Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus Ut pro tua clementia Sis praesul et custodia. Procul recedant somnia Et noctium phantasmata, Hostemque nostrum comprime Ne polluantur corpora. Praesta, Pater piissime Patrique compar unice Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne saeculum. Amen.
Thee, Lord, before the close of day, Maker of all things, Thee we pray For Thy dear loving kindness sake To guard and guide us in Thy way. Banish the dreams that terrify, And night's fantastic company: Keep us from Satan's tyranny: Defend us from unchastity. Protect us, Father, God adored, Thou too, coequal Son and Lord, Thou, Holy Ghost, our Advocate, Whose reign can know nor bound nor date. Amen.8th cent. Roman Breviary
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, Of her I took fleshly substance; Thus was I knit to man’s nature, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, So very poor this was my chance, Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, To call my true love to my dance: Sing O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. Then afterwards baptized I was; The Holy Ghost on me did glance, My Father’s voice heard from above, To call my true love to my dance. Sing O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love.
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dagers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Collect for Epiphany 3
Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Blessed be the King of Israel; blessed be the Kingdom that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest places; Hosanna in the highest heavens.Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19
See, the Word is incarnate; God is made man in the womb of a Virgin. Shepherds rejoice, wise men adore and angels sing 'Glory be to God on high: peace on earth, good will towards men. The law is cancelled, Jews and Gentiles converted by the preaching of glad tidings of salvation. The blind have sight and cripples have their motion; diseases cured, the dead are raised, and miracles are wrought. Let us welcome such a guest with Hosanna. The Paschal Lamb is offered, Christ Jesus made a sacrifice for sin. The earth quakes, the sun is darkened, the powers of hell are shaken; and lo, he is risen up in victory. Sing Alleluia. See, O see the fresh wounds, the gored blood, the prick of thorns, the print of nails. And in the sight of multitudes a glorious ascension. When now he sits on God's right hand where all the choir of heaven all jointly sing: Glory be to the Lamb that sitteth on the throne. Let us continue our wonted note with Hosanna: Blessed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord; with Alleluia, we triumph in victory, the serpent's head is bruised, Christ's kingdom exalted, and heaven laid open to sinners. Amen.
This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, and said plainly, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What art thou then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, What art thou? that we may give an answer unto them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? And he said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.John 1: 19-23
A tender shoot has started up from a root of grace, as ancient seers imparted from Jesse's holy race; It blooms without a blight, blooms in the cold bleak winter turning our darkness into light. This shoot, Isaiah taught us, from Jesse's root should spring; the Vrigin Mary brought us the branch of which we sing: our God of endless might gave her this child to save us, thus turning darkness into light.Words: Otto Goldschidt, trans. W Bartholomew
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth at me beside the still waters. Yea, though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil, for you are with me, you will comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.Psalm 23
Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live. Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee; And verily every man living is altogether vanity. For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what is my hope? truly my hope is even in thee. Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling; hold not thy peace at my tears. O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, before I go hence, and be no more seen.Psalm 39
Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness.Psalm 65: vv 9, 12
Alleluia! I bring you news of great joy, Today a Saviour has been born for us, Christ the Lord. Alleluia!Words: The Sunday Missal
I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth. Go ye out to meet him and say: Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel? High and low, roch and poor, One with another, go ye out to meet him and say: Hear, O thou shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. Tell us, art thou he that should come? Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.Words translated from an early mediaeval Advent Sunday Responsory
Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; Tomorrow go ye forth, and the Lord, he will be with you. Stand ye still, and ye shall see the salvation of the Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.Words translated from an early mediaeval Advent Sunday Responsory
Zion, at thy shining gates Lo, the King of Glory waits, Haste thy monarch's pomp to greet, Strew thy palms before his feet. Christ, for thee their triple light, Faith and hope and love unite; This the beacon we display To proclaim thine advent day. Come and give us peace within, Loose us from the bands of sin, Take away the galling weight Laid on us by Satan's hate. Give us grace thy yoke to wear, Give us strength thy cross to bear, Make us thine in deed and word, Thine in heart and life, O Lord. So, when thou shalt come again, Judge of angels and of men. We with all thy saints shall sing Alleluias to our King.Old German Melody
Thanks to Andrew Watson for the mini-biographies
Return to Music at Kingston Parish Church
Words of anthems by other composers: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z