PREPARATIONS –
ON THE CREDENCE:
Jeweled chalice with priest’s Host, three purificators and corporal in burse.

11:00 chalice covered with medium-sized pall and ciborium with cover.

Twin chalices with small palls.

9:00 ciborium with cover.

Lavabo bowl and towel.

Tall, narrow flagon with at least one-half liter wine, breadbox with one hundred peoples’ wafers.

Cruets with water and wine.

Altar Book and missal stand. Altar Book is set as follows: Collect – Christmas II; Preface – of the Incarnation; Canon – Prayer A; Post-Communion Prayer – Collect for Christmas III.

IN THE BAPTISTERY:
Emerald flagon with two liters of wine.

Jeweled ciborium with 200 wafers

OVER EPISTLE SIDE ALTAR RAIL:
Chasuble [and three maniples] (CEL wears cope for Procession)

ON THE LECTERN:
Lectionary – opened to Christmas I.

ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS
The CR is vested in alb and tunicle and carries the Crystal Cross.

The pavement lights are removed to the crèche, and the Great Candelabra are placed on the floor right and left of the lowest altar step.

Banner-holders are placed just inside the North door and next to the Smoke Sacristy door. The Banner is installed in the holder by the North door before the Choral Prelude.

The choir is in place before the beginning of Mass.

Choir clergy are vested in copes for the procession.

The Collect is the second alternative, the third is used as a post-communion prayer.

The proper lessons and psalm are Christmas I. Brass Gospel Book w/ KJV insert.

Card w/ John 1:1-14 on gradine at Gospel Horn for use at the Last Gospel.

MC carries book w/ crèche prayers at entrance.

MC should assign Communion stations and clean-up tasks before Mass.

CANDLE-LIGHTING
Most candles should be lighted before the sacred concert, which usually begins at 10:15 P.M. However, because of their limited wick life the Great Candelabra and rood screen candles should be lighted as late as possible – around 10:30pm.

Both upper and lower tiers of the High Altar candles are lighted.

All candles in All Saints’ Chapel and the Lady Chapel are lighted.

Candles throughout the church, including baptistery, crèche and lectern, are lighted.

N.B., the Great Candelabra have thirty candles each and require 15 minutes to light.

THE ENTRANCE
The procession lines up in the hallway in the following order:

TH
A/CR/A
VERGER
CHOIR CLERGY
BANNER
TT
TT
MC (carrying Crèche Prayers)
SD
D
CEL

The Banner-bearer enters just before the rest of the altar party and uses their movement to cover the process of getting a proper grasp of the banner staff and cords. He/she then follows the Choir Clergy in the procession. TTTT may have to wait a few moments while Banner-bearer gets into place.

At 11:00 P.M., ALL enter the short way to soft organ accompaniment and line up as follows:

Altar steps: SD-CEL-D-TH-MC
Choir stall (South): A/Cr/A
Choir stall (N): Banner
Below the rail, aligned with the medallions: TTTT
Choir clergy and lay choir ministers: to their stalls

After SMs pass, A/Cr/A wheel to take customary pre-bidding place at foot of altar rail steps.

THE PROCESSION
D places Gospel book on altar and returns to foot of steps. MC cues ALL to genuflect.

TH turns to CEL to have incense laid on. TH goes down to choir floor behind A/Cr/A

D bids procession, congregation responding.

MC cues genuflection on first word of the first verse. Procession begins according to custom, but in the following order:

TH
A/CR/A
* MC *
* SD-CEL-D *
CHOIR
VERGER
CHOIR CLERGY
BANNER
TT
TT

Procession follows usual figure-eight route around the church. The congregation remains in their seats.

THE STATION AT THE CRÈCHE

At crèche, TH proceeds to left of Library doors and stops. A/Cr/A proceed to baptistery entrance, stop and turn to face east; they rest cross and candles.

SMs line up facing crèche: TH-SD-CEL-D-MC. When hymn stops, MC cues ALL to genuflect (except A CR A) – but ALL remain in genuflection position. CEL chants versicle and ALL respond. CEL stands to chant the collect. MC cues ALL to stand. Then CEL censes the crèche.

The hymn resumes. At MC’s cue, TH goes to the head of the procession (in baptistery). A/Cr/A turn to follow TH. MC signals CHOIR to follow A/Cr/A. All others follow in previous order, except that MC leads SMs into procession following TT – that is, SMs are now at end of procession, per usual custom.

THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROCESSION

CR goes to crucifer’s stall. Choir clergy and verger to their stalls.

ALL in choir face east for genuflection.

Altar party lines up at altar steps: A/SD/CEL/D/MC/TH/A.

TTTT go to usual position below altar rail.

BANNER places banner in holder by smoke sacristy door and stands to TTTT left.

MC cues ALL to genuflect, per custom.

SMs ascend altar steps and kiss the altar. The altar may be censed if there is enough hymn left over. Otherwise, SMs take center “I” formation for the Kyrie.

As SMs break, all others go to their usual places – TTTT deposit hardware in smoke sacristy and come out to places by Bishop’s Throne. (Extra seat provided for Banner-bearer.)

CR and Verger retrieve copes of choir clergy, take them to sacristy and return to stalls.

If the altar was not censed during the hymn, it is censed during the Gloria.

THE COMMUNION

An extra communion station is provided in the Lady Chapel. Clergy person and CM on epistle side will receive on epistle side of high altar steps, mirroring CMs on gospel side, and then administer in the LC to avoid crossing in front of the altar. CR will count communions as usual at All Saints’ Chapel, and a T will count communions in the Lady Chapel. If an additional clergy person is available, he should assist at the High Altar, Gospel side.

TH takes seat in the choir.

THE LAST GOSPEL

After dismissal, SMs rise, turn and go to Gospel horn and assume “I” formation.

CEL reads the Last Gospel facing the altar, pausing after the words “nor of the will of man, but of God.” ALL genuflect through and the Word was made flesh. At the conclusion of the Last Gospel (full of grace and truth), ALL respond: Thanks be to God.

THE RETIRING PROCESSION

MC cues ALL to rise. SMs turn and go to center, ascend the steps per custom, kiss the altar, and line up on the pavement.

AA go to their usual place on choir floor flanking CR

BANNER picks up banner and stands in front of north choir stall.

At the first word of the first verse of the last hymn, MC cues ALL to genuflect.

Retiring procession begins. After choir passes, BANNER steps out into center of choir.

All leave in the following order, via the Main Aisle as usual:

A/CR/A
CHOIR
VERGER
TH
CHOIR CLERGY
BANNER
TT
TT
MC
SD
D
CEL

The Celebrant says a concluding prayer in the Baptistery.

Natum videte, Regem angelorum: venite adoremus, Dominum.