Order of Service
Welcome
God has been worshipped in this place through the prayers and praises of countless generations. Worship lies at the heart of our life as Christians and we express our theology and belief through our liturgy. It is through these liturgical patterns of words and actions that we are formed and transformed.
Should you wish to translate this order of service into another language, please choose your language in the bottom right. There is a guest wireless network available within the Cathedral for those without a mobile data connection.
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What is Carols for All?
Now whilst all are welcome to join us in our worship, we might not keep the attention of some of our youngest attendees, so if a little distraction is needed, there are crayons at the front desk for parents to borrow and colouring in on the outer pages of the order of service. Please return the crayons on your way out for others to use.
You are invited to say the text in bold in English.
Please stand to sing the
Hymn
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:
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.
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the highest.
Words, Adeste Fideles
Melody, John Francis Wade (1711-86)
Arrangement, David Willcocks (1919-2015)
The Ministers prays
The Bidding Prayer
We have come together as the family of God, in our Father’s presence, to celebrate the great festival of Christmas. In this service we hear and receive the good news of the birth of Christ and we offer to God our thanksgiving in the joyful singing of carols. As we gather together in the name of Christ, we pray for the world he came to save: for the Church, that she may be enabled in our generation to surrender anew to God’s holy Wisdom, and bear the good news of God’s love to a needy world; for the world, which is already Christ’s, that all its peoples may recognize their responsibility for its future, and may be inspired by the message of Christmas to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace everywhere; for all in special need, the sick, the anxious, the lonely, the fearful and the bereaved, that the peace and light of the Christ-child may bring hope and healing to all who sit in darkness. We commend all whom we love, or who have asked for our prayers, to the unfailing mercy of our heavenly Father, and say together, as Christ himself taught us:
All say
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.
Please sit for
The Anthem
I saw three ships come sailing in on Christmas day in the morning. And what was in those ships all three? Our Saviour Christ and his Lady. O they sailed in to Bethlehem. And all the bells on earth shall ring. And all the angels in heaven shall sing. And all the souls on earth shall sing. Then let us all rejoice a-main.
Traditional English Carol, arr. Stuart Nicholson (2018)
Please remain seated for
The First Lesson
Isaiah 9: 2, 6
Read by a member of the Cathedral Choir.
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.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, you lead us in heart and mind to adore Christ the Lord;
Join our voices to adore him with all the citizens of heaven.
The Choir sings
The Anthem
Little Lamb who made thee Little Lamb I’ll tell thee,
dost thou know who made thee little Lamb I’ll tell thee!
gave thee life & bid thee feed. He is called by thy name,
By the stream & o’er the mead; for he calls himself a Lamb:
Gave thee clothing of delight, He is meek & he is mild,
softest clothing woolly bright; He became a little child:
Gave thee such a tender voice, I a child & thou a lamb,
making all the vales rejoice! we are called by his name.
Little Lamb who made thee Little Lamb God bless thee.
dost thou know who made thee. Little Lamb God bless thee.
Words, William Blake (1757-1827)
Music, Bob Chilcott (b.1955)
Please remain seated for
The Second Lesson
Luke 1: 26-38
Read by a Chorister Parent.
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. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with 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.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to bear your Son;
Fill us with grace that we may rejoice in your salvation.
Please stand to sing the
Hymn
The Choir sings alone:
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.
All sing:
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
He would honour and obey,
Love, and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
For he is our childhood’s pattern,
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.
Words, Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander
Music, Henry John Gauntlett
Please be seated for
The Third Lesson
Luke 2: 1-7
Read by a member of the Cathedral Congregation.
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, your Son was born in a stable for there was no room in the inn.
Open our hearts to welcome him into our lives.
Please stand and turn around to face the West End of the Cathedral; the choir sings
The Anthem
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 lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Text, Anonymous
Music, James Ramsey Murray (1841-1905) arranged John Rutter (b.1945)
Remain standing for
The Blessing of the Crib
Hear the words of the book of Wisdom: When peaceful silence lay over all and night was in the midst of her swift course, from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens, leapt your almighty Word. Hear the words of Saint John: God’s love for us was revealed when God sent his only Son into the world so that we could have life through him.
Thanks be to God.
The Choir sings
The Anthem
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.
Text, Anonymous
Music, James Ramsey Murray (1841-1905) arranged John Rutter (b.1945)
Please be seated for
Prayers
Let us pray that God our Father will bless this crib, and that all who worship his Son, born of the Virgin Mary, may come to share his life in glory:
God our Father, on this night your Son Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary for us and for our salvation; bless this crib, which we have prepared to celebrate that holy birth; may all who see it be strengthened in faith and receive the fullness of life he came to bring; who lives and reigns for ever. Amen.
Holy Jesus, to deliver us from the power of darkness you humbled yourself to be born among us and were laid in a manger. Let the light of your love always shine in our hearts, and bring us at last to the joyful vision of your beauty, for you are now alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Please stand to sing the
Hymn
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 men on earth;
for Christ is born of Mary;
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wandering love.
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
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.
Music, English Traditional
Arrangement, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Please be seated for
The Fourth Lesson
Luke 2: 8-16
Read by a member of the Cathedral Staff.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and 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 heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, your Son’s birth drew angels & shepherds to worship him;
Draw us to kneel in wonder at heaven coming down to earth.
The Choir sings
The Anthem
Sing this night, for a boy is born in Bethlehem, Christ our Lord in a lowly manger lies; Bring your gifts, come and worship at his cradle, hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary! See his star shining bright in the sky this Christmas night! Follow me joyfully; Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary! Angels bright, come from heaven’s highest glory, bear the news with its message of good cheer: “Sing, rejoice, for a King is come to save us, hurry to Bethlehen to see the son of Mary!” See, he lies in his mother’s tender keeping; Jesus Christ in her loving arms asleep. Shepherds poor, come to worship and adore him, offer their humble gifts before the son of Mary. Let us all pay our homage at the manger, sing his praise on this joyful Christmas Night; Christ is come, bringing promise of salvation; Hurry to Bethlehem and see the son of Mary!
Words & Music, John Rutter (b.1945)
Please remain seated for
The Fifth Lesson
Matthew 2: 1-11
Read by a member of the Cathedral Chapter.
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, you led the Wise Men to your Son by the shining of a star;
Guide us and help us, may we find our journey’s end in him.
Please stand to sing the
Hymn
God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray:
O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born:
The Son of God by name:
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoicèd much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessèd Babe to find:
But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray:
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface:
Words & Music, English traditional
Arrangement, David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Please be seated for
The Sixth Lesson
John 1: 1-14
Read by The Dean.
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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
The Minister leads
The Responsory
Lord God, your Word has come among us as the Prince of peace;
Strengthen us, that we may give glory to the new-born King.
Please stand to sing
The Hymn
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.’
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.
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.
Words, Charles Wesley (1707-88)
Music, Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47)
Arrangement, David Willcocks (1919-2015)
Please remain standing for
The Blessing
Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one all things earthly and heavenly, fill you with his joy and peace: And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Please remain at your seat for the duration of
The Organ Voluntary
Carillon on a Ukrainian Carol
Gerald Near (b.1942)
Acknowledgements
Developed by Clark Brydon (Education & Safeguarding Officer).
n.b.: Translations are provided automatically by Google Translate. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is not responsible for automatically generated content or for content on external websites.
To report a problem or to send feedback and suggestions, please email: education@stpatrickscathedral.ie