Songs & Updates for Wednesday, December 24, 2025 [updated]

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Nativity of the Lord

Thanks for a lovely Pageant and strong finish to Advent last week! We don't normally book multiple events & rehearsals for one afternoon, so I appreciate your willingness to be there! The audio from both can be found here and here respectively. 

Welcome to Christmas week! For those singing the 4:00 PM Children's Mass, here's the final program. There will be songsheets, but it couldn't hurt to print a copy (especially for page numbers, etc.). 

Here's who I have for this liturgy:

Co-Directors: Cris & Joanne
Cantor: Violet (Ps & Acc)
Choir: Cris, Ginny, Lisa, Margi, Maureen, Melissa, Jerri, Violet, Virginia (?), youth singers
Accompaniment: Joanne (piano)
Other Instruments: Gideon (violin/percussion), Mike (bass), youth instrumentalists

Some of the instrumentalists will be arriving around 3:15 and the kids 3:30. If adult singers could be there by 3:00, that'll give us time to play with. 

Adult preludes will begin around 3:30. The instrumentalists have Of the Father's Love Begotten and Lisa is singing O, Holy Night. Between those, please be prepared to sing Lo, How a Rose (in parts -- we should be able to do a soprano, alto & tenor split).

After adult preludes, we'll sing O Come, All Ye Faithful while the kids process from the Chapel into the Sanctuary. The kids will sing their preludes around 3:45. 

For the Homily program, we'll sing the bits of each song as outlined in the songsheet. This is always a little tricky, so we'll need to be super careful about what's happening when. If our youth cantor wants to do this instead, that's fine too!

Beyond the children's preludes and Homily program, the rest of Mass is mostly normal. Violet will cantor the Psalm & Gospel Acclamation. Adult singers will handle Mass Parts and Communion. The kids should be leading everything else. 


For the 6:00 PM Mass, here's the final (for real this time!) music plan. There won't be a printed songsheet, so I'd suggest bringing a copy. 

Here's who I have for this liturgy:

Co-Directors: Cris & Joanne
Cantor(s): Violet (Ps & Acc)
Choir: Barry (?), Carrie, Cathy, Claire, Cris, Jake, Jen, Lisa, Pat, Violet, Virginia (?)
Accompaniment: Joanne (piano); Bev (organ)*
Other Instruments: Gideon (violin), Mike (bass)

*Just so everyone's aware, Bev was planning to play organ. A personal matter came up, though, and she probably won't be able to join us.

A reminder that our large-group rehearsal is this evening, December 22nd @ 4 PM. We'll go over special music (including the preludes and Meditation); for everything else, please take a look and let me know if you have any questions!

If possible, please pull your music into black binders! Besides special pieces, some carols will be done in different keys from what's in the book. I believe we have a few spare binders in the cabinet -- you're welcome to grab one tonight, or use your own.

On Wednesday, could we gather at 5:15 PM (right after the Children's Mass)? We'll need to reset the choir area, possibly touch on some things, and begin preludes @ ~5:45 PM. If you're staying through from the Children's Mass, we can try to get a head-start on this.

Keep in mind that I may not be up front for most of this program (we'll see). Please watch for cues (especially cutoffs) and follow piano as closely as possible!

UPDATE: 12/22 - Added some tweaks/info from tonight's rehearsal.

(All Mass Parts are from Mass of Joy & Peace, including the Gloria, Gospel Acclamation, Holy, Eucharistic Acclamation 'B' (When We Eat This Bread), Doxology & Lamb of God)

Preludes:
In the Bleak Midwinter (Holst) [organ/piano] [All]

**We'll sing a couple of verses (probably 1 & 4) in parts with accompaniment. Practice tracks have been added to the folder (not a perfect match for this arrangement, but close!).**

Masters in This Hall (Tabbush) [5:00 Trio]

GC3 #435 - God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen (Traditional) [5:00 Trio]

**We'll do verses 1, 3 & 5. Since our quartet is now a trio, let's plan to split this as soprano, tenor & bass (no alto).**

GC3 #445 - Infant Lowly, Infant Lowly (Polish Carol) [10:30 Choir]

GC3 #455 - Once in David’s Royal City (Alexander) [All]

Entrance:
GC3 #439 - O Come, All Ye Faithful (vs 1, 3 & 4) (Wade)

**Please use Joanne's version of the sheet music (in the folder)! The book has this in the key of G-major, but we'll be singing it in A-major instead. Both versions use the same harmonization, though.

If you're looking at GC, we'll only sing verses 1, 3 & 4 (verse 2 is less common); in Joanne's score, those are the only three verses listed.

As with everything on the program, four-part spits would be great! The combined group (probably) has enough sopranos & altos, but may be light on tenors & basses.**

(no Penitential Rite)

(Glory to God)

Responsorial Ps (Violet):
GC3 #064 - Ps 89 - For Ever I Will Sing (Haugen)

Acclamation (Violet):
Mass of Joy & Peace (Christmas verse)

Preparation:
GC3 #448 - Away in a Manger (Traditional)

**Please use Joanne's music for this one as well. GC has it in F-major; we'll sing it in G-major. Her copy also has four-part harmony that's not in the book.**

(Mass Parts)

Communion:
GC3 #427 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten [instrumental]

GC3 #451 - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Traditional)

**The book and Joanne's copy are both in F-major. I'd suggest working from the book, though -- besides including parts, the book has three verses, while the other copy only has two. We can confirm how many verses tonight or Wednesday.**

Meditation:
GC3 #442 - Night of Silence (Kantor) / GC3 #441 - Silent Night (Mohr/Gruber)

**This will be a large-group Meditation. Jake & Lisa will cantor the 'Night of Silence' verses, with everyone else singing 'Silent Night'.

If you still have the score from previous years, please use this new version instead! I've updated it to include the accompaniment, piano chords and instrumental section. Please don't use the book, as GC has these pieces in different keys :-).**

Closing:
GC3 #439 - Joy to the World (Watts)

**It appears the harmonizations in the book and Joanne's copies are slightly different, but both are in D-major. I'd suggest working from the book.**

I think that's it! Thanks for your flexibility on all of this, and if I don't see you, have a very blessed, Merry Christmas!

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