Candlemas Carols

Sunday, 2nd February at 6.00pm

A journey in words and music

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Welcome & Introduction

Congregational Carol O little town of Bethlehem

Reading

The Blessed Beacons “Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas are the three blessed beacons of the Christmas season. Each one in turn flashes God's brightness to a world in darkness. Each one in turn is greater in intensity and spreads its comforting ray further and further. Each one proclaims that God, Light of true Light, has come to live in our midst first to Jew, then to Gentile, and then to the universal Church. Now we no longer live in darkness of spirit.”

From a Catholic primer "In the Home" by Florence Berger.(1951)

Responses

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. All He has come to his people and set them free.

Light has sprung up for the righteous All and joyful gladness for those who are faithful.

Glory to God in the highest All and peace to his people on earth.

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Scripture Reading Luke 2:15-21

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Choir Anthem In the bleak mid-winter – Darke

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Reading: “On the Edge” by Malcolm Guite

Christmas sets the centre on the edge; The edge of town, out-buildings of an inn, The fringe of empire, far from privilege And power, on the edge and outer spin Of turning worlds, a margin of small stars That edge a galaxy itself light years From some unguessed-at cosmic origin.

Christmas sets the centre at the edge. And from this day our world is re-aligned; A tiny seed unfolding in the womb Becomes the source from which we all unfold And flower into being. We are healed, The End begins, the tomb becomes a womb, For now in him all things are re-aligned.

Choir Anthem Lo, star-led chiefs – Crotch Scripture Reading Matthew 2:1,2 & 9-11

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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Choir Carol There shall a star from Jacob come forth – Mendelssohn

Reading “Epiphany” by Kate McIlhagga

Epiphany is a jewel Multi-faceted, Flashing colour and light. Epiphany embraces The nations of the world, Kneeling on a bare floor Before a child. Epiphany shows A man Kneeling in the waters of baptism. Epiphany reveals The best is kept for last As water becomes wine At the wedding feast.

O Holy One To whom was given The gifts of power and prayer, The gift of suffering, Help us to use these same gifts In your way And in your name.

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Scripture Reading Luke 2:22-28

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

The Choir sings:

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Setting: Stanford in B flat 33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed - and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Congregational Carol Sing lullaby

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Scripture Reading Luke 2:36-40

36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

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Reading “Of the Purification”, anonymous English (pre-15th Century) Behold what lyfe that we ryne ine, Frayl to fale and ever lyke to syne Thorow owr enmys entysyng; Therefor we syng and cry to the: Revertere, revertere The queen of blysse and of beaute.

Come hyder, Lady, fayryst floure, And kepe us, Lady, from doloure; Defend us, Lady, and be owr socoure, For we cease not to cal to the:

Torne owr lyfe, Lady, to Goddys luste, Syne to fle and fleschly luste, For aftur hym in the we trust To kep us frome adversyte.

Thys holy day of Puryfycacyon To the temple thou bare owr salvacyon Jhesu Cryst, thin own swet Sone, To whome thefor now syng we:

Farwell, Crystmas fayer and fre! Farwell, Newers Day with the! Farwell, the holy Epyphane! And to Mary now syng we:

Behold what life that we run in, Frail to fall and ever like to sin Through our enemy's enticing; Therefore we sing and cry to thee: Return, return The queen of bliss and beauty.

Come hither, Lady, fairest flower, And keep us, Lady, from dolour; Defend us, Lady, and be our succour, For we cease not to call to thee:

Turn our life, Lady, to God's lust, [pleasure] Sin to flee and fleshly lust, For, after him, in thee we trust To keep us from adversity.

This holy day of Purification To the temple thou bare our salvation, Jesu Christ, thine own sweet Son, To whom therefore now sing we:

Farewell, Christmas fair and free! Farewell, New Year's Day with thee! Farewell, the holy Epiphany! And to Mary now sing we:

Bodleian Library MS. Eng. poet. e. I, a fifteenth-century manuscript of English poems and carols

Choir Anthem Senex puerum portabat – Byrd

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Scripture Reading Matthew 5:14-16

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

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The Blessing of the Candles

Reading from Sermones catholici by Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham (c. 955 – c. 1010)

Wite gehwa eac þæt geset is on cyrclicum þeawum, þæt we sceolon on ðisum dæge beran ure leoht to cyrcan, and lætan hi ðær bletsian: and we sceolon gan siððan mid þam leohte betwux Godes husum, and singan ðone lofsang ðe þærto geset is.

Þeah ðe sume men singan ne cunnon, hi beron þeah-hwæðere þæt leoht on heora handum; forðy on ðissum dæge wæs þæt soðe Leoht Crist geboren to þam temple, seðe us alysde fram þystrum, and us gebrincð to þam ecan leohte, seðe leofað and rixað a butan ende. Amen.

Be it known also to everyone that it is appointed in the custom of the church that on this day we should carry our lights to church, and let them be blessed there: and that we should go afterwards with that light among the houses of God, and sing the hymn which is appointed for that.

Though some people cannot sing, they can nevertheless bear the light in their hands; for on this day was the true Light, Christ, borne to the temple, who redeemed us from darkness and will bring us to that eternal light, who lives and rules for ever without end. Amen.'

Blessing

Let us pray:

Father in heaven, We praise you for sending your Spirit into our hearts to teach us to pray. Bless these candles (+) and teach us to use them as an aid to sincere and devoted prayer. As their light shines in our homes, May your protection encircle us and those we love, And may your light shine through us in all the world.

All Amen.

Choir Anthem When to the temple Mary went – Eccard

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Final Reading “The Work of Christmas” by Dr. Howard Thurman When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among all peoples, To make music in the heart.

Congregational Carol Christ be our light Please stand, holding your lit candles. Blessing & Dismissal

Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing …

All Amen.

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light.

People of God, you have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.

All Let us shine as lights in the world to the glory of God the Father.

Recessional Voluntary Toccata – Dubois