Organ Music 

Dieterich Buxtehude In dulci jubilo BuxWV 197 

Iain Farrington Prelude on Gabriel’s Message 

Sigfrid Karg-Elert Noël 

Introit 

In dulci jubilo 

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

Text: Heinrich Seuse c.1328 

Music: J.S.Bach 1685-1750 

Processional Hymn 

It came upon the midnight clear, 

that glorious song of old, 

from angels bending near the earth 

to touch their harps of gold: 

'Peace on the earth, good will to men 

from heaven's all-gracious King!' 

The world in solemn stillness lay 

to hear the angels sing. 

Still through the cloven skies they come, 

with peaceful wings unfurled; 

and still their heavenly music floats 

o'er all the weary world: 

above its sad and lowly plains 

they bend on hovering wing; 

and ever o'er its Babel-sounds 

the blessed angels sing. 

But with the woes of sin and strife 

the world has suffered long; 

beneath the angels’ hymn have rolled 

two thousand years of wrong; 

and warring humankind hears not 

the love-song which they bring: 

oh, hush the noise and still the strife, 

and hear the angels sing. 

For lo, the days are hastening on, 

by prophet-bards foretold, 

when, with the ever-rolling years, 

still dawns the Age of Gold; 

when peace shall over all the earth 

its ancient splendours fling, 

and the whole world give back the song 

which now the angels sing. 

Text: Edmund Hamilton Sears 1810-76 

Tune: Noel CH4 303 Traditional adapted by Arthur Sullivan 1842-1900 

Invitation 

Confession 

Emmanuel, God-with-us, we have sinned against you and one another in thought, word and deed. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Kyrie Eleison sung by the Choir 

Kyrie Eleison 

Christe Eleison 

Kyrie Eleison 

Mass in G Franz Schubert 

Declaration of forgiveness 

Gloria patri sung by the choir (Ridout)  

First Lesson 1 John 1  1-7 

Metrical Psalm 

The Lord of heaven confess; 
on high his glory raise. 
Him let all angels bless, 
him all his armies praise. 
Him glorify 
sun, moon, and stars; 
ye higher spheres, 
and cloudy sky. 
 

From God your beings are, 
him therefore famous make; 
you all created were, 
when he the word but spake. 
And from that place, 
where fixed you be 
by his decree, 
you cannot pass. 
 

Oh, let God's name be praised 
above both earth and sky; 
for he his saints hath raised, 
and set their horn on high; 
even those that be 
of Israel's race, 
near to his grace. 
The Lord praise ye. 
 

Text: George Wither 1588-1667 From Psalm 148 

Tune: St John CH4 104 Perhaps by W.H.Havergal 1793-1870 

The Gospel St Luke 2  15-21 

The Sermon 

The Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, 

Maker of heaven and earth: 

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, 

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, 

Born of the Virgin Mary, 

Suffered under Pontius Pilate, 

Was crucified, dead, and buried: 

He descended into hell; 

The third day he rose again from the dead; 

He ascended into heaven, 

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; 

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; 

The Holy Catholic Church; 

The Communion of Saints; 

The Forgiveness of sins; 

The Resurrection of the body, 

And the Life everlasting. Amen. 

The Offering 

The Intercessions 

Gloria in Excelsis sung by the choir 

Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. 

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.  Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. 

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 

Mass in G Franz Schubert 

Thanksgiving 

The Lord be with you 

And also with you 

Lift up your hearts 

We lift them to the Lord 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God 

It is right to give our thanks and praise 

Prayer 

Sanctus 

Holy, holy, holy,  

Lord God of Hosts, 

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. 

Glory be to you, O Lord Most High. 

Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord: 

Hosanna in the highest.  

Prayer  

The Lord’s Prayer 

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

Agnus Dei 

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, 

Have mercy upon us. 

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, 

Have mercy upon us. 

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, 

Grant us your peace. 

Holy Communion 

During Communion the Choir sings 

In the bleak midwinter 

In the bleak mid-winter, 

frosty wind made moan, 

earth stood hard as iron, 

water like a stone; 

snow had fallen, snow on snow, 

snow on snow, 

in the bleak mid-winter, 

long ago. 

Music: Harold Darke 1888-1976 

The Peace 

Prayer 

Hymn 

Child in the manger, infant of Mary; 

outcast and stranger, Lord of all! 

Child who inherits all our transgressions, 

all our demerits on him fall. 

Once the most holy child of salvation 

gently and lowly lived below; 

now, as our glorious mighty Redeemer, 

see him victorious o'er each foe. 

Prophets foretold him, infant of wonder; 

angels behold him on his throne; 

worthy our Saviour of all their praises; 

happy for ever are his own. 

Text: Mary Macdonald 1817-c1890 

Music: Bunessan CH4 314 Gaelic Melody 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

Nicolas Séjan Noël Suisse 

CCL Licence No 980930 

 Streaming Licence 57837 

The service was conducted by The Rev. Sigrid Marten