Each Christmastide on Spotify, I publish a playlist in the format of the Nine Lessons and Carols, something that we heard earlier today from King’s College Cambridge.
From me to you all, I wish you a happy Christmas with friends and family near and far.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Processional Hymn: Once in royal David’s city (tune: IRBY)
Bidding Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, and Blessing
Carol: What sweeter music (John Rutter, commissioned for the 1987 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols)
First Lesson: Genesis 3:8-19
Carol: Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
Hymn: O come, o come, Emmanuel (tune: VENI EMMANUEL)
Second Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18
Carol: The Lord at first did Adam make (arr. David Willcocks)
Carol: Ríu ríu chíu (Spanish)
Third Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
Carol: In dulci jubilo (Hieronymus Praetorius)
Hymn: God rest you merry, Gentlemen (tune: GOD REST YOU MERRY)
Fourth Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9
Carol: A tender shoot (Otto Goldschmidt)
Carol: A spotless rose (Herbert Howells)
Fifth Lesson: St Luke 1:26-35, 38
Carol: On Christmas night all Christians sing (Sussex Carol, arr. Philip Ledger)
Hymn: O little town of Bethlehem (tune: FOREST GREEN)
Sixth Lesson: St Luke 2:1, 3-7
Carol: Carol Eliseus (Huw Watkins, commissioned for the 2017 Nine Lessons & Carols)
Hymn: While shepherds watched (tune: WINCHESTER OLD)
Seventh Lesson: St Luke 2:8-16
Carol: O magnum mysterium (Morten Lauridsen)
Eighth Lesson: St Matthew 2:1-12
Carol: Un nacimiento (Diego Luzuriaga)
Carol: The Three Kings (arr. Ivor Atkins)
Ninth Lesson: St John 1:1-14
Hymn: O come, all ye faithful (tune: ADESTE FIDELES, arr. David Willcocks)
Prayer and Blessing
Retiring Hymn: Hark! the herald-angels sing (tune: MENDELSSOHN)
Organ voluntary: In dulci jubilo, S. 729 (J.S. Bach); Pièces de Fantaisie en quatre suites Livre II op. 53: Toccata (Vierne)