teach us, Holy Child, by thy face so meek and mild, teach us to resemble thee, in thy sweet humility: CC Edward Caswall ( ) John Goss ( ) All stand. The Dean leads THE PRAYER: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Strengthen us in the power of thy Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen. The Dean pronounces THE BLESSING: The Lord be with you; and also with you. May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ-child be yours this Christmas; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. Go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God. Music after the service: Finale from Symphonie VI Charles-Marie Widor ( ) Members of the congregation are requested to remain in their places until invited to move by the Stewards. 15

16 Later today: 3.00 pm Evensong sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey Sunday 29 th December FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS 8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) am Matins said with hymns The Reverend Professor Vernon White Canon in Residence am Sung Eucharist* The Reverend Tony Kyriakides-Yeldham Chaplain 3.00 pm Evensong* The Reverend Dominic Fenton Priest Vicar 5.45 pm Organ Recital Peter Holder Organ Scholar 6.30 pm Evening Service The Venerable Dr Jane Hedges Sub-Dean, Canon Steward, and Archdeacon of Westminster Services marked * are sung by the Choir of St Margaret s Church, Westminster Abbey. Details of all Abbey Services are available at the Abbey website: CHORISTERSHIPS AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY Enquiries are welcomed at any time. If you have a son who enjoys singing, and would like further details of the world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique choir school, please contact: Mr Jonathan Milton Mr James O Donnell Headmaster Organist & Master of the Choristers Westminster Abbey Choir School The Chapter Office Dean s Yard 20 Dean s Yard London London SW1P 3NY SW1P 3PA Tel Tel headmaster@westminster-abbey.org music@westminster-abbey.org Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (Europe) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no and MRL no Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright The Archbishops Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version. 16