Christmas at the Cathedral, December 2024

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence by Timothy

Jon Tharaldson

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand;

ponder nothing earthly minded,

for with blessing in his hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

in the body and the blood,

he will give to all the faithful

his own flesh for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

Spreads its vanguard on the way,

as the Light of light descendeth

from the reals of endless day,

that the pow’rs of hell may vanish

as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;

cherubim, with sleepless eye,

veil their faces to the presence,

as with ceaseless voice they cry.

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lord Most High”

Alleluia, alleluia!”

Christ The Appletree by Stranford Scriven

The tree of life my soul hath seen,

Laden with fruit and always green:

The trees of nature fruitless be

Compared with Christ the apple tree.

This beauty doth all things excel:

By faith I know, but ne'er can tell

The glory which I now can see

In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought,

And pleasure dearly I have bought:

I missed of all; but now I see

'Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive,

It keeps my dying faith alive;

Which makes my soul in haste to be

With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

O Radiant Dawn by James MacMillan

O Radiant Dawn, Splendour of eternal Light, Sun of

Justice:

Come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the

shadow of death.

Isaiah had prophesied,

The people who walked in darkness have seen the great

light upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light

has shone.

Amen.

Gabriel’s Message by Jim Clement

The angel Gabriel from heaven came

His wings as drifted snow

His eyes as flame

"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary

Most highly favored lady, " Gloria, Gloria

"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be

All generations laud and honor thee

Thy Son shall be Emanuel

By seers foretold

Most highly favored maid, " Gloria, Gloria

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head

"To me be as it pleaseth God, " she said,

"My soul shall laud and magnify His holy name."

Most highly favored lady, Gloria, Gloria

There Shall a Star by Mendelssohn

There shall a Star from Jacob come forth

and a scepter from Israel rise up,

And dash in pieces princes and nations.

How brightly shines the Morning Star

with radiance gleaming from afar,

with light and comfort glowing!

Thy Word, Jesus, inlay feeds us,

Truly leads us, Life bestowing.

Praise, oh praise, such love o’er flowing.

Away in a Manger arr. Peter Latona

Away in a manger

No crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus

Laid down His sweet headThe stars in the bright sky

Looked down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing

The Baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side

Until morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus

I ask You to stay

Close by me forever

And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And fit us for heaven

To live with Thee there

The Friendly Beasts arr. by Robert Scholz

Jesus our brother kind and good,

Was humbly born in a stable rude.

And the friendly beasts around him stood.

Jesus our brother kind and good.

“I,” said the donkey, all shaggy and brown.

“I carried His mother uphill and down.

I carried her safely to Bethlehem town.”

“I,” said the donkey all shaggy and brown.

“I,” said the cow, all white and red.

“I gave Him my manger, for a bed.

I gave Him my hay to pillow His head.”

“I,” said the cow, all white and red.

“I,” said the sheep with the curly horn

I gave Him my wool for his blanket warm.

He wore my coat on Christmas morn.”

“I,” said the sheep with the curly horn.

“I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

Cooed him to sleep so he should not cry.

We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I.”

“I,” said the dove from the rafters high.

Thus every beast by some good spell

In the stable dark was glad to tell

Of the gift ‘twas giv’n Emmanuel.

The gift ‘twas giv’n Emmanuel, Emmanuel.

The Little Drummer Boy arr. K.K. Davis

Come, they told me, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

Our newborn King to see, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

Our finest gifts we’ll bring, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

To lay before the King, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum,

ra-pa-pum-pum, ra-pa-pum-pum.

So to honour Him, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

When we come.

Baby Jesus Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

I am a poor boy too Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

I have no gift to bring, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

That’s fit to give our King, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

ra-pa-pum-pum, ra-pa-pum-pum .

Shall I play for you, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

On my drum?

Mary nodded, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

The ox and ass kept time, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

I played my drum for Him, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

I played my best for Him, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

ra-pa-pum-pum, ra-pa-pum-pum .

Then He smiled at me, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum,

Me and my drum, Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum

Love’s Pure Light by Elaine Hagenberg

Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and milk,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep, sleep in heavenly peace;

Silent night, holy night,

Son of God, Love’s pure light,

Son of God, Love’s pure light,

Son of God, Love’s pure light,

Love’s pure light.

A Star in the East by Gwyneth Walker

Bring A Torch, Janette Isabella

Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella,

Bring a torch, to the cradle run!

It is Jesus, good folk of the village;

Christ is born and Mary's calling;

Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother!

Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son

Ah! Que la mere est belle!

Quiet, all don’t waken the baby;

Quiet, all, and whisper low.

Silence as you gather around him,

Lest your noise awaken Jesus.

Hush! hush! Quietly now he slumbers;

Hush! hush! Quietly now he sleeps!

Voyez comme il dort!Softly to the little stable,

Softly for a moment come;

Look and see how sweet is Jesus,

See how he smiles! With cheeks so rosy!

Hush! hush! Quietly now he slumbers;

Hush! hush! Quietly now he sleeps!

Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother

Ah! Ah! beautiful is her Son

Que l’enfant est beau!

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan.

Earth stood hard as iron.

Water like a stone.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow.

In the bleak mid-winter, long ago

Heaven cannot hold Him

Nor can earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign.

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

Lord God Almighty,

Our Savior Jesus Christ

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there.

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the evening air,

But his mother only,

In her maiden bliss,

Worshiped the Beloved

With a tender kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd,

I would give a lamb,

If I were a wise man,

I would do my part,

But what can I give Him.

I would give my heart.

Sing-A-Long

A Christmas Festival by LeRoy Anderson

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Deck the Halls

Deck the hall with boughs of holly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

'Tis the season to be jolly

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now our gay apparel

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Fa la la la la, la la la la

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's pow'r

When we were gone astray

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With angelic hosts proclaim,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”

Silent Night

Silent Night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child

Holy Infant so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh

O'er the fields we go

Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtails ring

Making spirits bright

What fun it is to ride and sing

A sleighing song tonight.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh, hey

Jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh

O Come All Ye Faithful

Glory to God; Glory in the highest!

Oh come let us adore Him, Oh come let us adore Him,

Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.