0:00:02 > 0:00:03CHEERING
0:00:03 > 0:00:06BELL RINGS
0:00:06 > 0:00:11CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Christmas isn't just coming, it's almost here.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Are you in a panic with only six days to go?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Well, however busy the coming week is going to be,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26why don't you just take half an hour out
0:00:26 > 0:00:28to relax and look forward
0:00:28 > 0:00:31to Christmas Day with its promise of peace and goodwill to all men,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34brought about by the birth of that very special baby,
0:00:34 > 0:00:372000 years ago?
0:00:43 > 0:00:47This week, a feast of candlelit carols
0:00:47 > 0:00:49from Stratford-upon-Avon.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52We tell the story of the first Christmas.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58And joyful, festive music, from Joe McElderry.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12where here in Holy Trinity Church,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15people from across the town, are taking a breather
0:01:15 > 0:01:18from their Christmas preparations, to come and enjoy
0:01:18 > 0:01:20some of their favourite carols together,
0:01:20 > 0:01:22and to hear again the story
0:01:22 > 0:01:26of Christ's birth, in readings that we turn to,
0:01:26 > 0:01:27year after year.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33As we're in Shakespeare's hometown,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36we've asked people living and working locally,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38to help us tell the Christmas story.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41And we begin, with a much loved carol
0:01:41 > 0:01:44that reminds us of that very first Christmas
0:01:44 > 0:01:46in David's town, Bethlehem.
0:01:46 > 0:01:54# Once in Royal David's city
0:01:54 > 0:02:02# Stood a lowly cattle shed
0:02:02 > 0:02:08# Where a mother laid her baby
0:02:08 > 0:02:16# In a manger for His bed
0:02:16 > 0:02:24# Mary was that mother mild
0:02:24 > 0:02:27# Jesus Christ
0:02:27 > 0:02:32# Her little child. #
0:04:59 > 0:05:03In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth,
0:05:06 > 0:05:07a town in Galilee,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,
0:05:11 > 0:05:12a descendant of David.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15The virgin's name was Mary.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17The angel went to her and said,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19"Greetings, you who are highly favoured.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23"The Lord is with you."
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Mary was greatly troubled at his words,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37"You have found favour with God.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40"You are to conceive and give birth to a son,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42"and you are to call him Jesus.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46"He will be great and will be called
0:05:46 > 0:05:48" 'the son of the most high'.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52"The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55"and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56"His kingdom will never end."
0:05:58 > 0:06:01"But how will this be...", Mary asked the angel,
0:06:01 > 0:06:02"since I am a virgin?"
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The angel answered, "The holy spirit will come on you,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13"and the power of the most high will overshadow you.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18"So, the holy one to be born will be called 'the son of God'."
0:06:18 > 0:06:23"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled."
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Then, the angel left her.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that
0:09:56 > 0:10:00a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02This was the first census that took place
0:10:02 > 0:10:05while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And everyone went to their own town to register.
0:10:11 > 0:10:16So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
0:10:16 > 0:10:22to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and the line of David.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24He went there to register with Mary,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41And she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44because there was no guest room available for them.
0:10:44 > 0:10:52# Mm-mm-mm-mm
0:10:53 > 0:10:59# Mm-mm-mm-mm
0:10:59 > 0:11:03# A ray of hope
0:11:03 > 0:11:07# Flickers in the sky
0:11:07 > 0:11:10# A tiny star
0:11:10 > 0:11:15# Lights up way up high
0:11:15 > 0:11:18# All across the land
0:11:18 > 0:11:22# Dawns a brand new morn
0:11:22 > 0:11:25# This comes to pass
0:11:25 > 0:11:33# When a child is born
0:11:33 > 0:11:37# A silent wish
0:11:37 > 0:11:41# Sails the seven seas
0:11:41 > 0:11:44# The winds of change
0:11:44 > 0:11:49# Whisper in the trees
0:11:49 > 0:11:52# And the walls of doubt
0:11:52 > 0:11:55# Crumble, tossed and torn
0:11:55 > 0:11:59# This comes to pass
0:11:59 > 0:12:03# When a child is born
0:12:07 > 0:12:10# A rosy hue
0:12:10 > 0:12:15# Settles all around
0:12:15 > 0:12:18# You've got the feel
0:12:18 > 0:12:23# You're on solid ground
0:12:23 > 0:12:25# For a spell or two
0:12:25 > 0:12:29# No-one seems forlorn
0:12:29 > 0:12:33# This comes to pass
0:12:33 > 0:12:38# When a child is born
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- # It's all a dream - It's all...
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- # And illusion now - ..a dream
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- # It must come true - It must come true
0:12:59 > 0:13:04- # Sometime, soon, somehow - Sometime, somehow
0:13:04 > 0:13:07# All across the land
0:13:07 > 0:13:10# Dawns a brand new morn
0:13:10 > 0:13:14# This comes to pass
0:13:14 > 0:13:22# When a child is born
0:13:22 > 0:13:26# This comes to pass
0:13:26 > 0:13:36# When a child is born. #
0:13:48 > 0:13:53# We wish you a Merry Christmas
0:13:53 > 0:13:56- # We wish you... # - It's a parent's most treasured memory.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Their child's starring role in the school nativity play.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03And here in Stratford, as you might expect,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05even the tots are word perfect.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10- Have you any room?- No, sorry. - Follow me to the stable.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14And Joseph helped Mary to sit down in the...
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Christmas is really exciting at school.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21We do lots of things in the classroom, making crafts,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23and things, but most especially,
0:14:23 > 0:14:28the children start their nativity preparations.
0:14:28 > 0:14:34We give presents, just like the three Kings that brought Jesus very special presents.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40We like to do a bit of modern and a bit of traditional.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42The Christmas story, for the children,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46is part of the curriculum, but it is also a very special part of the year.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Well, it's normally quite stressful,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51cos they never really want to do the role they've been given.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And this year, although Bo was Mary, she really wanted to be Angel Gabriel,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58so I've had to, kind of, bribe her, and coax her into being Mary.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02It's the pinnacle of the year, and seeing how they perform, cos they are
0:15:02 > 0:15:07all slightly different, anyway, and some, like Lily, sing very loudly.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14And others are much quieter. It's just lovely to see them all.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16Trying to get boys into brown tights
0:15:16 > 0:15:19and white tights hasn't always been easy.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24But, no, it's lovely. Just practising the songs really makes you more Christmassy.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28We tend to forget that Christmas is about Jesus,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30and we just go for the presents.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31I am angel Gabriel.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37I think it's such good for her to be part of something like they
0:15:37 > 0:15:40because she can then understand the meaning of Christmas
0:15:40 > 0:15:42behind the presents, and everything else.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51# Silent night
0:15:51 > 0:15:55# Holiest night
0:15:55 > 0:15:58# Darkness flies
0:15:58 > 0:16:01# All is light
0:16:01 > 0:16:08# Shepherds hear the Angels sing
0:16:08 > 0:16:15# Hallelujah, hail the King
0:16:15 > 0:16:21# Jesus the Saviour is here!
0:16:21 > 0:16:26# Jesus the Saviour is here!
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- # Silent night - Silent night
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- # Holiest night - Holiest night
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- # Guiding star - Ah-ah-ah
0:16:38 > 0:16:42- # Lend thy light - Ah
0:16:42 > 0:16:48# See the Eastern Magi bring
0:16:49 > 0:16:55# Gifts and homage to their King
0:16:55 > 0:17:02# Jesus the Saviour is here!
0:17:02 > 0:17:07# Jesus the Saviour is here!
0:17:09 > 0:17:13# Silent night
0:17:13 > 0:17:17# Holiest night
0:17:17 > 0:17:20# Wond'rous star
0:17:20 > 0:17:23# Lend thy light
0:17:23 > 0:17:30# With the Angels let us sing
0:17:30 > 0:17:36# Hallelujah to the King
0:17:36 > 0:17:44# Jesus our Saviour is here
0:17:44 > 0:17:50# Jesus our Saviour is here! #
0:17:51 > 0:17:56Well, from the sweetness of children's voices, telling us
0:17:56 > 0:18:00of that Silent Night, our next carol is a joyful call to prayer that will
0:18:00 > 0:18:04have voices across the world singing out loud and clear this Christmas.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06O Come, All Ye Faithful.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06keeping watch over their flocks at night.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
0:21:09 > 0:21:13and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20"I bring you good news that will cause great joy to all the people.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28"He is the Messiah. The Lord.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29"This will be a sign to you.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32"You will find a baby wrapped in cloths,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34"lying in a manger."
0:21:37 > 0:21:43Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45praising God and saying,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
0:21:47 > 0:21:53"and on Earth peace to those on whom his favour rests."
0:21:53 > 0:21:56When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem
0:22:00 > 0:22:04"and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
0:22:04 > 0:22:07So they hurried off and they found Mary and Joseph,
0:22:07 > 0:22:10and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,
0:25:37 > 0:25:43Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
0:25:43 > 0:25:46"We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
0:25:49 > 0:25:54When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09"In Bethlehem, in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written."
0:26:13 > 0:26:20Then Herod called for the Magi, secretly, and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search for the child.
0:26:24 > 0:26:30"As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I, too, may go and worship him."
0:26:34 > 0:26:38After they had heard the king, they went on their way,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them
0:26:42 > 0:26:45until it stopped over the place where the child was.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53And on coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56and they bowed down and worshiped him.
0:26:59 > 0:27:06Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
0:27:19 > 0:27:25# Come they told me Pa rum pum pum pum
0:27:25 > 0:27:31# A new born King to see Pa rum pum pum pum
0:27:32 > 0:27:39# Our finest gifts we bring Pa rum pum pum pum
0:27:39 > 0:27:44# To lay before the King Pa rum pum pum pum
0:27:44 > 0:27:49# Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum
0:27:49 > 0:27:55# So to honour Him Pa rum pum pum pum
0:27:55 > 0:27:59# When we come
0:28:02 > 0:28:09# Baby Jesus Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:09 > 0:28:16# I am a poor boy too Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:16 > 0:28:23# I have no gift to bring Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:23 > 0:28:27# That's fit to give our King Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:27 > 0:28:32# Rum pum pum pum Rum pum pum pum
0:28:32 > 0:28:38# Shall I play for you Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:38 > 0:28:44# On my drum?
0:28:45 > 0:28:49# Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:49 > 0:28:53# Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:53 > 0:28:57# The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:57 > 0:28:59# Ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum
0:28:59 > 0:29:02# I played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum
0:29:02 > 0:29:06# Played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum
0:29:06 > 0:29:08# I played my best for Him
0:29:08 > 0:29:10- # Played my best - Pa rum pum pum pum
0:29:10 > 0:29:12- # Rum pum pum pum - Rum pum pum pum
0:29:12 > 0:29:16- # Rum pum pum pum - Rum pum pum pum
0:29:16 > 0:29:23# Then He smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum
0:29:23 > 0:29:28# Me and my drum. #
0:29:41 > 0:29:44God, we thank you for the message of peace,
0:29:44 > 0:29:48that Christmas brings to our distracted world.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53Give to us peace in our land, peace in our town,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57peace in our hearts, and peace in our homes,
0:29:57 > 0:30:03as we celebrate the birth at Bethlehem of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Amen.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15So, at the start of this last week before Christmas,
0:30:15 > 0:30:17we hope that that blessing
0:30:17 > 0:30:22and those much loved readings will stay with you in the days to come,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25and carry you through to a joyful and a peaceful Christmas.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30So, as we finish with Charles Wesley's most glorious carol,
0:30:30 > 0:30:36everyone here, and all of your friends on the songs of praise team, wish you a very happy Christmas.
0:33:21 > 0:33:27Next week, Aled introduces a spectacular Christmas Day Big Sing from the Royal Albert Hall.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30They'll be carols aplenty for everyone to sing,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33and festive songs from star guest, Chris de Burgh.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37So, put your feet up for a very special Songs Of Praise,
0:33:37 > 0:33:41and join Aled and 5,000 singers for the perfect way to celebrate Christmas.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Email: subtitling@bbc.co.uk