CHRISTMAS 2020

OUTDOOR CAROL SERVICE

7:00pm Wednesday 23rd December
St John's Church Hall Car Park, Hewlett St PR7 5AB

We will be holding a socially-distanced, outdoor carol service, in line with government and Church of England guidelines, at 7:00pm on Wednesday 23rd December, in the car park of St John's Church Hall (Hewlett Street PR7 5AB).

Here's what you need to know:

• Dress to be warm and dry. We cannot guarantee the weather! Water-resistant footwear would be good, as shallow but wide puddles canform on the car park, and remain for a long time after it stops raining.

• Do not come if you have Covid-19, symptoms of Covid-19, or suspect you may have Covid-19.

• Please try to come on foot if you are able. We will be using the lines on the car park for our social distancing, as the lines are just over 2 metres apart. Don't let parking put you off coming, but please consider leaving parking for those who really need it.

• Please sit or stand where directed by a steward. You can sit or stand along a line with your household group or support bubble. Individuals or smaller groups may be asked to sit or stand 2 metres apart at either end of a line.

• There is plenty of street-lighting around, and we will put up some extra festive lighting, but you might like to consider bringing a torch or a glowstick, or using the light on your phone.

• Lyric sheets will be available, but to minimise transmission risk, please consider printing your own and bringing it with you, or read the words off your phone or tablet. The words of the carols we'll be singing are in the pdf above, and in the text below.

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1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

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,

O come, let us adore him…

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:

"Glory to God, in the highest!"

O come, let us adore him…

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2 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 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.

3 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, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;

heaven 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 his mother only, in her maiden bliss,

worshiped 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 can I give him: give my heart.

4 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 tonight.

O morning stars together

Proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King,

And Peace to all 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 e.nter in;

Be born to us today

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell:

O come to us, abide with us

Our Lord Emmanuel.

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5 Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright.

Round the Virgin  Mother and Child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.           

Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quail at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar

Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,

Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born!

Silent night, holy night! Son of God, Love’s pure light.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

6 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 side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee 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.

7 While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down

and glory shone around.

“Fear not,” said he – for mighty dread

had seized their troubled minds –

“Glad tidings of great joy I bring

to you and all mankind:

“To you in David’s town this day

is born of David’s line

a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be the sign:

“The heavenly babe you there shall find

to human view displayed,

all meanly wrapped in swaddling bands

and in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

appeared a shining throng

of angels praising God, who thus

addressed their joyful song:

“All glory be to God on high,

and to the earth be peace;

goodwill henceforth from heaven to men

begin and never cease!”

8 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 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.

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 to all He brings,

Ris'n 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.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King!”

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