This page contains the text and translations for the upcoming ECC concert:
A Ceremony of Christmas
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Runnymede United Church (map)
Tickets for this Concert
A Ceremony of Carols
1 - Procession (a medieval paraphrase of Luke 2:11, 13-14 and Psalm 33:1)
Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt angeli:
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Today Christ is born:
Today the Saviour appears:
today on earth the angels sing:
the archangels announce:
today be exultant and say together:
Glory to God in the highest.
Halleluia! Halleluia! Halleluia!
2 - Wolcum Yole!
Wolcum, Wolcum, Wolcum be thou hevenè king,
Wolcum Yole! Wolcum, born in one morning,
Wolcum for whom we sall sing!
Wolcum be ye, Stevene and Jon,
Wolcum, Innocentes every one,
Wolcum, Thomas marter one,
Wolcum be ye, good Newe Yere,
Wolcum, Twelfthe Day both in fere,
Wolcum, seintes lefe and dere,
Wolcum Yole, Wolcum Yole, Wolcum!
Candelmesse, Quene of bliss,
Wolcum bothe to more and lesse.
Wolcum, Wolcum, Wolcum be ye that are here,
Wolcum Yole, Wolcum alle and make good cheer,
Wolcum alle another yere, Wolcum Yole, Wolcum!
3 - There is no Rose
There is no rose of such vertu as is the rose that bare Jesu. Alleluia, alleluia.
For in this rose conteinèd was heaven and earth in litel space,
Res miranda, res miranda. (Thing of wonder)
By that rose we may well see there be one God in persons three,
Pares forma, pares forma, (Equal in form)
The aungels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis, gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gaudeamus, gaudeamus. (Let us rejoice)
Leave we all this werldly mirth, and follow we this joyful birth.
Transeamus, transeamus, transeamus. (Let us follow)
Alleluia, res miranda, pares forma, gaudeamus,
Transeamus, transeamus, transeamus.
4a. - That yongë childe
That yonge child when it gan weep with song she lulled him asleep:
That was so sweet a melody it passèd alle minstrelsy.
The nightingalë sang also: Her song is hoarse . . and nought thereto:
Whoso attendeth to her song and leaveth the first. . then doth he wrong.
4b. - Balulalow
O my deare hert, young Jesu sweit, Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee to my hert, And never mair from thee depart.
But I sall praise thee evermoir With sanges sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my hert sall I bow, And sing that richt Balulalow.
5 - As dew in Aprille
I sing of a maiden that is makèles:
King of all kings to her son she ches
He came also stille there his moder was,
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the grass.
He came also stille to his moder's bour,
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the flour.
He came also stille there his moder lay,
As dew in Aprille that falleth on the spray.
Moder and mayden was never none but she:
WellmaysuchaladyGoddesmoderbe.
6 - This little Babe
This little Babe so few days old, is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at his presence quake, though he himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise the gates of hell he will surprise.
With tears he fights and wins the field, His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot are babish cries, His arrows looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns Cold and Need, and feeble Flesh his warrior's steed.
His camp is pitched in a stall, His bulwark but a broken wall;
The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes; of shepherds he his muster makes;
And thus, as sure his foe to wound, the angels' trumps alarum sound.
My soul, with Christ join thou in fight; stick to the tents that he hath pight.
Within his crib is surest ward; this little Babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, then flit not from this heavenly Boy.
7 - Interlude (harp solo)
8 - In Freezing Winter Night
Behold, a silly tender babe, in freezing winter night,
In homely manger trembling lies. Alas, a piteous sight!
The inns are full; no man will yield This little pilgrim bed.
But forced he is with silly beasts in crib to shroud his head.
This stable is a Prince's court, this crib his chair of State;
The beasts are parcel of his pomp, the wooden dish his plate.
The persons in that poor attire His royal liveries wear;
The Prince himself is come from heaven; This pomp is prized there.
With joy approach, O Christian wight, Do homage to thy King,
And highly praise his humble pomp, wich he from Heaven doth bring.
9 - Spring Carol
Pleasure it is to hear iwis, the Birdes sing,
The deer in the dale, the sheep in the vale, the corn springing.
God's purveyance for sustenance, It is for man, it is for man.
Then we always to give him praise, And thank him than.
10 - Deo Gracias
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Adam lay ibounden, bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter thought he not to long.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
And all was for an appil, an appil that he tok,
As clerkes finden written in their book.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
Ne had the appil take ben, the appil take ben,
Ne hadde never our lady a ben hevene quene.
Blessed be the time that appil take was.
Therefore we moun singen.
Deo gracias! Deo gracias! Deo gracias! Deo gracias!
11 - Recessional
Hodie Christus natus est:
hodie Salvator apparuit:
hodie in terra canunt angeli:
laetantur archangeli:
hodie exsultant justi dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Today Christ is born:
today the Saviour appears:
today on earth the angels sing:
the archangels announce:
today be exultant and say together:
Glory to God in the highest.
Halleluia! Halleluia! Halleluia!
Quatre Motets pour le temps de noels
Francis Poulenc
1 - O magnum mysterium
O magnum mysterium
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum jacentem in praesepio.
Beata Virgo cujus viscera
meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.
Oh great mystery,
and admirable sacrament,
that animals should see the Lord born, lying in a manger!
Blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear the Lord Christ.
2 - Quem vidistis pastores
Quem vidistis pastores dicite:
annuntiate pro nobis in terris quis apparuit.
Natum vidimus,
et choros Angelorum collaudantes Dominum.
Dicite quidnam vidistis,
et annuntiate Christi nativitatem.
Whom did you see, shepherds? Tell us.
Announce to us, who has appeared on the earth?
“We saw the new-born one,
and choirs of angels, together praising the Lord.”
Tell us, what have you seen?
and announce the birth of Christ.
3 - Videntes stellam
Videntes stellam Magi
gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
et intrantes domum
obtulerunt Domino aurum,
thus et myrrham.
Seeing the star, the Magi
were delighted with great joy:
they offered
to the Lord gold,
frankincense, and myrrh.
4 - Hodie Christus natus est
Hodie Christus natus est
Hodie Salvator apparuit,
Hodie in terra canunt angeli,
Laetantur archangeli,
Hodie exultant justi, dicentes:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Today Christ is born;
today the Savior has appeared;
today on earth the Angels sing,
the Archangels rejoice;
today the just rejoice, saying:
Glory to God in the highest. Alleluia.
Winter’s Peak
Lyrics by Sarah Henstra
At winter’s peak,
the lavish span of a single night
lush with darkness, shadows lingering long,
the morning sun slithers over the rim
to show off its laziest dawn.
By winter’s peak,
long I have carried on, hardly at home
in the world I’ve made.
Long have I lived not knowing my body,
nor where to find its fine silken soul.
Long have I woven my life
without knowing how to wear it
or whether it’s rather a shroud.
Is it true that the birds left behind are too heavy for flight?
Do they shed all their feathers in favour of armour
and sharpen their beaks against song, silent song?
Yet Godlit starlight still journeys toward us,
spells out its myriad names for cold,
whispers them all in crystalline code
for telling our fortune,
for reading our future,
for feeling safe and small.
At winter’s peak,
why do we try to pretend we aren’t animals,
creatures of habit and humble hopes,
creatures of lowly flesh and blood?
Hunkered on earth’s somnolent crust,
our instincts come undone,
taste of tin on the tongue,
odour of the old world.
Is it true that the gods left behind secret doorways to joy?
Did they mark all their pathways with sibylline symbols
for curious mortals to find?
At winter’s peak,
why don’t we take up the winter
habit of honeybees
who shiver and shimmer together,
taking the chill off the world:
conjuring sunshine and sweetness,
building a home to hide inside,
staying busy at home,
shimmer at home,
sweetness at home.
INTERMISSIOn
Ave Maria (Hail Mary)
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and in the hour of our death. Amen.
In Dulci Jubilo
1. In dulci jubilo (In quiet joy)
Let us our homage show
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio (in a manger)
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio (in the mother's lap)
Alpha es et O. (Thou art Alpha & Omega)
2. O Jesu parvule (O tiny Jesus)
I yearn for thee alway
Listen to my ditty
O puer optima (O best of boys)
Have pity on me, pity
O princeps gloriae, (Prince of glory)
Trahe me post te. (draw me unto thee)\
3. O patris caritas (O father's caring)
O nati lenitas (O newborn's mildness)
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina (by our crimes)
But thou hast for us gained
Coelorum gaudia (heavenly joy)
O that we were there.
4. Ubi sunt gaudia (where be joys)
If that they be not there
There are angels singing
Nova cantina (new songs)
There the bells are ringing
In regis curia (at the king's court)
O that we were there.
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
1. Going through the hills on a night all starry
On the way to Bethlehem,
Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
On the way to Bethlehem.
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
is come to bring us peace on earth,
And he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’
2. ‘Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
On the way to Bethlehem,
Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem?’
Chorus
3. ‘None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
On the way to Bethlehem;
But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
When I get to Bethlehem.’
Angels in the sky came down from on high
Hovered o’er the manger where the babe was lying
cradled in the arms of his mother Mary,
sleeping now at Bethlehem.
4. ‘Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,
Is he there at Bethlehem?’
‘I will find him soon by the star shining brightly
In the sky o'er Bethlehem.’
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
is come to bring us peace on earth,
and he's lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’
‘May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,
Come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle,
Is it far to Bethlehem?’
Angels in the sky brought this message nigh:
‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King
is born this night in lowly stable yonder,
Born for you at Bethlehem.’
Sing-along
ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY
Solo:
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
Sing-Along:
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And through all his wondrous childhood,
He would honour and obey,
Love, and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall gather ‘round.
Down in Yon Forest
1. Down in yon forest there stands a hall:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's cover’d all over with purple and pall:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
2. In that hall there stands a bed:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's covered all over with scarlet so red:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
3. At the bed-side there lies a stone:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Which the sweet Virgin Mary knelt upon:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
4. Under that bed there runs a flood:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
The one half runs water, the other runs blood:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
5. At the bed's foot there grows a thorn:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Which ever blows blossom since he was born:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
6. Over that bed the moon shines bright:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
Denoting our Saviour was born this night:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
Past three a clock
Refrain.
Past three a clock,
And a cold frosty morning,
Past three a clock;
Good morrow, masters all!
1. Born is a Baby,
Gentle as may be,
Son of th’eternal
Father supernal.
Refrain.
2. Seraph quire singeth,
Angel bell ringeth:
Hark how they rime it,
Time it, and chime it.
Refrain.
3. Mid earth rejoices
Hearing such voices
Ne'ertofore so well
Carolling Nowell.
Refrain.
4. Light out of star-land
Leadeth from far land
Princes, to meet him,
Worship and greet him.
Refrain.
5. Myrrh from full coffer,
Incense they offer:
Nor is the golden
Nugget withholden.
Refrain.
6. Thus they: I pray you,
Up, sirs, nor stay you
Till ye confess him
Likewise, and bless him.
Refrain.
Christmas Angel
1. Oh how I wish I could sing like an angel,
I’d sing carols so high and sweet.
Oh if I had the voice of an angel,
I’d be singin’ that sweet child asleep.
2. Oh how I wish I had the wings of an angel,
shining with glory bright.
Oh if I had the wings of an angel,
I’d be rockin’ that sweet child at night.
Christmas angel, so long ago
you saw the Christchild in the star’s glow,
you sang to Jesus on His bed of hay,
on that first Christmas day.
3. Oh how I wish I could sing like an angel,
I’d sing carols so high and sweet.
Oh if I had the voice of an angel,
I’d be singin’ that sweet child asleep.
Carols of French Canada
1 - Mon Petit Jésus
Chorus:
Mon petit Jésu, Bonjour
Mes délices, mes délices,
Mon petit Jésu, Bonjour
Mes délices, mes amours.
My baby Jesus, hello,
Oh joy, oh joy.
My baby Jesus, hello,
My joy, my love.
J’ai rêvé cette nuit
Que j’étais en Paradis,
Mais ce n’est qu’un songe,
La nuit m’a trompé,
D’un si beau mensonge
Mon âme est attristé.
I dreamed one night
That I was in paradise;
But it was only a dream
That deceived me
With such a beautiful lie.
My soul is saddened.
Chorus:
Je voyais dans les cieux
Les anges et les bienheureux
Commes ils sont aimable.
Làhaut ces grands saints
Ils sont admirables
Dans les parvis divins.
I saw among the heavens
the blessed Angels.
They are so lovable.
These great saints on high
So splendid
In their divine court.
Chorus:
2 - D’ou Viens-tu Bergère?
D'où viens-tu, bergère?
D'où viens-tu? (bis)
Je viens de l'étable, de m'y promener
J'ai vu un miracle ce soir arriver
Qu'as-tu vu, bergère?
Qu'as-tu vu? (bis)
J'ai vu dans la crèche, un petit enfant
Sur la paille fraîche mise bien tendrement
Where do you come from, shepherdess,
where do you come from? (2x)
I come from the stable, where I was walking;
I saw a miracle happen this evening.What did you see, shepherdess,
what did you see? (2x)
I saw a little child in the manger,
placed most tenderly on the fresh straw.
3 - Noël, Noël
De la Noël c'est la Fête,
Chantons Noël avec ardeur.
Noël, Noël un dieu Sauveur
Fait la conquête de nos coeurs
L’enfant naît en une étable
Pendant l`hiver en cette nuit,
Il se fait pauvre aujourd`hui
Tandis que la terre est a lui,
Christmas is the celebration,
sing lustily of Christmas.
Christmas, Christmas, a Saviour god
Conquers our heartsThe child is born in a stable
During the winter on this night,
He is poor nowadays
While the earth is his.
Sing-along
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Sing-Along:
1. Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled:
Joyfull all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th'angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
2. Christ, by highest heav’n adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail th'incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
3. Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings;
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
See, Amid the Winter’s Snow
1. See, amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on earth below;
See the tender Lamb appears,
Promisdd from eternal years:
Refrain:
Hail, thou ever blessed morn;
Hail, redemption's happy dawn;
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
2. Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, throned in height sublime,
sits amid the cherubim:
Refrain
3. Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?
Refrain
4. ‘As we watch’d at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light;
angels singing 'Peace on earth'
Told us of the Savior's birth.’
Refrain
5. Sacred Infant, all divine,
What a tender love was thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss|
Down to such a world as this:
Refrain
6. Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
By thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble thee,
In thy sweet humility:
Refrain
Torches
Torches, torches, run with torches
All the way to Bethlehem!
Christ is born and now lies sleeping;
Come and sing your song to him! (2x)
Ah, Roro, Roro, my baby,
Ah, Roro, my love, Roro;
Sleep you well, my heart's own darling,
While we sing you our Rorro.
Sing, my friends, and make you merry,
Joy and mirth and joy again;
Lo, He lives, the King of heaven,
Now and evermore. Amen.
Lo, He lives, the King of heaven.
Now and ever, evermore. Amen.
Unto Us Is Born A Son
1. Unto us is born a Son,
King of quires supernal:
See on earth his life begun,
Of lords the Lord eternal.
2. Christ, from heav’n descending low,
Comes on earth a stranger;
Ox and ass their owner know,
Becradled in the manger.
3. This did Herod sore affray,
And grievously bewilder,
So he gave the word to slay,
And slew the little childer.
4. Of His love and mercy mild
This the Christmas story;
And O that Mary’s gentle Child
Might lead us up to glory!
5. O and A and A and O,
Cum cantibus in choro, (With songs in the choir)
Let our merry organ go,
Benedicamus Domino. (Let us bless the Lord.)