A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 24, 2023
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Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

[caption id="attachment_308237" align="alignnone" width="1500"] The Nativity depicted in the South Stall Woodwork of Saint Thomas Church[/caption] Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of thy one true light: bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth, to see the radiance of thy heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.


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On Christmas Eve we will be open to the general public from 7:15 a.m.-1 p.m., 3 p.m.-6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. until the end of the 10:30 p.m. Procession and Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity (Midnight Mass).

Pledging parishioners have received an invitation to register for early entry to the Nave for the 4pm and 10:30pm Christmas Eve services. The Fifth Avenue doors will open to the general public one hour prior to each service.

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4:00 p.m. | High Altar

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Sung by the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys and featuring works of French, M. Martin, Latona, Wilcox, Moore, Rutter, and Chilcott.

Pledging parishioners have received an invitation to register for early entry to the Nave for the 4pm and 10:30pm Christmas Eve services. The Fifth Avenue doors will open to the general public one hour prior to each service.

Organ PreludesFantasia: The Christmas Light, by Simon Preston (1938-2022)
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her, by Georg Böhm (1661-1733)
Adeste fideles, by Jeanne Demessieux (1921-1968)
Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen, from ‘Eleven Chorale Preludes’, Op. 122, no. 8, by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Order of Service
Hymn102 – Once in royal David’s city – IRBY
CarolThis joy, from ‘Three Christmas Songs’, by Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)
The First LessonGenesis 3:8-15, 17-19
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent’s head.
Read by a Chorister
CarolAdam lay ybounden, by Richard Webster (b. 1952)
The Second LessonGenesis 22:15-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
Read by Read by A Gentleman of the Choir
Hymn78 – O little town of Bethlehem – FOREST GREEN
The Third LessonIsaiah 9:2, 6-7
The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.
Read by a Lector of the Parish
CarolNovo profusi gaudio, by Matthew Martin (b. 1976)
The Fourth LessonIsaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.
Read by The School Chaplain
CarolWelcome all wonders, by Jay Wilcox (b. 1954)
The Fifth LessonLuke 1:26-35, 38
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Read by the Head of the Choir School
CarolThe angel Gabriel, by Philip Moore (b. 1943)text by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
The Sixth LessonLuke 12:1-7
Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
Read by the Organist and Director of Music
Hymn96 – Angels we have heard on high – GLORIA
The Seventh LessonLuke 2:8-16
The shepherds go to the manger.
Read by a Warden of the Parish
CarolShepherd’s Cradle Song, by Karl Lenner, arr. Charles McPherson (1870-1927)
The Eighth LessonMatthew 2:1-12
The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus.
Read by a Young Member of the Parish
CarolSans Day carol -- arr. John Rutter (b. 1945)
The Ninth LessonJohn 1:1-14
Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
Read by the Rector
HymnEarth, strike up your music, by Jessica French (b. 1984)text by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
HymnsO come, all ye faithful – ADESTE FIDELES — Anonymous (Traditional)
87 – Hark! the herald angels sing – MENDELSSOHN
VoluntaryDieu parmi nous, from ‘La Nativité du Seigneur’, by Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)

Resources

Leaflet
Annual Appeal 2024
Concerts at Saint Thomas 2023-2024 Brochure
Saint Thomas Church Self-Guided Tour

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