4th Sunday of Advent

24 December 2017

Entrance	Longing, trusting (mtgf)
Penitential Rite	Kyrie Salve (mtgf)
Psalm 88	I will sing for ever (mtgf)
Gospel Acclamation	Helmsley Alleluia (mtgf)
Preparation of Gifts	O child of promise (Andrew Maries)
Eucharistic Acclamations	Comfort and Joy (mtgf)
Lamb of God	Advent (mtgf)
Communion Antiphon	Behold, a Virgin (mtgf)
Communion	O holy Mary (Owen Alstott)
Final	O come, O come Emmanuel

At the back of my mind for a number of years has been how can we further mark Christmas as a season musically, i.e. by having settings specific to it. We usually sing the Mass of Creation Eucharistic Acclamations from September until the beginning of January. As I have noted before this allows it to be 'embedded' as a common setting. However in the middle of December I saw how a carol we rarely sing God rest you merry gentlemen, but remains well known, could provide the basis for a set of Acclamations. I decide to introduce them on the 4th Sunday, given its proximity to Christmas this year, as they could be briefly introduced before Mass which I would be less inclined to do before Midnight - and it meant that those who came to both would have a head start. Though part of the reason for the setting is that people may feel they know them even if they have never sung them before. I do wonder about the tastefulness of such endeavours and I am sure that there are places where it would not work. However the setting is very much based on rather than the liturgical text adapted to the pre-exiting tune. The setting also received more than usual positive comments, it did enable participation and it puts a smile on people's faces