Midnight Eucharist for Christmas Eve 2024 - Celebrant and Preacher Rev Tom Burden, Vicar of Ventnor

A joint-parishes sung service of Holy Communion, uniting the choirs and congregations of Holy Trinity, Ventnor, and St Boniface, Bonchurch. The Deacon is Rev Jo Nicholson, Curate Please join in singing the hymns and carols, whose words you will find below in the order of service. Please also consider making a donation to help support the work and fabric of this fine historic church: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donor... OPENING HYMN: NEH 32 O little town of Bethlehem 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 5. 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. Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 9: 2-7 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given … and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men … ” (GRADUAL) HYMN: NEH 42 While shepherds watched their flocks by night 1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. 2. 'Fear not,' said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind); 'Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. 3. '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: 4. The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid.' 5. Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Appeared a shining throng Of angels praising God, who thus Addressed their joyful song: 6. 'All glory be to God on high, And on the earth be peace; Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin and never cease.' Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14 [15-20] “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” SERMON; CREED; INTERCESSIONS; PEACE OFFERTORY HYMN: It came upon the midnight clear 1. It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: 'Peace on the earth, good-will to men, From heaven's all-gracious King!' The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. 2. Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heav'nly music floats O'er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing; And ever o'er it Babel sounds The blessèd angels sing. 3. Yet with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love-song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing! 4. For, lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When, with the ever-circling years, Comes round the age of gold; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing. COMMUNION CAROLS: Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light In the bleak midwinter (Harold Darke) CLOSING HYMN: NEH 30 O come, all ye faithful 1. 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, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 2. 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, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 6. 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, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord! 7 Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!