Author: Catherine Flanagan

Carol Service 2016

Name of School

Welcomes you to our Service of
Carols & Readings for Advent & Christmas

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him
Matthew 2:9—12

Name of School
We extend a warm welcome to all gathered for our
Service of Carols & Readings for Advent & Christmas.
The theme for our Carol Service this year is
Faith in Jesus.
Please join us in the singing.
We will have a round of applause at the end for all who
have contributed to this event.
Faith in Jesus

Introduction:
The theme for our Service this evening is “Faith in Jesus”. (A brief introduction will be read by R.E. Coordinator/Chaplain’s name.)
Once in Royal David’s City (Gauntlett/Alexander)
Soloist:
Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby in a manger for a bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all.
And His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean and lowly, lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love.
For that child so dear and gentle, is our Lord in heaven above.
And He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crowned, all in white shall wait around.

1. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
Each country has its own customs associated with Christmas. In Ireland it is the custom to place a lighted candle by a window on Christmas night, as a sign of welcome to the Holy Family. In the winter of 1223, Francis of Assisi was staying at a small friary in Greccio, Northern Italy. A rich man living nearby offered the friars any gift they wished at Christmas. Francis said:
“I want to spend Christmas with you. Up in the rocks you have a cave. There prepare a crib full of hay; bring an ox and a donkey. I want to feel and see with my own eyes how much the Son of God wanted to poor, when He was born out of love of us.”
And so that year, all the friars and the local people gathered together at the now famous cave of Greccio. The singing of carols is also very much a part of popular Christmas tradition. St. Francis did much to propagate this form of popular celebration. However, carol-singing as we know it today, is very much a product of the early nineteen century revival. The most popular of these, Stille Nacht (Silent night) was sung for the first time in the parish church of Oberdorf in Austria at midnight Mass Christmas 1818.
Joy to the World (Watts/Mason arr. Rutter)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Vaughan-Williams/Brooks) Soloists: Student names

2. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
It is written in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah: “Look, I am going to send my messenger before you, he will prepare the way. A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. And so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:2-4)
Before Christmas is always a time of preparation, buying presents, baking cakes, visiting friends. It is also a time when we prepare for the coming of Christ. It is a happy season, a time of hope, but it is also a time of asking questions of ourselves:
What is the meaning of God’s presence in my life? How can I live as God wants me to live? How am I preparing for the coming of the Lord?
God our Father, help us to feel all the happiness your Son brings and to celebrate His coming with joy. Amen.
Christmas Lullaby (Rutter) (Rutter)

3. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, “Rejoice so highly favoured, the Lord is with you. Listen, you are to conceive and bear a son and you must name him Jesus.” “I am the handmaid of the Lord” said Mary, “Let what you have said be done to me.”
Mary was a young woman, she was special. God chose her from among all people to be the mother of Jesus. We often think of Mary as very different in contrast to ourselves, yet it is the same God who loves Mary and who loves us. God asked Mary the question: “Will you bring Christ into the world?” Mary answered with a definite yes. Today we are faced with the same question. How well are we answering? Do we recognise God’s voice in our lives?
God, help us to be open, like Mary, to your presence in our lives. Amen.
Silent Night (Franz Gruber)
Away in a Manger (Kenley)
Soloist: Student Name

4. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
Oíche Nollag
Le coinnle na n-aingeal tá an spéir amuigh breactha,
Tá fiacail antseaca so ghaoith ón gcnoc,
Adaigh an tine is téir chun na leapa:
Luífidh Mac Dé ins an tigh seo anocht.
Fágaidh an doras ar leathadh ina coinne,
An Mhaighdean a thiocfaidh is a Naí ar a huct,
Deonaigh do shuaimhneas a ligean, a Mhuire,
Luíodh Mac Dé ins an tigh seo anocht.
Bhí soilse ar lasadh I dtigh sin na haíochta,
Cóiriú gan chaoile, bia agus deoch,
Do cheannaithe olla, do cheannaithe síoda,
Ach luífidh Mac Dé ins a tigh seo anocht.
Máire Mhac an tSaoi
The Angel’s Carol (Rutter)
Soloists: Enter names

5. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
The Messiah is Among Us.
For years, the old monk had lived alone in the woods near the monastery. Often the other monks wanted to hear from this wise, old man who in his youth had held a reputation as a great teacher. However, they respected his desire to live alone and to keep his thoughts to himself. Then one evening after a bitterly cold spell, one of the monks was sent to him to inquire about provisions. When he arrived at the small hermitage, the monk found his colleague cheerful and welcoming. He was invited to join the older monk in having a cup of tea. After sitting in silence for some time, the younger monk risked asking the elder, “In the monastery all of us wonder what truth, what knowledge you have gained from your years in solitude with God. If there was one message that you would share with the other monks, what would it be?”
The old monk replied quickly and starkly, “The Messiah is among you.” the younger monk thanked him and returned to the monastery. He gathered the other monks in the chapel and told them the message he had received: “The Messiah is among us.” All the monks looked upon their wise old brother with great reverence, so they treated his message very seriously. What could he mean? Could it be Brother Jerome, who took such loving care of the books in the library? Or Brother Timothy, who spent so much time caring for the animals?
Each monk pondered the old man’s message and realised that any one of them could be the Messiah! From that day on, every monk treated each of his brother monks as if he were the Messiah. People who visited the monastery marvelled at the aura of holiness that emanated from this community.
The Wexford Carol (Traditional)
Soloist: Student name

6. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
Father in Heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. Heavenly Father, give light to our eyes and peace to our hearts. May we bring light and love to all we meet this Christmas.
Ring Christmas Bells (Leontovych/Wilhousky)
3rd & 6th Year Music Students
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn/Wesley)
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 th’angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.
Christ, by highest heav’n adorned, Christ the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the God-head see, hail th’incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! The herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life of all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings;
Mild he lays his glory by, born that man may no more die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing Glory to the newborn King.

7. Reading (Read by: Enter Student Name)
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never set foot beyond his own country. He never did the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself…
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the humiliation and mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon across between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth—His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed tomb through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centrepiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all of the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this one solitary life.
James A. Francis Oh Holy Night (Adolphe Adam)
Soloist: Student Name
Please stand for a Blessing from (Enter celebrant’s name)

Christmas Songs
When Christmas Comes to Town (Hall/Moore - Polar Express)
Soloists: Student names
Winter Song (Bareilles/Michaelson)
5th Year Music Class with (student name) on guitar
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Martin/Blane)
Soloists: Students names
White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
Sixth Year Music Students
It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas (Johnny Mathis)
Sixth Year Music Students
The Snowman (Blake/Hare)
All I Want for Christmas (Mariah Carey)
Soloists: Students names with (student name) on drums

Happy Christmas
2016
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