A Feast of Carols Songs of Praise

Hello and welcome to a festive feast of carols by candlelight

as Songs of Praise celebrates Christmas with some glorious singing

and some very special star guests.

Joining us will be award-winning choir Only Boys Aloud.

Kevin Whately and Tina Hobley tell the story of the first Christmas.

One of the readings I'm doing is about the shepherds watching

their flock by night when the angel comes down,

which is one of those things that you remember most as a child.

So it's hugely evocative for me as well.

My three children are besotted with Christmas

and we've been singing Christmas carols since Easter.

We're all very geared up for Christmas in our house.

I'll be singing a new version of O Holy Night,

and superstar songstress Katherine Jenkins sings her favourite carols.

Tonight, I'm going to be singing two carols.

One is called Angels From The Realms Of Glory, which is traditional

and everyone will know,

and the second one is something called Sleep Quietly, My Jesus,

which is a little lullaby I used to sing as a chorister

when I was in Midnight Mass.

MUSIC: "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney

We've come to north-west London, close to Maida Vale,

home to possibly the most famous zebra crossing in the world

outside Abbey Road Studios.

Just round the corner, in St John's Wood, another famous landmark,

Lord's Cricket Ground.

Almost midway between the two is the location for our candlelit carols.

St Mark's Church.

Throughout December, Christians all over the world

have been symbolically watching and waiting

for the birth of Jesus Christ, lighting an advent candle each week.

And now the wait is almost over, as members of St Mark's Sunday school

light today's candle, and Kevin Whately reads from the Bible,

the ancient but timeless words of the prophet Isaiah.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,

upon them hath the light shined.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,

and the government shall be upon his shoulder

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,

The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

And it came to pass in those days, that a decree went out

from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,

into Judaea, the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

because he was of the house and lineage of David.

To be registered with Mary his betrothed wife,

who was with child.

So it was, while they were there,

the days were completed for her to be delivered.

She brought forth her firstborn son,

wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now for a real treat.

It's been said our special guest star has the voice of an angel,

so it's fitting that she sings for us this well-loved carol,

it's Angels From The Realms Of Glory and Katherine Jenkins.

# Angels from the realms of glory

# Wing your flight o'er all the earth

# Ye who sang creation's story

# Now proclaim Messiah's birth

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo

# Shepherds in the fields abiding

# Watching o'er your flocks by night

# God with man is now residing

# Yonder shines the infant light

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo

# Though an Infant now we view Him

# He shall fill His Father's throne

# Gather all the nations to Him

# Every knee shall then bow down

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo

# Gloria

# In excelsis Deo. #

And there were, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field,

watching over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them,

and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,

"Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

"which shall be to all people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

"which is Christ the Lord.

"And this shall be a sign unto you.

"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

"lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them

into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,

"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is

"come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,

and the babe lying in a manger.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea

in the days of Herod the king,

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying,

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

"For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled,

and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes

and people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, "In Bethlehem of Judaea.

"For thus it is written by the Prophet.

"And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda,

"art not the least among the princes of Juda,

"for out of thee shall come a Governor,

"that shall rule my people, Israel."

# O holy night

# The stars are brightly shining

# It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth

# Long lay the world

# In sin and error pining

# Till He appeared

# And the soul felt its worth

# A thrill of hope

# A weary world rejoices

# For yonder breaks

# A new and glorious morn

# Fall on your knees

# Oh, hear the angel voices

# O night divine

# O night when Christ was born

# O night divine

# O night, O night divine

# Chains shall He break

# For the slave is our brother

# And in His name

# All oppression shall cease

# Sweet hymns of joy

# In grateful chorus raise we

# Let all within us

# Praise His holy name

-# Fall on your knees

-Fall on your knees

-# Oh, hear the angel voices

-Hear the angel voices

# O night divine

# O night, when Christ was born

# O night divine

# O night

# O night divine. #

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men,

enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said,

"Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have

"found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also."

When they had heard the king, they departed and, lo, the star,

which they saw in the east, went before them,

till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child

with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.

And when they had opened their treasures,

they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod,

they departed into their own country another way.

# Come they told me Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# A new born King to see Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Our finest gifts we bring Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# To lay before the King Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum rum-pum-pum-pum

# So to honour Him Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# When we come

# Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Little Baby, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# I am a poor boy too Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# I have no gift to bring Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# That's fit to give the King Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum Rum-pum-pum-pum

# Shall I play for you Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# On my drum?

# Rum-pum-pum-pum On my drum?

# Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum pum pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

# Mary nodded, pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# The ox and lamb kept time Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# I played my drum for Him Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# I played my best for Him Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Rum-pum-pum-pum Rum-pum-pum-pum

# Then He smiled at me Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Me and my drum

# Come they told me Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum

# Me and my drum. #

Now Katherine sings her own choice of carol.

It's Sleep Quietly, My Jesus.

# Sleep quietly My Jesus

# Now close your dear eyes

# Above you shine God's counting stars

# Like diamonds in the sky

# Beside your bed, a manger crude

# With cattle have fed

# Your mother stands in watchful pray

# And strokes your little head

# The shepherds leave their flocks and come

# They bring you my love

# While angels of our Father God

# Rejoice the song above

# From far away the wise men three

# Their treasures would bring

# The whole wide world before your knees

# My Jesus, little king

# Sleep quietly, my Jesus

# Now close your dear eyes

# Above you shine God's counting stars

# Like diamonds in the sky

# Beside your bed, a manger crude

# With cattle have fed

# Your mother stands in watchful pray

# And strokes your little head. #

As our candlelit celebration draws to a close,

the vicar of St Mark's Church leads us in a special Christmas prayer.

Almighty God, you make us glad

with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your son Jesus Christ.

Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with

sure confidence behold Him when he shall come to be our judge.

Who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

One God, now and for ever.

ALL: Amen.

May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds,

the perseverance of the wise men, and the obedience of Joseph and Mary,

and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas.

And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

be amongst you and remain with you always.

ALL: Amen.

I hope you enjoyed our candlelit carols,

everyone here sang brilliantly.

I hope you joined in with your special favourite.

We end with one of the best-loved Christmas carols of all.

In fact, Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.

It's Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing.

I wish you a joyful and peaceful Christmas. Bye for now.

Next week, Aled's at the Royal Albert Hall

for our Big Sing Spectacular celebrating 2012.

There'll be glorious hymns and very special guests, including

Olympic gold medallists,

soprano Laura Wright, and the amazing Alfie Boe.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd