Advent Carol Service

Sunday 30th November

2014

The cover image is the personal seal of Johann Sebastian Bach:

the initials JSB, intertwined to form a crown of thorns.

WELCOME TO THE ROBIN CHAPEL. Whether you come as part of

a Christian denomination or of none, all have a place within these
walls where the love of God dwells.
Every Sunday the Chaplain and Choir of the Chapel sing the service
of Choral Evensong, with Choral Eucharist being celebrated on the
first Sunday of every month.
As part of the Chapels interdenominational foundation we have
regular visiting preachers from across the various Christian
churches. There is an invitation to all to join us in worship at the
Robin Chapel.
Full details of services and of other events can be found on the
Chapel website: www.robinchapel.org.uk

THE ROBIN CHAPEL, EDINBURGH

Drawing used by courtesy of Professor John Hume, Scotlands Churches Scheme

THISTLE TRUST

Chaplain
The Reverend Thomas Coupar
Chairman of the Thistle Trust
Julian Birchall
Organist & Director of Music
Simon Niemiski
Sub Organist
Jeremy Cull
The Robin Chapel Choir

CCL Licence & MRL Licence: 227071 ~ Scottish Charity SC003834

Order of Service
This service comprises a complete performance of J.S. Bachs Cantata No 140,
Wachet auf, sung by the Chapel Choir, with the Rose Street Ensemble.
Organ prelude: J.S. Bach Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
Processional hymn:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
O come, thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Words: Advent Antiphons trans. J.M. Neale
Tune: Veni Emmanuel (adapted from a French Missal
by Thomas Helmore, arr. Andrew Carter)

Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas let us

prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear,
in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel foretold that
God would visit and redeem his waiting people. Let us rejoice, in our
carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily
fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, will bring all people and all things into the glory of God's eternal
kingdom. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have
the Gospel preached to them.
But first, let us pray for the world which God so loves, for those who
have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it; for those
who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in
this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and
may in pure joy lift up the light and love of God. These prayers and
praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words which Christ himself
taught us:
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom
come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that
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.
Cantata: Chorus
Awake, calls the voice to us of the watchmen high up in the
tower; awake, you city of Jerusalem. Midnight the hour is
named; they call to us with bright voices; where are you, wise
virgins? Indeed, the Bridegroom comes; rise up and take your
lamps, Alleluia! Make yourselves ready for the wedding, you
must go to meet Him.

First lesson: Genesis 1:1-5, 14-18

And God said: Let there be light.
Mr Julian Birchall, Chairman of the Trustees
Hymn:
Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
The Saviour promised long:
Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.
He comes the prisoners to release
In Satan's bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
He comes, the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.
Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;
And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved Name.
Words: Philip Doddridge (Paraphrase 36)
Tune: Bristol (Ravenscroft's Psalter, 1621)

Second lesson: Baruch 4:36 5:9

Look to the east
Mr John Reynolds, Friend of the Robin Chapel
Cantata: Recitative (tenor)
He comes, He comes, the Bridegroom comes, O Zion's
daughters, come out, his course runs from the heights into your
mother's house. The Bridegroom comes, who like a roe and
young stag leaps upon the hills; to you He brings the wedding
feast. Rise up, take heart, to embrace the bridegroom; there,
look, He comes this way.

Cantata: Duet: Dialogue - Soul, Jesus (soprano & bass)

When will You come, my Saviour? - I come, as Your portion. - I
wait with burning oil. Now open the hall - I open the hall - for
the heavenly meal. Come, Jesus! - I come, come, lovely soul!
Hymn:
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israels Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver;
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Words: Charles Wesley
Tune: Cross of Jesus (John Stainer)

Third lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 3, 6, 7

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light
Mr Victor McLaggan, Friend of the Robin Chapel
Cantata: Chorale
Zion hears the watchmen sing, her heart leaps for joy within
her, she wakens and hastily arises. Her glorious Friend comes
from heaven, strong in mercy, powerful in truth, her light
becomes bright, her star rises. Now come, precious crown, Lord
Jesus, the Son of God! Hosannah! We all follow to the hall of joy
and hold the evening meal together.

Hymn:
The race that long in darkness pined
Has seen a glorious light;
The people dwell in day, who dwelt
In death's surrounding night.
To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is given;
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the hosts of heaven.
His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
For evermore adored:
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
The great and mighty Lord.
His power increasing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know;
Justice shall guard his throne above,
And peace abound below.
Words: Isaiah 9:2- (John Morrison, Scottish Paraphrases 1 11)
Music: Dundee (Scottish Psalter, 1615)

Fourth lesson: John 3:16-21

I am the light of the world
Ms Sheila Gilmore MP
Cantata: Recitative (bass)
So come in to Me, you My chosen bride! I have to you eternally
betrothed Myself. I will set you upon My heart, upon My arm
as a seal, and delight your troubled eye. Forget, O soul, now the
fear, the pain which you have had to suffer; upon My left hand
you shall rest, and My right hand shall kiss you.

Cantata: Duet: Dialogue - Soul, Jesus (soprano & bass)

My Friend is mine, - and I am yours, - love will never part us. I
will with You - you will with Me - graze among heavens roses,
where complete pleasure and delight will be.
Cantata: Chorale
Let Gloria be sung to You with mortal and angelic tongues,
with harps and even with cymbals. Of twelve pearls the portals
are made, In Your city we are companions Of the angels high
around Your throne. No eye has ever perceived, no ear has ever
heard such joy like our happiness, Io, io, eternally in dulci jubilo!
Hymn:
Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favoured sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluya!
God appears, on earth to reign.
Every eye shall now behold him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at nought and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing
Shall the true Messiah see.
Those dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshippers:
Alleluya!
See! the day of God appears.

Yea, Amen! let all adore thee,

High on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory:
Claim the kingdom for thine own:
O come quickly!
Alleluya! Come, Lord, come!
Words: Charles Wesley
Tune: Helmsley (noted by T. Olivers) Descant by S. Niemiski

Collect for Advent:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of
darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this
mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great
humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious
majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life
immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Blessing:
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness
from before your path. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.
Choral Amen Gibbons
Organ Voluntary J.S. Bach Prelude in B minor, BWV544i

THE ROBIN CHAPEL

Full details of services and of other events can be accessed on the
Chapel website: www.robinchapel.org.uk

Chaplain
chaplain@robinchapel.org.uk / 07814 588 904
Organist & Director of Music
organist@robinchapel.org.uk

THE ROBIN CHAPEL, EDINBURGH

THISTLE TRUST
www.robinchapel.org.uk
CCL Licence & MRL Licence: 227071
Scottish Charity SC003834