The True Light of Christmas: A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for the Eve of Christmas
Reading: Bethlehem (Eric Milner-White)
Consort: Lord, when you came to earth (Scandinavian carol arr. Barry Rose)
Bidding / Lord’s Prayer
Hymn: O come, all ye faithful
First Lesson: God announces …
Consort: Remember O thou man (Thos, Ravenscroft)
King Jesus hath a garden (Dutch carol arr. Wood)
Second Lesson: Christ’s birth …
Hymn: A winter rose shall flower
Third Lesson: The peace that Christ …
Consort: Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (Praetorious)
Fourth Lesson: The prophet Micah …
Hymn: O little town of Bethlehem
Fifth Lesson: The Angel Gabriel salutes …
Consort: Antiphon: O virgo virginum (plainsong)
The Linden Tree Carol (Jacques)
Sixth Lesson: St Luke tells of the birth …
Consort: Once in Royal David’s city (arr. Harvey Patterson)
Cradle Song (Flemish carol arr.Rutter)
Seventh Lesson: The shepherds …
Consort: I wonder as I wander (arr. Malcolm Edwards)
Shepherds in the fields abiding (trad, French, arr. David Willcocks)
Hymn: While shepherds watched their flocks
Eighth Lesson: The Wise men …
Consort: Quem pastores laudavere (14 C German, arr. John Rutter)
The Lord has come (Will Todd)
Ninth Lesson: St John unfolds …
Consort: In dulci jubilo (arr. R L Pearsall)
The Collect for Christmas Eve
Blessing
Hymn: Hark! The herald angels sing