Carols by Candlelight

12 December 2017

Part 1 - Prepare a way for the Lord

Entrance	Yonder come day (Georgia Sea Islands Spiritual)
	Soon and very soon (Crouch)
Opening Responses
Reading	Isaiah 40:1–5 The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel to prepare a way for the Lord
Choir	Zion hears the watchmen's voices (J S Bach)
Hymn	O come, O come Emmanuel

Part 2 - Behold the virgin will conceive

Reading	Luke 1: 26-38 St Luke tells of the Incarnation of Jesus
Choir	No wind at the window (Irish/Bell)
Carol	The angel Gabriel

Part 2 - He shall speak peace

Reading	Micah 5:1-4 The prophet Micah looks forward to the coming reign of peace
Choir	Dona nobis pacem (round)
Carol	O little town of Bethlehem

Part 4 - Today is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord

Reading	Luke 2:1-14 St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus
Choir	Gaudete (Piae Cantiones)
Carol	Silent Night

Part 5 - The Word was made flesh and lived among us

Reading	1 John 1:1–4 St John reflects on the Incarnation
Choir	Verbum caro (Rihards Dubra)
Reflection
Intercessions
Lord's Prayer & Blessing
Carol	Joy to the world

Feedback from last year's Carol Service was that it could have been longer. So a fifth section was added to the service. Even my singers are aware, as readers of this blog must be, that I believe in recycling. So often pieces are chosen, particularly for the students which can be used used again. Not only does this make sense in terms of rehearsal but also means that thy can have a second go at it. So considering a new section the starting point was 'what have we got' - we had sung the traditional round of Dona nobis pacem on Remembrance Day and looking at the various Advent readings there was a connection between Bethlehem and peace in Micah. The one question was order. Instead of a scriptural order (OT before NT) I went for a musical order in that I think it would have been odd to have sung O little town before the Annunciation.