Notes on the Notes – December 24, 2016

Family Communion Service 5:30 p.m.

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (VU #60)

“Light of the World”

“The world waits for the miracle.
The heart longs for a little bit of hope.
Oh, come. Oh come, Emmanuel…

And can you hear the angels singing?

Glory to the light of the world.
It is here…

For all who wait.
For all who hunger.
For all who’ve prayed.
For all who wonder.

Behold your King.
Behold Messiah.
Emmanuel, Emmanuel.”

This song of longing and expectation was written by Lauren Daigle, Paul Duncan and Paul Mabury and arranged by Dan Galbraith.

“Away in a Manger” (VU #69)

“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky look 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 you, 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 your tender care
And fit us for heaven to live with you there.“

This traditional children’s carol is an anonymous text which seems to have come from the German Lutheran community in Pennsylvania.  The tune CRADLE SONG was published in an American collection of Christmas songs entitled Around the World with Christmas (1895).

Hear the song on harp at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rYc-XTYib4o

Hear the song on the piano at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vtW9TLjiPNs

“Adore”

“Angels We Have Heard on High” (VU #38) 1-3

Angels we have heard on high sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains.  Gloria, in excelsis Deo!…

Many years ago shepherds in the hills of southern France had a Christmas Eve  custom of calling to one another, singing “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” each from his own hillside. The traditional tune that the shepherds used may have been from a late Medieval Latin chorale. It became the magnificent chorus of “Angels We Have Heard on High.”

See the boys choir Liberia perform at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7MTjm6UYYA

If you’ve ever wondered how it was traditionally played on carillon, watch at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=samx54hLfLM

“Come, Let us Adore Him”

“Come, let us adore Him,
Emmanuel, God with us.
Come, come and behold Him,
Born this day in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world.

Heralded by the prophets of old; they had foretold this day would come.
A virgin conceives and bears a Son, the Light of the World,
The Chosen One.
Wonderful Counselor, mighty God,
The everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!

O come, let us adore Him;
Christ the Lord.”

This upbeat Christmas song was written by Gary Hallquist and arranged by Mary McDonald (2015).   Along with original material, the song also incorporates a little of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and invites all to come and worship at this special time.

“The First Nowell” (Vs 2, 3, 5)

“They looked up and saw a star, shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those wise men three, full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell, born is the King of Israel.”

This traditional text likely dates from the 17th century or earlier.  It was published in 1823 in a book of old English carols.  The tune, a traditional West Country melody, may be a fragment of an older English carol melody.  To learn more about the history of the carol, go to: http://angels.about.com/od/AngelSongs/p/The-First-Noel-Christmas-Song.htm

Watch Celtic Woman at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bts7ndhPw4

Watch Jacki Evancho at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm6yI1OrbzM

Hear Andy Williams at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kXEoqzC2RA

“A Sung Communion Liturgy for Christmas Eve”

“Lift up your hearts unto the Lord. Sing unto God your praises.
We gather on this holy night. We gather at this table.
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, hast to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary…”

This sung communion liturgy is adapted from Beth Quick and is sung to the melody GREENSLEEVES.

“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…”

To learn about the history of this famous carol, visit http://www.stillenacht.at/en/origin_song.asp

To watch a vintage video about the carol, go to:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9N4lTJb6gU

Candlelight Communion Service 9:00 p.m.

“Joy to the World” (VU #59)

“Joy to the world!  the Lord is come; let earth receive her King!  Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.

 He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love.”

 This text is a paraphrase of Psalm 88:4-9.  It was written by Isaac Watts and first published in his Psalms of David in 1719.

 Enjoy this carol by:

George Fox University Music department:   https://youtu.be/6oOwa0CWVVQ

 Hillsong at: https://youtu.be/cnsk7iXFCtY

 Boys’ choir “Libera” at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IH8A86FLs0

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” (VU #1)

“Come, See”

“Come, see the star that is shining so bright,
Flooding the earth with its glorious light!
Spreading the message far and near,
‘Jesus, our Emmanuel, is here!’

Come, see, come, see Jesus.
Come, see, come, see the Lord.
Shepherds and kings bow to greet Him.
Jesus, the Saviour, is born. Come, see.

Come, see the sky that is still all aglow;
Angels sang to the shepherds below.
‘Peace on earth, good will to men!
The Saviour is sleeping in Bethlehem.’

Come, see the stall where the cattle are fed;
There, He sleeps on a manger bed.
Spread the message far and near
‘Jesus, our Emmanuel, is here!’

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky look down where He lay;
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Come, see, come, see Jesus!
Come, see, come, see the Lord!
Shepherds and kings bow to greet Him.
Jesus, the Saviour, is born.
Come, see!
Come, see!

This gentle anthem is by Ruth Elaine Schram. It’s lyrics encourage us to take the final step of our Advent journey, and to “Come, see.”

“O Holy Night”

“O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees.
Oh hear the angel voices.
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born.
Oh night, O holy night. O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

He knows our need,
Our weakness is no stranger!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord,
Oh, praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

“O Holy Night” is famous for being the first Christmas song ever played live over the radio. In 1906 Reginald Fessenden ( a former employee and lab technician for Thomas Edison) transmitted a short broadcast from the Brant Rock radio tower. This broadcast included Fessenden himself reading verses from the gospel of Luke and with him playing the violin to O Holy Night while singing the last verse, live. Thus giving this Christmas Carol the honor of the first Christmas song ever played across the radio. From the Brant Rock radio tower the Christmas Eve broadcast was heard as far away as Norfolk, Virginia. A re-broadcast on New Year’s Eve allowed the song to be heard as far away as the West-Indies.

To learn more about the history of the carol, go to: http://christmascarols.us/history/o_holy_night.aspx

“Angels We Have Heard on High”– please see early service above

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” – please see early service above

“Angels from the Realms of Glory”

“Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.”

We will be using the refrain of this carol as a response during the communion liturgy.  ‘Angels From the Realms of Glory’ began as a poem rather than a song. Lyricist James Montgomery said he felt inspired to write the words to it quickly on December 24, 1816 after reading the Bible’s account of the first Christmas. The words flowed easily as Montgomery reflected on the angels’ announcement of Jesus Christ’s birth. That evening (Christmas Eve), he published the words as a poem in the newspaper he owned in London, England, The Sheffield Iris.

Much later, in 1867, composer and organist Henry Smart set Montgomery’s words to music that he had previously written for a song he called ‘REGENT SQUARE’ (named after Regent Square Presbyterian Church in London, England) and named the new song ‘Angels From the Realms of Glory’.

“Silent Night” – please see early service above