Christmas Service

BBC R4 Christmas Service from Leeds Cathedral:

Bells

HYMN - ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY

FR MATTHEW:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ALL: Amen

FR MATTHEW:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
ALL: And with your spirit.

FR MATTHEW:
Welcome to Leeds Cathedral on this Christmas morning! Today, we joyfully celebrate the Nativity of the Christ-child, born in the City of David: not only in our own cities, communities and families – but also in our hearts! I am Canon Matthew Habron, Dean of this Catholic Cathedral in the heart of the city - and whether you are joining us in company or alone, I warmly welcome you into the extended family of our parish community.

The Senior Boys, Girls and Choral Scholars of Leeds Cathedral Choir are leading our music this morning and our readers are drawn from one of our parish families. Together with Deacon Joseph Cortis and all the members of our diverse congregation, we invite you – wherever you are - to join with us in this worldwide celebration of hope, joy and peace!

This Cathedral is the mother-church of the Diocese of Leeds. It is dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and therefore the Grandmother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Although God sent his Beloved Son to be born into the Holy Family, it was also a very human family. His Old Testament family tree is, like our own, a story of humanity perfectly made in the image of God, but also tempted to stray from holiness – and in need of redemption.

Let us pray. O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature
and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
ALL: Amen.

CHOIR - A TENDER SHOOT, BRIGGS

GOSPEL (Luke 2:15-20) - DEACON JOSEPH CORTIS:

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

ALL: Glory to you, O Lord.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

HYMN - O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

FR MATTHEW:  The Gospel sets the familiar scene of humble shepherds being the first to visit the Holy Family in a rough stable, with God Himself lying in a manger full of animal fodder. In this Cathedral, in our homes and schools, and on our Christmas cards, we replicate that simple Nativity scene of Our Lord Jesus Christ, surrounded by his family, and worshipped not only by the shepherds – but also by the animals in the stable!

It is of little surprise, then, that it was St Francis of Assisi, who, in early thirteenth century Italy, began the tradition of the first ever ‘live’ Nativity scene. The Saint is famed for his love of all members of the family of God’s Creation: regarding plants and animals, sun and moon as his brothers and sisters – but most of all Saint Francis loved his fellow men and women, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. Reading from a translation of near-contemporary and fellow Franciscan St Bonaventure’s ‘Life of St Francis of Assisi’, Yvette now tells us the story of that first live depiction of God Himself embracing simplicity and poverty as He became one of us.

READER - YVETTE COWELL:

It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to inspire the inhabitants of Greccio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, he decided to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, the people ran together, the forest resounding with their voices, and that memorable night was made glorious by many brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy. Many Masses were said before it, and the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around of the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name, such was the tenderness of his love, he simply called Him ‘The Babe of Bethlehem’.

A certain valiant and trustworthy soldier, Master John of Greccio, who, for the love of Christ had left the warfare of this world and had become a dear friend of the holy man, affirmed that he beheld an infant, marvellously beautiful, sleeping in that manger, whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. The devout soldier’s vision is credible, not only by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but also by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. The example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is sufficient to inspire all hearts which have grown negligent in the faith of Christ. And the hay of that manger, being preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying His servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.

FR MATTHEW:
And we stay with innovative Christmas decorations from the natural world so beloved of Saint Francis, with a musical arrangement of ‘The Holly and the Ivy’; the prickly holly foretelling not only the Crown of Thorns which the Infant King would one day wear – but also symbolising God’s evergreen promise of eternal life!

CHOIR - THE HOLLY AND THE IVY, THOMPSON

The Season of Christmas is a time when we are all invited to experience the child-like wonder of the miracle of Christ’s birth. One family which had close associations with this part of the world during the last century had no children of their own, but they were loved by their young nephews and nieces and approached Christmas themselves with a child’s wide-eyed delight and amazement. The writers Gilbert ‘GK’ Chesterton and his wife Frances often visited Jewish friends in Ilkley, and it was through them they met a priest of this Diocese, Fr John O’Connor. He became the inspiration for Chesterton’s ‘Father Brown’ – and later received first Gilbert and then Frances into the Catholic faith. As an author and broadcaster, Gilbert was by far the more famous – but it’s a 1917 poem by Frances – later set to music, but read for us now by Joseph- which has led many a young person to make a journey of the imagination to seek out and come close to the Christ-Child.

READER - JOSEPH COWELL:

How far is it to Bethlehem?
Not very far.
Shall we find the stable-room lit by a star?
Can we see the little Child? Is He within?
If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in?

May we stroke the creatures there —Ox, ass, or sheep?
May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep?
If we touch His tiny hand, will He awake?
Will He know we've come so far just for His sake?

Great kings have precious gifts, and we have naught;
Little smiles and little tears are all we brought.
For all weary children Mary must weep;
Here, on His bed of straw, sleep, children, sleep.
God, in His mother's arms, babes in the byre,
Sleep, as they sleep who find their heart's desire.

FR MATTHEW:

For family and visitors alike, babies and children are often, if not usually, the focus of everyone’s attention – especially at this time of year! In music and art depicting the Holy Family at Our Lord’s Nativity, the Christ-child is crowned with, and enveloped in, a radiant halo of light. His brightness overcomes the shadows inside the stable, just as the star and the angels announcing His birth illuminate the cold, dark world outside. In just a few lines, read to us by Philippa, GK Chesterton’s poem ‘A Christmas Carol’, describes how the beautiful radiance of Mary’s little Child, the centre of her Universe and ours, dispels the darkness of a world wearied by sin - and is revealed as the King and Creator of all things: the Light of the World!

The Christ-child lay on Mary's lap,
His hair was like a light.
(O weary, weary were the world,
But here is all aright.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's breast,
His hair was like a star.
(O stern and cunning are the kings,
But here the true hearts are.)

The Christ-child lay on Mary's heart,
His hair was like a fire.
(O weary, weary is the world,
But here the world's desire.)

The Christ-child stood at Mary's knee,
His hair was like a crown.
And all the flowers looked up at Him,
And all the stars looked down.

FR MATTHEW:

In today’s world, there are many contemporary parallels with the first Christmas. In Bethlehem there was no room at the inn, so Jesus was born homeless – but all who today face homelessness, loneliness, bereavement or insecurity can find a home, a friend, and a protector in the Christ-Child.

Before proclaiming to the shepherds, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’ – the angels first had to reassure them not to be afraid. Today, peace and goodwill are much needed in the Land of Christ’s birth. In the Holy Land, people of all faiths face fear, violence, and uncertainty. Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, is shepherd to Catholics in the Holy Land…and David will read for us a short excerpt from a Christmas Homily given by the Cardinal in which he describes the present suffering there as being not so very different from the time of that first Christmas.

READER - DAVID COWELL:

I was struck by this aspect: Joseph and Mary experienced the grace of Christmas, the true birth of Christ, not in a way nor at a time or under circumstances chosen by them, or particularly favourable to them. At that time, an overpowering empire ruled the world and decided its social and economic destinies. Poor people had to be registered. Their labour and their toil served other people’s quality of life ... Yet, without complaint, without refusal, without rebellion, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem and here, they were open to receiving the birth of Christ in that way.

The nativity of the Lord is all about this: in His Son, the Father personally gets involved in our history and bears its burdens, He shares our sufferings and tears to the point of bloodshed and offers us a way out filled with life and hope. However, He is not in competition with the powers of this world. The power of divine love is not simply stronger than the world, but it has a different kind of power.

The Child of Bethlehem takes us by the hand and leads us with Him into history. He accompanies us so that we make history our own to the very end and so that we walk through it with the pace of trust and hope in Him. 

He was not afraid to be born into this world or die for it. He asks us not to fear the powers of this world, but to persevere in the path of justice and peace. We can and must, like Joseph and Mary, like the shepherds and magi, walk on the alternative ways that the Lord shows us. We must find adequate spaces where new styles of reconciliation and brotherhood may be born and grown. We must make our families and our communities cradles for a future of justice and peace, which has begun already with the coming of the Prince of Peace…

HYMN - SEE AMID THE WINTER’S SNOW

INTERCESSIONS - FR MATTHEW:

Today the angels’ message rings through the world. Gathered together in prayer, we rejoice in the birth of the Saviour of us all.
ALL: Lord Jesus, your birth is our peace.

DEACON JOSEPH CORTIS:
May our lives express what we celebrate at Christmas: may its mystery enrich your Church this year.

ALL: Lord Jesus, your birth is our peace.

DEACON JOE:
We join the shepherds in adoring you, we kneel before you, holy Child of Bethlehem.

ALL: Lord Jesus, your birth is our peace.

DEACON JOE:
We pray for the shepherds of your Church: be close to them as they proclaim your birth to all people.

ALL: Lord Jesus, your birth is our peace.

DEACON JOE:
As we travel on this earthly pilgrimage, may your light shine in our hearts, and may we see your glory, born in our midst.

ALL: Lord Jesus, your birth is our peace.

FR MATTHEW / ALL:

Our 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.

FR MATTHEW: Grant us, Lord, as we honour with joyful devotion the Nativity of your Son, that we may come to know with fullness of faith the hidden depths of this mystery and to love them ever more and more. Through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

FR MATTHEW:
Christmas carolling is one of the seasonal traditions shared and enjoyed by families of all faiths and none – but there was a time when celebrating Christmas with feasting and joyful music was actually banned in Britain! Our next carol comes from that time, after the Civil War of the mid-seventeenth century, when Oliver Cromwell’s puritan parliament passed a law, making Christmas festivities illegal! During that time of persecution, the Irish Catholic poet and Bishop, Luke Wadding, kept the faith alive. His Christmas carol begins, ‘On Christmas night ALL Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring’ – perhaps a plea that the birth of Jesus would once again bring light to all hearts, joy to all homes, and peace and unity to all people.

CHOIR - SUSSEX CAROL, CHILCOTT

FR MATTHEW:

And as we have gathered together on the Christmas morning I wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas.

FR MATTHEW:
The Lord be with you.

ALL: And with your spirit.

FR MATTHEW:
May God, who willed that the great joy of his Son’s saving Birth be announced to shepherds by the Angel, fill your minds with the gladness he gives and make you heralds of his Gospel.

ALL: Amen.

FR MATTHEW:
And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, ✠ and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.

ALL: Amen.

DEACON JOE: Go in peace.

All: Thanks be to God.

HYMN - HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING