St. Giles’ Cathedral
Watchnight Service
Christmas Eve
Sunday 24th December 2023
Organ Music
Félix-Alexandre Guilmant Offertoire sur deux Noëls
Richard Drakeford Carol prelude on A Virgin Unspotted
Olivier Messiaen Desseins éternels
Eugène Reuchsel Noël Strasbourgeois
Introit
En natus est Emmanuel
This day is born Emanuel,
God with us!
As foretold by Gabriel;
God with us!
God with us! a Saviour Christ the Lord.
Text and music: Musae Sionae 1609 Michael Praetorius arr. Eric von Ibler
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
The Christmas Proclamation
God is with us.
Hear ye people, even to the uttermost end of the earth.
Text: Orthodox Great Compline for Christmas Eve
Music: John Tavener 1944-2013
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
David Briggs Sortie on In dulci jubilo
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George Whyte