A FESTIVAL OF NINE

LESSONS & CAROLS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 , 2014

S T . PAUL ’ S E P I SCOPAL CHURCH

FA IR F I E LD , CONNECT ICU T

2

ELCOME TO THIS SERVICE, which anticipates the great feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The liturgy of Lessons and Carols was first used in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve, 1918, with the candle-lit splendor of the chapel, the prayers and scripture readings, the great hymns and the soaring music of the

choir and organ standing in eloquent contrast to the darkness of a cold winter night and the tragic shadows of the recently concluded Great War. The intervening years have seen the worldwide broadcast of this service become a much beloved Christmas tradition.

As in 1918, we in our own day turn again to these sacred words and songs in a world troubled by war, natural disaster, violence, and economic uncertainty. Tonight’s service is offered in the spirit of that first service at King’s, as a light shining in the darkness; with fervent prayer for peace, goodwill and understanding among all people rising amidst the strains of glorious hymns and carols. Although much of the music at this service is sung by the choir, the congregation plays a central role. Please listen intently, pray and sing with your heart, mind, and voice, as indicated below. Again, welcome!

Of course, a major part of this service involves the joining together of everyone in making a joyful noise to the Lord. Should your child be further inspired to the making of extended joyful noise while others are trying to listen, we do ask that you escort your little one to the gathering area or outside for a brief moment or two until he or she becomes more contemplative. And please do not be shy about doing this – many of the adults surrounding you are parents too, and are very glad that you and your child are here! You are among friends. Nursery care is also available during the service.

� � �

ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN VOLUNTARIES

Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

¶ The Congregation is requested to be silent during the final organ voluntary. Please rise as the clergy and choir enter the church.

W

3

MP3:

0:00:00

HYMN Verses 1 & 2 sung by the choir, in procession. [TIME: 0:00]

1 Once in royal David’s city 2 He came down to earth from heaven

stood a lowly cattle shed, Who is God and Lord of all,

Where a mother laid her baby and his shelter was a stable,

in a manger for his bed: and his cradle was a stall:

Mary was that mother mild, with the poor, the mean, and the lowly,

Jesus Christ her little child. lived on earth our Savior holy.

¶ Verses 3 & 4 sung by all.

Verse 5 – Congregation in unison (descant choir only) Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by,

We shall see him, but in heaven,

Set at God’s right hand on high;

Where like stars his children crowned

All in white shall wait around.

Words: Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

Music: Irby, melody and harm. Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876);

revised by A. H Mann (1850-1929)and others; descant David Willcocks (b. 1919) 87. 87. 77

4

THE BIDDING PRAYER ¶ Said by the Officiant

ELOVED IN CHRIST, at this Christmas-tide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience through the glorious Redemption brought us by this holy Child. But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity and understanding within the Church he came to build, and especially in our sister parish of San Lucas y San Pablo in Bridgeport; in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, and in the town and county of Fairfield. And let us remember, in his name, those that he loves most fervently: the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and them that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ has taught us:

¶ All, together

UR 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ¶ The Officiant continues

May Almighty God give us grace: May Christ give us the joys of everlasting life: and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen.

¶ The Congregation may be seated.

B

O

5

MP3:

0:06:35

MP3:

0:09:35

CAROL Melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr. George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)

ING DONG DING, Ding-a-dong-a-ding, Ding dong, ding dong,

Ding-a-dong ding! Up! good Christen folk, and listen How the merry church bells ring, and from steeple bid, good people, come adore the newborn King. Tell the story, how from glory God came down at Christastide, bringing gladness, chasing sadness, Showering blessings far and wide.

Born of Mother, blest o’er other, ex Maria Virgine, in a stable, (‘tis no fable,) Christus natus hodie.

—George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)

THE FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 Reader: Colin S., A Chorister

God tells sinful Adam and Eve that they have lost the light of Paradise.

CAROL Boris Ord (1897-1961)

DAM LAY YBOUNDEN, bounden in a bond, Four thousand winter thought he not too long, And all was for an apple, an apple that he took, As clerkes finden, written in their book.

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, anonymous Ne had never our Lady abeen heavené Queen. Blessed be the time that apple taken was, Therefore we moun singen, Deo gracias. —Sloane MS (modernized), 15th c. English

THE SECOND LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 Reader: Kevin Lennon, A Choir Parent

The Prophet Isaiah reveals God’s promise of a Messiah for a faithful people.

D

A

6

MP3:

0:12:30

MP3:

0:14:30

CAROL William Mathias (1934-1992)

OWELL, NOWELL, Nowell, nowell, nowell. Who is there that singeth so?

I am here, Sir Christèmas. Welcome, my lord Sir Christèmas! Welcome to all, both more and less, Come near, come near. [Nowell . . .] Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs,* *God keep you, fine sir tidings I you bring: A maid hath borne a child full younge, which causeth you to sing: [Nowell . . .] Christ is now born of a pure maid; in an ox-stall he is laid, wherefore sing we at a brayde:* [Nowell . . .] *together Buvez bien, buvez bien par toute la compagnie.* *drink well, good health to one and all Make good cheer and be right merry, and sing with us now joyfully: [Nowell . . .] —Ritson’s MS, 15th cent., alt.

¶ All standing.

HYMN Verses 1-4 sung by the choir.

1 Of the Father’s heart begotten

Ere the world from chaos rose,

He is Alpha : from that Fountain

All that is, that hath been flows ;

He is Omega, of all things

Yet to come the mystic Close,

Evermore and evermore.

3 He assumed this mortal body,

Frail and feeble, doomed to die,

That the race from dust created

Might not perish utterly,

Which the dreadful Law hath sentenced

In the depths of hell to lie,

Evermore and evermore.

N

2 By his word was all created,

He commanded and ‘twas done ;

Earth and sky and boundless ocean,

Universe of three in one,

All that sees the moon’s soft radiance,

All that breathes beneath the sun,

Evermore and evermore.

4 O how blest that wondrous birthday,

When the Maid the curse retrieved,

Brought to birth mankind’s salvation,

By the holy Ghost conceived;

And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,

In her loving arms received,

Evermore and evermore.

7

MP3:

0:22:00

¶ Verses 5 & 6 sung by all.

Words: Prudentius (b. 348), tr. R. F. Davis

Music: Melody from Piae Cantiones, Theoderici Petri Nylandensis, 1582,

arr. David Willcocks 87. 87. 87. with Refrain

¶ The Congregation may be seated.

THE THIRD LESSON Isaiah 11:2-9 Reader: Susan Gardner, Member, The St. Cecilia Choir and the Fairfield County Chorale

God’s peace is revealed to Israel.

CAROL Es ist ein Ros, melody from Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1599, harm. Michael Praetorius (1571-1621); arr. Jan Sandström (b. 1954)

et är en ros utsprungen Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming av Jesse rot och stam. from tender stem hath sprung! Av fädren ren besjungen, Of Jesse’s lineage coming

den står i tiden fram, as seers of old hath sung. en blomma skär och blid, It came, a blossom bright, mitt i den kalla vinter, amid the cold of winter, i midnatts mörka tid. when half-spent was the night. — German, 15th cent.; English tr. Theodore Baker (1851-1934); ver. Hymnal 1940

THE FOURTH LESSON Micah 5:2-5 Reader: Anna Bendiksen, Lay Eucharistic Visitor

The Prophet Micah speaks of Bethlehem’s destiny.

D

8

MP3:

0:22:50

MP3:

0:31:45

CAROL Source unknown, arr. George D. Elderkin (1845-1928)

Hark! the Herald angels sing, Jesus the Light of the world; Glory to the newborn King, Jesus the Light of the world. We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light, Come where the dewdrops of mercy are bright, Shine all around us by day and by night, Jesus the Light of the world. Joyful all ye nations rise, Jesus the Light of the world; Join the triumph of the skies, Jesus the Light of the world. Refrain Christ by highest heav’n adored, Jesus the Light of the world; Christ, the everlasting Lord, Jesus the Light of the world. Refrain Hail the heav’n-born Prince of peace; Jesus the Light of the world; Hail the sun of righteousness, Jesus the Light of the world. Refrain —Charles Wesley (1707-1788), alt. George D. Elderkin (1845-1928)

¶ All standing.

HYMN

Words: Piae Cantiones, 1582; tr. Jane M. Joseph (1894-1929)

Music: Personet hodie, melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582 666. 66 with Refrain

¶ The Congregation may be seated.

9

MP3:

0:36:30

MP3:

0:41:05

THE FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-38 Reader: Julianne Seymour, Chair, Music Ministry Team

The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.

CAROL Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

огородице Дево, радуйся, Bogoróditse djévo, raduisya, Благодатная Марие, Blagodatnaya Mariye Господь с Товою; Gospod s Toboyu. Благословена Ты в женах Blagoslovenna Ty v zhenakh,

и благословен плод чрева Твоего, I blagosloven plod chreva Tvoyevo, яко Спаса родила еси душ наших. Yako Spasa rodila yesi dush nashikh

Rejoice, O virgin Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with you, Blessed are you among women, And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. You have borne the Savior of our souls. —Old Church Slavonic, paraphrase of Ave Maria (with transliteration and translation)

THE SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7 Reader: The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon

St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.

CAROL Judith Bingham (b. 1952)

O, IN THE SILENT NIGHT a child to God is Born And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night, God would be born in thee, and set all things a-right.

Virgo Maria, non est tibi similis Virgin Mary, there is no other

Orta in mundo inter mulieres, Woman in the world like you,

Florens ut rosa, fragrans sicut lilium Flourishing like the rose, fragrant as a lily,

Ora pro nobis Sancta Dei Genitrix Pray for us, holy mother of God,

Sancta Maria Holy Mary

Lo, in the silent night a child to God is Born And all is brought again that ere was lost or lorn Could but thy soul, O man, become a silent night, God would be born in thee, and set all things a-right.

— Silesius Angelus (1624-1677)

Б

L

10

MP3:

0:48:00

THE SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-16 Reader: Fiona Andren, Clerk of the Vestry The shepherds go to the manger.

CAROL John Rutter (b. 1945)

orn in a stable so bare, Born so long ago; Born ‘neath light of star

He who loved us so. Far away, silent He lay, Born today, your homage pay, Christ is born for aye, Born on Christmas Day. Cradled by mother so fair, Tender her lullaby; Over her son so dear Angel hosts fill the sky. Far away, silent He lay, Born today, your homage pay, Christ is born for aye, Born on Christmas Day. Wise men from distant far land, Shepherds from starry hills Worship this babe so rare, Hearts with His warmth He fills. Far away, silent He lay, Born today, your homage pay, Christ is born for aye, Born on Christmas Day. Love in that stable was born Into our hearts to flow; Innocent dreaming babe, Make me Thy love to know. Far away, silent he lay, Born today, your homage pay, Christ is born for aye, Born on Christmas Day. —John Rutter (b. 1945)

THE EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-18 Reader: The Rev. Stephanie M. Johnson, Assistant Rector for Children, Youth and Families

The magi visit the Holy Family, and Herod responds to news of an ‘infant king.’

B

11

MP3:

0:56:05

CAROL J. R. Abdenour (b. 1962)

VOICE WAS HEARD at Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; She refused to be consoled, because they were no more.’

O loving God, let me hear and understand, and grant me the will to act upon the angels’ endless song:

Gloria in excelsis Deo. [Glory to God in the highest heaven Et in terra pax hominibus. and in earth peace to all people.]

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to you:

Dona eis requiem, [Grant them rest, sempiternam requiem. eternal rest. Dona nobis pacem. Amen. Grant us peace.]

—Matthew 2, Luke 2, Psalm 102:1, and John Abdenour (b. 1962)

This anthem was composed for the St. Paul’s Choir in memory of all those lost

in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012.

¶ The Congregation stands for the Ninth Lesson.

THE NINTH LESSON John 1:1-16 Reader: The Rev. Paul J. Carling, Ph.D., Associate Rector

St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.

The Light of the World (1853) by William Holman Hunt, Keble College, Oxford

‘A

12

MP3:

1:04:40

¶ Sung by all, standing.

HYMN

Verse 4 – Congregation in unison

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above:

Glory to God, glory in the highest. Refrain Words: John Francis Wade (1711-1786); tr. Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880) and others

Music: Adeste fideles, present form of melody att. John Francis Wade (1711-1786);

harm. The English Hymnal, 1906; descant J. R. Abdenour Irr.

13

THE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS

Priest The Lord be with you. People And also with you.

The Officiant says the Collect.

LMIGHTY GOD, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The Officiant blesses the People.

AY OUR GREAT REDEEMER, who by his incarnation gathered into one things earthly and heavenly, fill you with the sweetness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and

remain with you always. Amen.

A

M

The Nativity (ca. 1510) Probably by Albrecht Dürer. The National Gallery, Washington D. C.

14

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), alt.

Music: Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847);

adapt. William H. Cummings (1831-1915); desc. J. R. Abdenour 77. 77. D with Refrain

MP3:

1:09:50

¶ Sung by all, standing.

HYMN

15

ORGAN VOLUNTARY In dulci jubilo BWV 729 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

¶ Please leave the church quietly, so that those remaining can listen to the voluntary.

Thank you for your presence at this service. The People of St. Paul’s wish you and all those you love a blessed and holy Christmas.

We wish to thank Julie Seymour, the Music Ministry Team, and the Choir Parents for presenting the Yule Café

prior to this evening’s service.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

If any single human being can be said to have changed the sound of Christmas in the last hundred years, it must be David Willcocks. During his tenure as Director of Music at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, he created a large body of music for Christmas, specifically, music for choir and organ and usable in a liturgical setting. In today’s service, his music is represented by two timeless descants: “Once in royal David’s city”; and “Of the Father’s heart begotten”. Willcocks’ predecessor Boris Ord was Director of Music from 1927 to 1957. Unlike Willcocks, Ord’s body of published works stands at exactly one: his elegantly restrained setting of Adam lay ybounden, which has become a staple of carol services worldwide for many years. The medieval text thanks God for the incident of Adam, Eve, the apple and the serpent, for although the eating of the apple opened humankind to sin and its horrible consequences, it also led ultimately to the incarnation of Jesus through ‘Our Lady,’ Mary: The fall of mankind into sin, in and of itself a catastrophe, is redeemed by God and becomes the perfect vehicle of God’s grace through the coming of Jesus. William Mathias composed his setting of Sir Christèmas as part of a larger work, Ave Rex, in 1969. The fifteenth century carol is comprised of a jocular dialogue between an assembled company of worshipers/partiers and the messenger/master of ceremonies, the eponymous Sir Christèmas. Frank Ll. Harrison believed that the original carol might well have been devised for use at the Christmas celebrations of the Exeter Cathedral choir men in their common hall (which would neatly explain the exhortation to bouve bien). A perfect fit for an earthy

text, Mathias’ setting has aged well, offering listeners music with an effervescent and buoyant spirit. Swedish composer Jan Sandström was born in 1954, and his early musical education came as a chorister. As a composer he has focused on instrumental and orchestral music, but one of his most famous works, Det är en ros utsprungen, is a fascinating fusion of instrumental and choral technique. Sandström creates a mysterious and rich sonic cocoon, in which he floats the hymn “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming.’ George Donald Elderkin was born in 1845 in Onondaga, New York; his father had roots in Connecticut. Elderkin later moved to Illinois and finally to California, where he died in 1928. In 1890 he edited and published The Finest of Wheat: Hymns Old and New For Missionary and Revival Meetings, and Sabbath-schools. The hymnal included Elderkin’s version of “Hark! the herald angels sing,” which has become popular as a slow moving and heavily embellished Gospel number, in the process losing the “swing of conquest” that Elderkin proudly noted in the preface to his hymnal. Our performance today will try to recapture some of the hymn’s original prairie spirit. Sergei Rachmaninov was famous principally as a pianist, but he also composed two significant works for unaccompanied choir. Bogoroditse djevo is the sixth movement of Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil, which was composed in 1915, at the height of Russia’s war with Germany, and enjoyed instant if short-lived favor. Only a few years later, the new Soviet communist government banned the singing of all religious music. For the performers, one of the most bewildering

16

PARTICIPATING IN TODAY’S SERVICE

Clergy

The Reverend Paul J. Carling, Ph.D., Associate Rector of St. Paul’s The Reverend Stephanie M. Johnson, Assistant for Youth and Children’s Formation

The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon, St. Paul’s

Music

John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Wesley Hall, Organ Scholar, Trinity Church on-the-Green, New Haven, Guest Organist

Acolytes

Andrew Corbett, Neal Minto, Andris Perry

Ushers

Michael Jerrild, Robin Jerrild

aspects of approaching Judith Bingham’s God would be born in thee is that the score, as published, is incomplete and ambiguous, although the composer is very much alive and well. There are notes that seem to be tied to rests, and numerous instances of missing words or syllables. Intentionally or not, Bingham has added her own layer of mystery to a work contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation. A reviewer once noted that the Christmas music of John Rutter is becoming as traditional as mince pies. And with good reason, as Rutter has taken his place alongside David Willcocks as composer laureate of Christmas in the English-speaking world. He composed both the music and words for Nativity Carol while he was an undergraduate at Clare College, Cambridge, during which time he came to the attention of David Willcocks, then the director of the choir at King’s College. Willcocks invited Rutter to serve as co-editor for volume two of Oxford’s iconic Carols for Choirs series, and the rest is history. The December, 2012 tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut is nearly impossible to fathom, and

made even more difficult to confront because of its close proximity to the Christmas festival. This conundrum complicated John Abdenour’s effort to come to grips with the tragedy and develop a musical and artistic response to it. Ultimately, he found the basis for the words he sought in Edmund Sears’ hymn ‘It came upon the midnight clear,’ which speaks of the Christmas angels and their endless song, which we cannot hear because of our constant resort to violence and strife. The Angels’ Song opens by quoting the commentary, in the Gospel of Matthew, on Herod’s infamous acts in Bethlehem. Then follows a prayer for us to find a way to ‘hear, understand, and act upon the angels’ endless song: et in terra pax.’ The work then concludes with a prayer, set to a blue version of a famous Christmas hymn, for eternal rest for the victims of violence and peace for the whole world. The descants to “O come, all ye faithful” and “Hark! the herald angels sing” were both composed in recent years, for the St. Paul’s Choir. The latter is structured for four part choir and congregation, with each vocal part of the choir assigned its own unique descant, all of them sung concurrently.

17

TH E S T . P A U L ’ S CH O I R

Cantoris Choir - Treble Madeline C., Kyle G., Julia H., Lauren L., Trescher L., Josephine M., Miranda Sc.,

Olivia S., Colin S., Miranda Su., Noah S., Eliza Wiant (Guest Alumna)

Alto – Cantoris: Robin Clark-Smith, Derek Greten-Harrison (Section Leader), Laura Mozier, Eva Uhrich

Tenor – Cantoris:, Christopher McCormack (Section Leader)

Bass – Cantoris: Eric Andren, Samuel Hinckle (Section Leader), Gianni P., Matthew P.

Decani Choir - Treble Isabella B., Charlotte B., Olivia B., Fiona C., Madison C., Charlotte C., Kelly C.†,

Madeline G., Meghan J. (Head Chorister), Sydney L., Emma L., Benjamin P., Katherine P., Bennett S.

Alto – Decani: Tracey Cranston, Christina Holms, Becket Greten-Harrison (Section Leader), Sarah McCormack, Cara Uhrich

Tenor – Decani: Benjamin McCormack, Jonathan Taylor (Section Leader)

Bass – Decani: Ryan C., Edmund Milly (Guest Section Leader), Philip Sidebottom, Harrison S. † Soloist, Once in Royal David’s city

THE SAINT PAUL’S CHOIR is a 50 voice ensemble made up of boy and girl trebles with professionally led adults singing alto, tenor and bass. The choir has toured England four times, most recently in 2011, singing services in the cathedrals in Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Ely, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Norwich, St Albans, and Worcester. The choir is scheduled to return to England in 2016 to sing at Peterborough and Southwark Cathedrals. It has also sung at most of the major Episcopal churches in New York City, and engages in ongoing artistic collaborations with Yale Opera, the American Baroque Orchestra, and the noted British choirmaster Barry Rose. Most members of the Choir are parishioners or children of parish families, but the Choir is open to all young people with an interest in singing and a commitment to membership in the choir. Neither membership in the parish nor previous choral training are required. (Membership for altos, tenors, and basses is open by audition, as space permits.) St. Paul’s is also home to the Saint Cecilia Choir, an adult choir that sings for some Sunday 9:30 Eucharist services and other services, and welcomes all singers. If you would like further information on any of these ensembles, please contact the Director of Music, John Abdenour.

THE MUSIC MINISTRY TEAM is an organization dedicated to enhancing and supporting the musical education and outreach ministries of St. Paul’s Church, in particular the St. Paul’s Choir and the St. Cecilia Choir. The MMT is responsible for the operations, publicity, communications, and logistical needs of the choirs and music ministry, and exists as a standing ministry team established by the Vestry. The MMT is chaired by Julie Seymour.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THE ST. PAUL’S CHOIR

Saturday, January 31, 4:00 PM TWENTIETH ANNUAL SING PRAISES CHOIR FESTIVAL

Choral Evensong, directed by Dr. Barry Rose, at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City, together with the Choir of St. Paul’s Norwalk.

18

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP AND EVENTS

AT ST . PAUL ’S

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY CRÈCHE SERVICE (HOLY EUCHARIST) AT 3:00 PM

Music provided by the Junior Choristers and Probationer Choristers of the St. Paul’s Choir

FESTIVAL HOLY EUCHARIST AT 5:30 PM Music provided by the St. Paul’s Choir and Alumni, with William Domeika, trumpet.

CANDLELIGHT HOLY EUCHARIST AT 11:00 PM Music provided by the St. Cecilia Choir, with Elizabeth Skaleski, flute

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 – CHRISTMAS DAY

HOLY EUCHARIST AT 10:00 AM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 – THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS HOLY EUCHARIST WITH CAROLS AT 8:00 AND 9:30 AM

19

ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT - FOUNDED 1853

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT

The Right Reverend Ian Theodore Douglas, Bishop of Connecticut The Right Reverend Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan

CLERGY

The Reverend Judith Louise Rhodes, Rector of St. Paul’s The Reverend Paul Joseph Carling, Ph.D., Associate Rector of St. Paul’s

The Reverend Stephanie M. Johnson, Assistant Rector for Children, Youth, and Families The Reverend Elizabeth H. Skaleski, Deacon

OFFICERS OF THE VESTRY

Christine Brown, Senior Warden Jim Turner, Junior Warden Peter Osborne, Treasurer

Fiona Andren, Secretary of the Vestry

MEMBERS OF THE VESTRY

Michael Boyd, Keith Cocozza, Jane Corbett, Diana Gomez, David Haas, Chris Jay, Bruce Kueffner, Janet O’Donnell, Susan Tom

MUSIC MINISTRY TEAM

Julie Seymour, Chair, Jane Corbett, Scott Cranston, Suzanne Haas, Dawn Miller, Mary Sullivan

STAFF

John R. Abdenour, Director of Music Mary Ellen Clifton, Parish Administrator

Cathy Comstock, Accounts Manager Ralph Paradise, Sexton

20

COVER ILLUSTRATION: Illuminated Nativity, Huth Hours Flemish 15th c. MS British Library In the Public Domain.

Bulletin typeset in Garamond. Published by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairfield, Connecticut.

S T . P A U L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H

661 Old Post Road - Fairfield, Connecticut 06824 - Church Office 203-259-3013 www.stpaulsfairfield.org