Remembering Nine Lessons and Carols 

Sadly this year, COVID has had a big impact on our weekly services, in what we are able to do and not do, and now, it seems our Nine Lessons and Carols service has been cancelled.
So to help you feel a little less despondent, at the top of the page I've put up some information and history about this service, but also, if you continue to page or scroll further down, I have included the lessons, together with recordings of them, kindly read for us by members of our congregation, 
and thanks to Steve, I have included the Carols from previous services with the link to this page on the right, and our 
Vicar, Father Stephen has given us opening and closing pryers. 
I hope all of this together helps to make you all feel closer to the Christmas message.

The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Would have probably taken place on the 20th December

Our traditional service of nine lessons and carols is, for us at St Frances  one of the highlights of the year, the coming together of friends and family, the singing of beloved carols and the beautiful message within the gospel lessons, oh and let’s not forget a glass of mulled wine after the service.

However, this year, it is not to be, so I am hoping that giving you a bit of history and including the 9 Lessons will, I hope bring some familiarity into your lives.
Ruth  

The origins of this service can be attributed to Truro Cathedral, up until the late 19th Century, the singing of Christmas carols was normally performed by singers visiting people’s houses, the carols were at this point not considered religious in their content and were excluded from church worship.
We now arrive at the Victorian era, the rising popularity of singing composed hymns encouraged by
church musicians to introduce carols into the worship.

A book of carols, called Carols for use in church during Christmas and Epiphany (catchy title) by a Richard Chope and Rev Sabine Baring-Gould,  was an influential publication at this time.

As a byline, I might add Rev Sabine was an Anglican Priest from Devon, however, claim to fame here for me is, he wrote “Onward Christian Solders” and translated Gabriel’s message into English.

Around the same time the composer and organist John Stainer was gathering a collection of old and new Christmas carols, and at Christmas in 1878 he introduced carols into the service of choral evensong at St Pauls Cathedral.  Other Cathedrals began to copy the idea of carols at Christmas, and the same year, the Royal Cornwall
Gazette reported that the choir of Truro Cathedral would sing a
service of carols at 10:00 pm on Christmas Eve.

Its report in the paper went with 
“The Choir of the Cathedral will sing a number of carols in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, the service commencing at 10pm. We understand that this is the wish of many of the leading parishioners. A service like this has been instituted in other cathedrals and large towns and has been warmly welcomed. It is the intention of the choir to no longer continue to sing carols at the residences of members of the congregation” 

Two years later, 1880 Rev Edward White Benson, at that time the Bishop of Truro conducted the first formal service of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve.

Rev Benson concerned at the amount of alcohol consumed in Cornish pubs at this time, sought a means to enticing revelers out of the pubs and into the church by the means of offering religious celebration of Christmas, the idea of the music interspersed with bible readings was proposed by a Rev George Walpole, and thus the first Nine lessons and Carols service took place at 10;00 pm on Christmas Eve 

The Son of Rev Edward Benson (A.C.Benson) later recalled that his father arranged this little service for Christmas Eve, nine carols and nine tiny lessons, they were read by various members of the congregation, beginning with a chorister and ending through different grades with the bishops himself.

Rev A.C. Bishop (worth mentioning here wrote the words to Land of Hope and Glory) was appointed to be Archbishop of Canterbury in 1883 and from then on the Nine Lessons service began to gain popularity across the Church of England and Anglican Community and now has been adapted and used by churches all over the world.

This now roughly brings us up to date with a more modern tradition.

In 1918 Rev Eric Milner-White, the new dean of Kings Collage Cambridge, introduced the service to the collage chapel, taking full advantage of the long-established choral tradition of the Kings Collage Chapel Choir.  It proved very successful and so began an annual tradition, be it with some alterations to the original format. 

The BBC became involved, and from 1928 began to broadcast on the radio and then on to the telly from 1954 establishing “Carols from Kings” which has gone on to become a widely recognised presentation of this service.  Presently each year a programme entitled Carols from Kings is Pre-recorded in early or mid-December then shown on Christmas Eve on BBC2 or BBC4, with millions worldwide who listen on the BBC World service.

So now you know, this service has come a long way from humble beginnings.

I began by saying that this service is a highlight of our year, we’ve always looked forward to welcoming you, new and old to our service, we always enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, saying hello to friends and family, a beloved tradition here at St Francis, and we hope and pray that we will able resume and share with one another this tradition next year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hello I’m Fr. Stephen, Vicar here at  St Francis, and I would like to warmly welcome you to this our virtual service of Nine Lesson and Carols. 

2020 has been a grim year for many, and the usual Christmas celebrations we look forward to may well be very different this year. But nothing can fundamentally change the message of hope which is Christmas; that God himself entered into all the joys, trials  and sufferings of being a human being to show us how to live, what our true destiny is, and to be alongside us on the journey, in the bad times as well as the good. The joy that comes from knowing and trusting in that can never be destroyed by COVID or anything else.

Opening prayer
Let us pray

God of glory, with the Shepherds we kneel in adoration before the wonder of your saving love in Christ Jesus. May we too leave rejoicing at your amazing Grace. 
Amen 

Lesson 1 
God announces in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpents head.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So, he said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”  And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? ‘Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So, the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

Read by David Sayburn

Lesson 2
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed.

Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son - blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Read by Terri Hull

Lesson 3
Christ’s Birth and Kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before you according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For you have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle and garments rolled in blood will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgement and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Read by Philip Willis

Lesson 4
The peace that Christ will bring us is foreshown.

There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.

Read by Claire Davis

Lesson 5
The Angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. “And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Read by Jasmine Ince

Lesson 6
St Matthew tells of the Birth of Jesus.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Read by Pauline Payne

Lesson 7
The Shepherds go to the Manger.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Read by Olivia Fenlon

Lesson 8
The Wise Men are led by the star to Jesus.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him; gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Read by John Long

Lesson 9
St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Thanks be to God

Read by Fr Bob Wallace

Closing Prayer
We hope you have enjoyed this service. Sadly, due to social distancing, attendance at most of our other Christmas services has to be pre-booked this year, but we look forward to welcoming  as many of you as we can in church, and all our services will also be live-streamed on line. Please see our website for details. It remains only for me to pronounce a solemn blessing and wish you all a very joyful Christmas.

 May the God of infinite goodness, who by the Incarnation of his Son has driven darkness from the world and by that glorious Birth has illumined this most holy season, drive far from you the darkness of vice and illumine your hearts with the light of virtue.
 Amen

May God, who willed that the great joy of his Son’s saving Birth be announced to shepherds by the Angel, fill your minds with the gladness he gives and make you heralds of his Gospel
 Amen

And may God, who by the Incarnation brought together the earthly and heavenly realm, fill you with the gift of his peace and favour and make you sharers with the Church in heaven.
Amen

And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, † and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.
Amen