Holburn West Church of Scotland

A Festival of Five Lessons, Carols and Mince Pies
Thursday December 13th 2007

Our third annual Festival of Five Lessons Carols and Mince Pies took place on December 13th 2007. The concert took the usual format with lessons (read by members of the choir) telling the Nativity Story interspersed with congregational carols and carols by the choir. Admission to the concert was free, giving attendees the option of donating to WellChildUK. The generosity so frequently shown by the congregation and friends of Holburn West was demonstrated again at the concert with over £370 being donated. Thank you all very much. The order of service is reproduced below along with photos and a short film.

History of the Service  

Our Festival of Five Lessons, Carols and Mince Pies was first held on December 15 th 2005. The Festival is inspired by the King's College Cambridge Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Since 1919 the King's College service has begun with the hymn ‘Once in Royal David's City' and since 2005 Holburn West has kept that tradition.

 

Home

 

A British charity dedicated to the needs of chronically sick children and their families. Its vision is for every child to have the best possible health.

WellChild provides care and support for sick children and their families, while leading research into childhood illness and disease.

Patron of WellChild: HRH Prince Harry

Opening Hymn: Once in Royal David's City - descant Sir David Willcocks (solo by Miss Gillian Bain)
Opening Prayer: the Rev Duncan C Eddie, Minister, Holburn West
1st Lesson: Isaiah IX, read by Mrs Yvonne Bain (soprano)
Carol by the Choir: Ecce Novum Gaudium, 16th C Scottish
Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem - descant Armstrong
Organ Chorale: Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein BWV 668 by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
2nd Lesson: St Luke 1, read by Mrs Jennifer Risk (alto)
Carol by Choir: Still, Still, Still, German Trad. arranged Ledger
Hymn: See Amid the Winter's Snow
3rd Lesson: St Luke 2, read by Mr Hamish Mitchell (tenor)
Carol by Choir: Christmas Lullaby by John Rutter CBE
Christmas Poem: The Twelve Days of Christmas read by Mr Alastair McKelvie (tenor)
Hymn: The Angel Gabriel
4th Lesson: St Matthew 2, read by Miss Verna Ward (soprano)
Solo: Silent Night, sung by Mrs Penny Mutch (soprano)
Carol by Choir: A Maiden Most Gentle, French Trad. arranged by Carter
Hymn: We Three Kings
5th Lesson: St John 1, read by Dominic Scullion (organist)
Carol by Choir: Nativity Carol by John Rutter CBE
Carol by Choir: Christmas Lights by Mitchell/Howie
Prayer and Blessing: the Rev Duncan C Eddie, Minister, Holburn West
Hymn: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Volunary: In Dulci Jubilo by JS Bach

INTERVAL (30 MINS)

Click here for a short film of the concert

During the interval Mince Pies and Mulled Wine were served by our Catering Manager Mrs Isobel Wilson.

The organist and the choir, however, interrupted the peaceful mincepieing and mulledwining by insisting the audience help them sing a rousing rendition of White Christmas!

The choir, accompanied by the organist (now pianist), sang Christmas Lights one more time. This carol, composed by former organist Bob Howie to a text by tenor Hamish Mitchell, was given its world premiere during the carol service. However given the choir's close personal association with the composers, we agreed that we should sing it once more before the evening was complete. The carol was dedicated to the memory of Mrs Muriel Howie.


END OF INTERVAL (BACK TO THE CHURCH)

Closing Hymn: Adeste Fideles


Grateful thanks are extended to:

the Rev Duncan Eddie and the parishioners of Holburn West for supporting the concert

Miss Gillian Bain for being our star-soloist for the third year running

Messrs Norman and Fraser Bain for giving up their free time to film the concert

Mrs Isobel Wilson, our Refreshments Manager and a lynchpin of all musical performances

Mrs Wendy Linn, our tireless Church Secretary

Mrs Yvonne Bain for assisting in the editing and of the programme

&

All the choristers who performed so magnificently and for the huge level of commitment and talent they contribute to Worship throughout the year

Holburn West Church

 

the Rev Duncan C Eddie (Minister)


Holburn West Choir

 

HRH the Duchess of Kent (Patron)

 

Sopranos: Yvonne Bain, Margaret Bille, Penny Mutch, Sheila Smith and

Verna Ward

Altos: Joyce Cormack, Jennifer Risk and Celia Walker

Tenors: Martin Birnie, Hugh Kerr, Hamish Mitchell and Alastair McKelvie

Basses: David Kelman, Sandy McDonald and George Ritchie

 

Soloists: Miss Gillian Bain (soprano) and

Mrs Penny Mutch (soprano)

 

Directed by Dominic Scullion (organ)