Christmas Eve (late service) 2009.  Every Christmas Eve at 9:30 St. Mark’s offers a service of Carols and Lessons recounting the story of the Christ Child, beginning with the prophecies and the annunciation, to the coming of the shepherds and the opening words of the Gospel of John (“In the beginning was the Word…”).  In Christmas 2009, special music from the Celtic Choir and the Organist featured music from France.

Christmas Eve 9:30, 2009

Organ Prelude

Noël Sur Les Flutes ­– Louis Claude D’Aquin

La Nativité – Jean Langlais

La Crêche

Les Anges

Les Bergers

La Sainte Famille

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Carol  O Come, All Ye Faithful No.41

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First Lesson - The Birth Fortold (Isaiah 9:2,6-7)

Kyrie (from Messe de Minuit pour Noel) – Marc Antoine Charpentier

The Celtic Choir

Carol   Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming No. 48

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Second Lesson - The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-35,38)

Carol  The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came No. 16

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Third Lesson - The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18-21)

Christ is born a Child on earth! (Il est né le Divin Enfant) – traditional French

The Celtic Choir with Kate Selby

Carol  Joy to the World No. 40

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Fourth Lesson - The Manger in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-6)

O Holy Night – Adolphe Adam

Kate Selby, soprano

Carol  Away in a Manger No. 25

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Fifth Lesson - The Angels Appear to the Shepherds (Luke 2:8-14)

Sing We Now of Christmas (Noël Nouvelet) - traditional French

The Celtic Choir

Carol   Angels We Have Heard on High No. 23

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Sixth Lesson - The Shepherds Visit the Manger (Luke 2:15-20)

Here, Twixt the Ass and Oxen Mild (Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris) – 13^th century French

Paetia Mechler, Allegra Ruiz, Margaret Langworthy, Ken Bosma

Carol  ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime No. 61

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Offertory   A Joyous Christmas Song (Chanson Joyeuse de Noël) – arr. F.A.Gevaert

The Celtic Choir

Doxology  How Silently, How Silently No. 44 (verse 3)

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Seventh Lesson - The Mystery of the Incarnation (John 1:1-14)

The Shepherds’ Farewell (from L’enfance du Christ) – Hector Berlioz

The Celtic Choir

Carol  Silent Night No. 60

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Organ Postlude Noël Suisse – Louis Claude D’Aquin