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Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

on BBC Home Service Basic

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from a college chapel upon Christmas Eve, 1940
Processional Hymn: Once in Royal David's city
The Bidding Prayer
Invitatory Carol: O little Town of Bethlehem (Walford Davies)
First Lesson: Genesis iii, 8-15. God announceth in the Garden of Eden that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head
Reader, A chorister
Carols: Past three o'clock (London Waits; Refrain, trad.), Ding Dong! Merrily on high (French, 1588)
Second Lesson: Genesis xxii, 15-18.
God promiseth to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed
Reader, A choral scholar
Carol: The holly and the ivy (traditional French)
Third Lesson: Isaiah ix, 2, 6, 7.
Christ's birth and kingdom are foretold by Esias
Reader, The organist
Carol: God rest you, merry gentlemen (traditional English)
Fourth Lesson: Micah v, 2, 3, 4.
The prophet Micah foreseeth the glory of little Bethlehem
Reader, A Fellow
Carol: Christ was born on Christmas Day (16th century Swedish)
Fifth Lesson: St. Luke i, 26-33 and 38. The Angel Gabriel visiteth the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reader, The Vice-Provost
Carol: There stood in Heav'n a linden tree (German, 1420)
Sixth Lesson: St. Matthew i, 18-23.
St. Matthew telleth of Christ's Holy Birth
Reader, A Free Church Minister
Carol: While shepherds watched (Este's Psalter, 1592)
Seventh Lesson: St. Luke ii, 8-16.
The Shepherds go unto the Manger
Reader, The Mayor's chaplain
Carols: Shepherds in the field abiding (Old carol of Lorraine)
I saw a fair maiden (20th century, Peter Warlock)
Eighth Lesson, St. Matthew ii, 1-11.
The Wise Men are led by the Star to Jesus
Reader, A representative of Eton College
Carol: In Dulci Jubilo (14th century German)
Ninth Lesson, St. John i, 1-14. St. John unfoldeth the great mystery of the Incarnation
Reader, The Provost
Carol: O come, all ye faithful (17th-18th century, French)
Collect for Christmas Day
The Blessing
Recessional hymn: Hark! the herald angels sing (Mendelssohn, 1809-47)

BBC Home Service Basic

About BBC Home Service

BBC Home Service is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 1st September 1939 and ended on the 29th September 1967.

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