~ St German’s Church, Adamsdown ~
CANDLELIT SERVICE
Nine Lessons and Carols
~ Cardiff Chamber Choir ~
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2024
16.30
Dear Friend,
Welcome to St German’s Church! I want to extend a very warm
welcome to you, whoever you are, whatever the shape of your life
and your story to this St German’s community, and to the life of this
holy place. For more than a century, this community has worshipped
the Triune God in Catholic Anglican ritual, most of which date back
to the very beginning of global Christian history. We have
endeavoured to serve Almighty God and the people of Adamsdown,
for over a 140 years in this sacred parish church and even longer in
the churches which stood here before it. With all those who came
before us, we share a love of Jesus Christ, liturgical spirituality,
thoughtful preaching, and a commitment to those most in need in our
beautifully diverse society. We are part of the Diocese of Llandaff
which belongs to the Church in Wales and Anglican Communion.
You may have come here today simply to look around, to learn more
about Christianity, to admire the physical beauty of this place, or to
participate in the worship that takes place here each week - you may
be down in the dumps, utterly full of joy or anywhere in between!
Know that, however you come, whatever has brought you to this
place, you are coming home to a place in which all are welcome
whatever your race, disability, class, sexuality, religion, gender,
economic background, language, family make up, appearance,
relationship status or age. St German’s is God’s house, and I firmly
believe that God’s love embraces all people without exclusion.
Welcome home, do feel free to take this booklet away with you, and
may God bless you and all those you love this Christmas!
Father Jarel Robinson-Brown, Vicar
Please stand, if you are able, when the bell rings, as the opening prayer is said. The solo
begins as the Choir and Sacred Ministers process to the High Altar.
Carol – Verse 1 Solo:
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his 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 through all his wondrous childhood
Day by day like us he grew,
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew:
And he feeleth for our sadness,
And he shareth in our gladness.
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 we see him: but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high,
Where like stars his children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.
~ Welcome and Bidding Prayer ~
The Reverend Canon Jarel Robinson-Brown, Vicar
~ The Lord’s Prayer ~
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The First Lesson: Genesis 3.8-15, 17-19
Read by Richard Davey
Parish Archivist and Chair of the Friends of St German
Carol
Of the Father's love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see
evermore and evermore.
At his word they were created;
he commanded; it was done:
heaven and earth and depths of ocean
in their threefold order one;
all that grows beneath the shining,
of the light of moon and sun,
evermore and evermore.
O that birth for ever blessèd,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bare the Saviour of our race,
and the babe, the world's Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore.
O ye heights of heaven adore him;
angel-hosts, his praises sing;
powers, dominions, bow before him,
and extol our God and King:
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore.
This is he whom seers and sages
sang of old with one accord;
whom the writings of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long-expected:
let creation praise its Lord,
evermore and evermore.
Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be,
honour, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore.
Please sit
The Second Lesson Genesis 22.15-18
Read by Heather Ralis, Parishioner
Carol
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep And dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the king,
And peace to men on earth;
For Christ is born of Mary;
And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him ,still
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell:
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
Poem ‘Refugee’ by Malcolm Guite read by
Louise Davies
Resident of Adamsdown
We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,
Or cosy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million displaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load.
Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower
Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,
The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,
And death squads spread their curse across the world.
But every Herod dies, and comes alone
To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.
The Third Lesson Isaiah 9.2-7 (French)
Read by Logan Clark, Parishioner and Choir Member
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who
lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. For a child
has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his
shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow
continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David
and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with
righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will do this.
Carol
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.
Silent night, holy night.
Shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven afar,
heav'nly hosts sing alleluia:
Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night.
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
~ The Cardiff Chamber Choir ~
Directed by Benjamin Teague sing ‘Bethlehem Down’
When He is King we will give him the King's gifts,
Myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
"Beautiful robes", said the young girl to Joseph
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.
Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight
Winds for the spices, and stars for the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
When He is King they will clothe Him in grave-sheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.
Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close-huddled oxen to keep Him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
Peter Warlock (1894–1930)
~ we blow out our candles as the low lights are lit ~
The Fourth Lesson Isaiah 11.1-4, 6-9
Read by Mrs Constantinou
Headteacher of Tredegarville CinW Primary School
Carol
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day,
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray:
Refrain:
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!
O tidings of comfort and joy!
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The son of God by name: [Refrain]
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray: [Refrain]
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other new embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth efface: [Refrain]
The Fifth Lesson Luke 1.26-35, 38 (Cymraeg)
Read by Claude Evans, Parishioner of St German’s
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he
came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with
you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what
sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid,
Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will
reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will
be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a
virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. Then Mary
said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according
to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Carol
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear: [Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave: [Refrain]
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark shadows put to flight: [Refrain]
O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery: [Refrain]
O come, O come, thou Lord of Might,
who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
in ancient times didst give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe: [Refrain]
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
The Sixth Lesson Luke 2.1-7
Read by Pupil of Tredegarville CinW Primary School
Carol
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The 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 bedside till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay
Close by me for ever, 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 Seventh Lesson Luke 2.8-16
Read by Frances Bolley, Parishioner
Carol
In the bleak midwinter
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 midwinter,
Long ago.
Our God, heav’n cannot hold him
Nor the earth sustain;
Heav’n and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and Seraphim
Thronged the air
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him
Give him, my heart.
The Eighth Lesson Matthew 2.1-12
Read by
Peter Lovitt, Churchwarden
Carol
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God,
Begotten, not created: [Refrain]
See how the Shepherds,
Summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps: [Refrain]
Lo! star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child
Bring our heart's oblations: [Refrain]
Sing, choirs of Angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the Highest: [Refrain]
Remain standing, if able, for the Ninth Lesson
The Ninth Lesson John 1.1-14
Read by Father Jarel, The Vicar
Carol
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled:
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem:
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel: [Refrain]
Hail the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings;
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth: [Refrain]
~ Blessing ~
The Vicar of Adamsdown
~ Please stay for Mulled Wine and Mince Pies at the back of
the Church after this service ~
Midnight Mass - 11.00pm on Christmas Eve
Christmas Day Mass - 11.00am on Christmas Day
~ Regular Services ~
Sunday
Solemn Sung Mass, 11.00 am
Tuesday
School Mass, 10.00am
Saints Days/Feast Days
Low Mass, 1.15pm
Follow Us on Social Media!
Instagram and X:
@StGermanCardiff
Facebook:
[Link]/StGermanCardiff
Website:
[Link]
Confession, Baptism, Weddings and Funerals by appointment with the Vicar:
fatherjarel@[Link] or 07300211640