This annual service follows a traditional King’s College, Cambridge, sequence of nine lessons telling the Advent/Christmas story. These are interspersed with congregational hymns and choral works which reflect and meditate upon them. This year’s repertory includes works of Thomas Ravenscroft, Richard Shepherd, and Vernon Hoyle, along with traditional, but lesser known, carols from France and Wales.

The Offertory anthem will be “Love came down at Christmas” by Zachary Wadsworth, here given its world premier. It is a surpassingly beautiful setting of Christina Rossetti’s poem, Christmastide.  It was commissioned by the Emmanuel Music Guild in memory of Tyler Reed Justice. It is scored for Choir, Organ and String Quartet. The Quartet, assembled by Joni Hanze, will once again offer the Prelude, Communion Music, and Postlude, along with enhancements to the hymns.