A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Saturday, December 24, 2022
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.

Saint Thomas Church will be open to the public during the following hours on Christmas Eve:
10am-1pm
3pm-6:30pm
9:30pm-12:30am
4:00 p.m. | High Altar

Sung by the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys featuring works of Cohen, Vaughan Williams, Sheppard, Young, Wills; Bradley, Hurd, and Bassi.

Our doors open to the general public at 3 p.m. for this service. Current pledging parishioners are invited to register for 2:30 p.m. early access. Those registered for early entry will enter at the 53rd Street doors to the Narthex.

If you have already pledged and have not received an email inviting you to register to both this service and the 10:30 p.m. Procession and Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity (Midnight Mass) please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Gaining early access does not guarantee a seat and we suggest arriving as early as possible as we have reached capacity in the past.

If you would like to support our mission and take advantage of this opportunity, we invite you pledge today.

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PreludeFantasia: 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)

 

Est ist ein Ros entsprungen, Op. 122, no. 8, by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Hymn102 – Once in royal David’s city – IRBY
CarolGaudete!, by Jacques Cohen (b. 1967)
Lesson 1Genesis 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.
CarolThis is the truth sent from above, by Christopher Robinson (b. 1955)
Lesson 2Genesis 22:15-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed.
Hymn78 – O little town of Bethlehem – FOREST GREEN
Lesson 3Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.
CarolVerbum caro factum est, by John Sheppard (c. 1515-1560)
Lesson 4Isaiah 11:1-4a, 6-9
The Peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.
CarolStars in Heaven, by Toby Young (b. 1990)
CarolThe Christ-child lay on Mary's lap, by John Bradleytext by G. K. Chesterton
Lesson 6Luke 2:1-7
Hymn96 – Angels we have heard on high – GLORIA
Lesson 7Luke 2:8-16
The shepherds go to the manger.
HymnRise up, shepherd -- arr. David Hurd (b. 1950)
Lesson 8Matthew 2:1-12
The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus.
CarolDing dong! Merrily on high — Anonymous (Sixteenth century French tune), arr. David Willcocks (b. 1919)
Lesson 9John 1:1-14
Saint John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
CarolTomorrow shall be my dancing day, from ‘Carol Symphony’, by James Bassi (b. 1961)
HymnsO come, all ye faithful – ADESTE FIDELES — Anonymous (Traditional)

 

87 – Hark! the herald angels sing – MENDELSSOHN
VoluntaryToccata-Gigue on the Sussex Carol, by George Baker (b. 1951)

Resources

Leaflet
Concerts at Saint Thomas 2022-2023 Brochure
2023 Annual Appeal Brochure
Saint Thomas Church Self-Guided Tour