Organ Music 

Eugène Gigout Rhaspsodie sur des Noëls 

Richard Drakeford Carol prelude on A Virgin Unspotted 

W.S.Lloyd-Webber Interlude on God rest ye merry, gentlemen 

Herbert Howells Cradle Song 

Eugène Reuchsel Noël Strasbourgeois 

Introit 

Psallite unigenito 

Sing your psalms to Christ, 
the only begotten Son of God, 
sing your psalms to the Redeemer. 
 
A small Child lies in the manger. 
All the blessed angels serve Him and sing to Him. 

Music: Michael Praetorius 1571-1621 

Processional Hymn 

Once in royal David's city 

stood a lowly cattle shed, 

where a mother laid her baby 

In a manger for his bed: 

Mary was that mother mild, 

Jesus Christ her little Child. 

He came down to earth from heaven 

who is God and Lord of all, 

and his shelter was a stable, 

and his cradle was a stall; 

with the poor and mean and lowly 

lived on earth our Saviour holy. 

And our eyes at last shall see him, 

through his own redeeming love, 

for that Child so dear and helpless 

is our Lord in heaven above; 

and he leads his children on  

to the place where he is gone. 

Not in that poor lowly stable, 

with the oxen standing by, 

we shall see him; but in heaven, 

set at God's right hand on high; 

where his children gather round, 

bright like stars, with glory crowned. 

Text: C.F.Alexander 1818-95 

Music: Irby CH4 315 H.J.Gauntlett 1805-76 

Welcome 

Prayer 

First Lesson Isaiah 9  2-7 

Hymn 

O little town of Bethlehem, 

how still we see you lie! 

Above your deep and dreamless sleep 

the silent stars go by. 

Yet in your streets is shining 

the everlasting light; 

the hopes and fears of all the years 

are met in you tonight. 

O morning stars, together 

proclaim the holy birth 

and praises sing to God the King, 

and peace to men on earth; 

for Christ is born of Mary; 

and, gathered all above, 

while mortals sleep, the angels keep 

their watch of wondering love. 

How silently, how silently, 

the wondrous gift is given! 

So God imparts to human hearts 

the blessings of his heaven. 

No ear may hear his coming; 

but in this world of sin, 

where meek souls will receive him, still 

the dear Christ enters in. 

O holy Child of Bethlehem, 

descend to us, we pray; 

cast out our sin, and enter in, 

be born in us today. 

We hear the Christmas angels 

the great glad tidings tell: 

O come to us, abide with us, 

our Lord Emmanuel. 

Text: Phillips Brooks 1835-93 

Music: Forest Green CH4 304 English Traditional harm. R.Vaughan Williams 1872-1958 

Gospel reading St Luke 2  1-14 

Glory to God in the highest 

Glory to God in the highest 
and on earth peace goodwill to all men 

Music: Eric Thiman 1900-1975 

Gospel reading St Luke 2  15-20 

Hymn 

Still the night, holy the night! 
Sleeps the world; hid from sight, 
Mary and Joseph in stable bare 
watch o'er the child beloved and fair, 
sleeping in heavenly rest, 

sleeping in heavenly rest. 
 

Still the night, holy the night! 
Shepherds first saw the light, 
heard resounding clear and long, 
far and near, the angel-song, 
'Christ the Redeemer is here!' 

'Christ the Redeemer is here!' 

Still the night, holy the night! 
Son of God, O how bright 
love is smiling from thy face! 
Strikes for us now the hour of grace, 
Saviour, since Thou art born! 
Saviour, since Thou art born! 

Text: Joseph Mohr 1792-1848 Tr. Stopford Augustus Brooke 1832-1916 

Music: Stille Nacht CH4 309 Melody by Francis Grüber 1787-1863 

The Sermon 

Anthem 

For unto us a child is born 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government 
shall be upon His shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, 
Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 

Text: Isaiah 9  6 

Music: George Frederick Handel 1685-1759 

Christmas Greetings 

Offering and Hymn 

Hark, the herald-angels sing 

glory to the new-born King, 

peace on earth, and mercy mild, 

God and sinners reconciled. 

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, 

join the triumph of the skies; 

with the angelic host proclaim, 

'Christ is born in Bethlehem.' 

Hark, the herald-angels sing 

glory to the new-born King. 

Christ, by highest heaven adored, 

Christ, the everlasting Lord, 

late in time behold him come, 

offspring of a virgin's womb. 

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see: 

hail, the incarnate Deity, 

pleased as man with man to dwell, 

Jesus, our Emmanuel. 

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace: 

hail, the Sun of Righteousness. 

Light and life to all he brings, 

risen with healing in his wings. 

Mild he lays his glory by, 

born that man no more may die, 

born to raise the sons of earth, 

born to give them second birth. 

Text: Charles Wesley 1707-88, and others 

Tune: Mendelssohn CH4 301 Felix Mendelssohn arr. W.H. Cummings 1831-1915 

Prayer 

Hymn 

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; 

Jesus, to thee be glory given: 

Word of the Father, 

now in flesh appearing: 

Text: Possibly by John Wade c1711-86 

Music: Adeste Fideles CH4 306 Possibly by John Wade c1711-86 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

Garth Edmundson Toccata on Vom Himmel hoch 

CCL Licence No 980930 

Streaming Licence 57837 

The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J. Whyte