READINGS & CAROLS (RE)IMAGINED
December 19-21, 2025

Eventide, our single star,
One looking star, this night.
We look for You,
Forgiving light, our guide.
— Rebecca Gayle Howell

a seasonal reflection of the snow and winter, of the star and seeking, of the mother and service, of the child and sacrifice, and of hope and peace

Program:

Prelude: Organ Voluntaries

Procession: Good-will to men and peace on Earth by Dobrinka Tabakova                       

Exordium: In Principio by Motshwane Pege                                                                                                      

I. Of the Snow & Winter

• Reading: “Snow” by Philip Levine

• Carol: Shepherd’s Carol by Bob Chilcott                                                                       

• Carol: Halcyon Days by Melissa Dunphy                                                                                   

• Hymn: In the Bleak Midwinter                                                               

II. Of the Star & Seeking

• Reading: “Why Not a Star” by Margaret Gooding

• Carol: We look for you (from A Winter Breviary) by Reena Esmail                                      

• Carol: How Fair and Bright the Morning Star by Kile Smith                              

III. Of the Mother & Service

• Reading: “If I Sleep While My Baby Sleeps” by Alice B. Fogel

• Carol: Magnificat (from the Gloucester Service) by Herbert Howells                                                        

• Carol: Antiphon for a Virgin by Tina Davidson                                                               

• Hymn: A Stable Lamp Is Lighted                                                    

 IV. Of the Child & Sacrifice

• Reading: “White-Eyes” by Mary Oliver

• Carol: A tender shoot by Kerensa Briggs                                                                                      

• Carol: Away in a Manger by Lucy Walker                             

• Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

V. Of Hope & Peace

• Carol: sleeper’s prayer         by David Lang                                                                       

• Carol: Littlemore Tractus by Arvo Pär                                                                                  

• Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful

Postlude:  Exodus by Alex Berko                                                                        

with Matthew O’Sullivan, organ                                         

Concert artwork: Christmas Delivery (ca. 1890-94) by José Frappa.