24 December - Christmas Eve

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

I'm posting these a couple of days later, but better late than never, right? Besides, I have a good excuse: I was travelling. :)

I have three lists for your perusal.

Carol Woods. Services there are organised by Chapel of the Cross. This service resembles the 8.00 am summer morning Rite I services at Chapel of the Cross, with a few omissions, depending upon the Presider of the Day. Numbers are out of the Hymnal 1982.

Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Prelude: O Magnum Mysterium (T.L. de Victoria)
Processional: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Sequence: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN)
Offertory: 115, What child is this (GREENSLEEVES)
Communion: 111, Silent night, holy night (STILLE NACHT)
Recessional: 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Vom Himmel Hoch (J.G. Walther; F. Zachau)

It is always a pleasure playing for Carol Woods. It's very gratifying to know that what I do at these service makes a difference for the people. It was also very nice to see a lot of people at this service.

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St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played the 5.30 pm Christmas Eve service. The service was preceded by a 20 minute carol service.

Christmas Eve: Holy Eucharist Rite II
A Prelude of Christmas Music:

• Once in royal David's city (IRBY, arr. D. Willcocks)
• Wonder, Love and Praise 724, People, look East. The time is near (BESANÇON CAROL)
• 112, In the bleak mid-winter (CRANHAM)
• Motet: Carol of the Manger (M. Wilson)
• 81, Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming (ES IST EIN ROS)
• 106, Christians, awake, salute the happy morn, vs 1-3 (YORKSHIRE)
• 105, God rest you merry, gentlemen, vs 1, 4 (GOD REST YOU MERRY)

Processional: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Hymn of Praise: 96, Angels we have heard on high (GLORIA)
Psalm: Psalm 96 (Simplified Anglican Chant)
Sequence: 80, From heaven above to earth I come (VOM HIMMEL HOCH)
Offertory: How Sweet is Love (M. Paget)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion Hymns: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN); 111, Silent night, holy night (STILLE NACHT)
Recessional: 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Wir Christenleut' (J. G. Walther)

We're doing something different this year: during Christmastide (which will include next week, Feast of the Holy Name), we're doing, in lieu of the Gloria, the carol, Angels we have heard on high. I guess it's not unusual; when I had subbed at St. Philip's on Christmas Day a couple of years ago, they also used this carol in lieu of the Gloria. I guess it's an Episcopal thing.

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Service #3 was the 11.00 pm Christ Mass at the Chapel of the Cross. As usual - it was a glorious service, a High Mass, complete with smells and bells. Oh, and music. Lots and lots of music.

Christ Mass: Holy Eucharist Rite I
Organ and Choral Voluntaries

• In dulci jubilo (BWV 729; J. S. Bach)
• Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein (most likely BWV 734; Bach)
• Choral Anthem: Ding Dong! Merrily on high (G. R. Woodward/C. Wood)
• Noël, Grand Jeu et Duo (L. C. D'Aquin)
• Choral Anthem: The Infant King (S. Baring-Gould; arr. D. Willcocks)
• La Nativité: La Crèche; Les Anges; Les Bergers; La Sainte Famille (J. Langlais)
• Choral Motet: O magnum mysterium (T. Luis de Victoria)

Processional: 83, O come, all ye faithful (ADESTE FIDELES)
Gloria: S-203 (Missa Marialis; Mode 8, adapted by W. Douglas)
Psalm: Psalm 98 (Ford; Plainchant Mode 7)
Sequence: 91, Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light (ERMUNTRE DICH)
Offertory: Motet: Hodie Christus natus est (F. Poulenc)
Sanctus: S-114 (Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena; H. Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Communion Hymns: 79, O little town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN); 101, Away in a manger (CRADLE SONG); 96, Angels we have heard on high (GLORIA); 111, Silent night, holy night (STILLE NACHT)
Recessional: 87, Hark the herald angels sing (MENDELSSOHN); 100, Joy to the World (ANTIOCH)
Postlude: Toccata (from Symphonie V; C.-M. Widor)

It was heaps of fun singing with the Senior Choir once again, and it was wonderful being with choristers whom I haven't seen on a regular basis. Considering all that Chapel of the Cross has done for me, I'm more than happy to help out whenever I can.

So again: a very Happy Christmas to everyone.