Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Carols From Kings Booklet
Carols From Kings Booklet
A FESTIVAL OF
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
2
NINETY-NINE YEARS OF ‘CARE AND DELIGHT’
4
From time to time the College receives copies of services held
many thousands of miles from Cambridge, and these show how
widely the tradition has spread. The broadcasts, too, have become
part of Christmas for many far from Cambridge. One
correspondent writes that he heard the service in a tent on the
foothills of Everest; another, in the desert. Many listen at home,
busy with their own preparations for Christmas.
Visitors from all over the world are heard to identify the Chapel as
‘the place where the Carols are sung’. Wherever the service is
heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by
choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service, as
Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive from the lessons and not
the music. ‘The main theme is the development of the loving
purposes of God …’ seen ‘through the windows and the words of
the Bible’. Local interests appear, as they do here, in the Bidding
Prayer; and personal circumstances give point to different parts of
the service. Many of those who took part in the first service must
have recalled those killed in the Great War when it came to the
famous passage ‘all those who rejoice with us, but on another
shore and in a greater light’. The centre of the service is still found
by those who ‘go in heart and mind’ and who consent to follow
where the story leads.
5
ORGAN MUSIC BEFORE THE SERVICE
¶ All stand for the High Sheriff’s Procession, during which is played:
Jesu, meine Freude BWV 610 J.S. Bach
6
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
Solo
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.
Choir
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.
¶ Please turn the page quietly.
7
And through all his wondrous childhood
he would honour and obey,
love and watch the lowly maiden
in whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be
mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood’s pattern:
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feeleth for our sadness,
and he shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him
through his own redeeming love,
for that child, so dear and gentle,
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;
when, like stars, his children, crowned,
all in white shall wait around.
8
THE BIDDING PRAYER
Dean Beloved in Christ, be it this Christmas Eve our care and
delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of
the angels; in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe
lying in a manger.
Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the
loving purposes of God from the first days of our
disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by
this Holy Child; and let us make this Chapel, dedicated to
Mary, his most blessed Mother, glad with our carols of
praise:
But first let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for
peace and goodwill over all the earth; for unity and
brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and
especially in the dominions of our sovereign lady Queen
Elizabeth, within this University and City of Cambridge,
and in the two royal and religious Foundations of King
Henry VI here and at Eton:
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let
us at this time remember in his name the poor and the
helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick
in body and in mind and them that mourn; the lonely and
the unloved; the aged and the little children; all who know
not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin
have grieved his heart of love.
9
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice
with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that
multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in
the Word made flesh, and with whom, in this Lord Jesus,
we for evermore are one.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the
throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath
taught us:
Our Father;
All 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Dean The Almighty God bless us with his grace: Christ give us
the joys of everlasting life: and unto the fellowship of the
citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all.
All Amen.
10
INVITATORY CAROL
In the bleak mid-winter Enough for him,
frosty wind made moan, whom Cherubim
earth stood hard as iron, worship night and day,
water like a stone; a breastful of milk
snow had fallen, and a mangerful of hay;
snow on snow, enough for him, whom angels
snow on snow, fall down before,
in the bleak mid-winter, the ox and ass and camel
long ago. which adore.
Our God, heaven What can I give him,
cannot hold him, poor as I am?
nor earth sustain; If I were a shepherd
Heaven and earth I would bring a lamb;
shall flee away if I were a wise man
when he comes to reign: I would do my part;
in the bleak mid-winter yet what I can I give him,
a stable-place sufficed give my heart.
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
11
FIRST LESSON
¶ read by a Chorister.
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise
and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.
And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the
garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst
the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto
Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I
heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I
was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee
that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof
I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be
with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the
Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast
done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and
I did eat.
And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast
done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every
beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.
12
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto
the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed
is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all
the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring
forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return
unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust
thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Thanks be to God.
Genesis 3: 8-15, 17-19
13
CAROL
O what a price that Adam paid,
when from the tree of Paradise
he ate the fruit to make him wise.
You cannot have a lodging here.
When Eve had plucked that apple tree
no more in Eden could they dwell
and far from God they headlong fell.
You cannot have a lodging here.
No more in Eden could we dwell
until the second Adam came
to bring us to our rightful home.
Then we shall have lodging there.
14
CAROL
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
15
SECOND LESSON
¶ read by a Choral Scholar.
16
CHORALE
How shall I fitly meet thee,
and give thee welcome due?
The nations long to greet thee,
and I would greet thee too.
O fount of light, shine brightly
upon my darken’d heart;
that I may serve thee rightly,
and know thee as thou art.
Words: P. Gerhardt, transl. J. Troutbeck Music: J. S. Bach, from the Christmas Oratorio
17
CAROL
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three?…
Our Saviour Christ and his Lady…
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?…
O, they sailed into Bethlehem…
And all the bells on earth shall ring,…
And all the angels in heav’n shall sing…
And all the souls on earth shall sing…
Then let us all rejoice amain!
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Then let us all rejoice amain!
On Christmas Day in the morning.
18
THIRD LESSON
¶ read by a representative of the Cambridge churches.
19
CAROL
Jerusalem rejos for joy:
Jesus, the sterne of most beauty,
in thee is rissin as richtous roy,
fro dirkness to illumine thee.
With glorious sound of angel glee
thy prince is born in Bethlehem
which sall thee mak of thrall-dome free:
Illuminare Jerusalem.
With angellis licht in legionis
thou art illuminit all about.
Three kingis of strange regionis
to thee are cumin with lusty rout.
All drest with dyamantis,
reverst with gold in every hem,
sounding attonis with a shout:
Illuminare Jerusalem.
The regeand tyrant that in thee rang,
Herod, is exileit and his offspring,
The land of Juda that josit wrang,
and rissin is now thy richtous king.
Wo he so mychtie is and digne,
when men his glorious name does nem heaven,
heaven erd and hell makis inclining:
Illuminare Jerusalem.
20
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
¶ As the organ introduction begins, all stand to sing.
¶ All sit.
22
FOURTH LESSON
¶ read by the Chaplain.
23
CAROL
A Spotless Rose is blowing,
sprung from a tender root,
of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
of Jesse promised fruit;
its fairest bud unfolds to light
amid the cold, cold winter,
and in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing,
whereof Isaiah said,
is from its sweet root springing
in Mary, purest Maid;
for through our God’s great love and might
the Blessed Babe she bare us
in a cold, cold winter’s night.
24
CAROL
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Gave thee life, and bid thee feed,
By the stream and o’er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing, woolly, bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice?
Little Lamb, who made thee?
Dost thou know who made thee?
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee,
Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee:
He is callèd by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb.
He is meek, and he is mild,
He became a little child;
I, a child, and thou a lamb,
We are callèd by his name.
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Little Lamb, God bless thee!
25
FIFTH LESSON
¶ read by a member of College staff.
26
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it
unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed
from her.
Thanks be to God.
Luke 1: 26-35, 38
27
CAROL
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail’, said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
‘For known a blessèd Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God’, she said,
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his Holy Name.’
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
‘Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
28
CAROL
In heaven stood a linden tree
with pure white flowers laden;
yet not a bloom was fair as she,
sweet Mary, chosen maiden.
Great Gabriel, God’s angel bright,
from high above came winging
to one, the purest in God’s sight,
a joyful message bringing.
‘Hail, Mary, blessed Virgin mild,
with God you have found favour;
you shall conceive and bear a child,
to all the world the Saviour.’
‘My soul does magnify the Lord!
I am His servant lowly;
be all according to His word,’
said Mary, meek and holy.
Away the angel flew to share
the news of Mary’s duty;
and heaven rejoiced that she would bear
the Blossom of all Beauty.
Words: The Linden Tree Carol: 15th C. German Music: arr. S. Cleobury
29
SIXTH LESSON
¶ read by a representative of the City of Cambridge.
30
CAROL
¶ Sung in Welsh.
31
CAROL
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky,
and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus: I ask thee to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
32
SEVENTH LESSON
¶ read by the Director of Music.
33
CAROL
Hoy! Can I not syng but hoy!
Whan the jolly shepherd made so mych joy.
The shepherd upon a hill he satt,
he had on hym his tabard and his hat,
hys tar-box, his pipe, and his flagat;
hys name was called jolly, jolly Wat;
for he was a gud herdès boy.
With hoy!
For in hys pype he mad so myche joy,
With hoy!
The shepherd on a hill he stode,
round abowt hym his shepe they yode;
he put hys hond under his hode,
he saw a star as rede as blode.
With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy,
with hoy!
The shepherd sayd anon ryght:
‘I will go see yon farly syght,
whereas the angell syngeth on hight,
and the star that shynyth so bright.’
With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
34
When Wat to Bedlem cum was,
he swet, he had gon faster than a pace;
he found Jhesu in a sympyll place
between an ox and an asse.
With hoy!
For in his pipe he mad so myche joy.
With hoy!
‘Jhesu, I offer to The here my pype,
my skyrte, my tar-box, and my scrype;
home to my fellowes now will I skype,
and also look unto my shepe.’
With hoy!
Can I not sing but hoy!
When the jolly sheperd made so mych joy?
Sing hoy!
35
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
¶ All stand as the organ introduction is played.
Choir
But when to Bethlehem they came,
whereat this infant lay,
they found him in a manger,
where oxen feed on hay;
his mother Mary kneeling
unto the Lord did pray:
All
O tidings of comfort and joy.
¶ All sit.
37
EIGHTH LESSON
¶ read by the Vice-Provost.
39
CAROL
We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I,
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, all men raising,
worship him God most high.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and sacrifice;
Heaven sings alleluya,
alleluya the earth replies.
40
CAROL
Night has come to Bethlehem,
The family is asleep,
Exhausted by the wonders seen,
The news outrageous, deep.
‘That I may come and worship him.’
Ox and ass have closed their eyes,
Their ears now hear no sound.
Shepherds have gone back to their flocks,
The mouse still noses around.
‘That I may come and worship him.’
Kings have left for their distant lands,
Fractious camels moan.
At a desert spring they make their farewells.
‘It’s a mighty way to home!’
‘That I may come and worship him.’
Later that night their heads are filled
With a dream-drenched holy ray.
‘Do not return to Herod the king,
Go back another way.’
‘That I may come and worship him.’
And so our Christ is saved from death
His mission to complete
To change the world by selfless love.
Satan’s legions to beat.
41
¶ All stand.
NINTH LESSON
¶ read by the Provost.
42
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
¶ Sung by all, standing. In verses 1 and 2 the first two lines of the
refrain are sung by upper voices only.
44
THE COLLECT AND BLESSING
45
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
¶ Sung by all, standing.
46
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.
¶ All remain standing in their places for the first organ voluntary.
47
¶ All remain standing while the processions leave during the second
organ voluntary.
¶ Thank you for joining us today for this service. Please don’t forget to
contribute to the retiring collection as you leave the Chapel. If you
would like to make a more considered or sustained financial
contribution to help support the life of the Chapel or Choir, the Dean
or Director of Music would be delighted to hear from you.
49
Dean
50