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News
Diocesan Advent Carol Service
The First Sunday of Advent, Sunday 2nd December 2012, was marked in the Cathedral Church of St Macartan, Clogher, with a Diocesan Advent Carol Service in candlelight.
Participating choirs included the choirs of Augher Parish, Clogher Cathedral, Enniskillen Cathedral and Newtownsaville Parish.
The service commenced with the 'First Responsory of Advent Sunday in the Office of Matins' as set by Palestrina, which was sung by the Precentor, the Revd Canon Noel Regan.
The processional hymn was 'O come, O come, Emmanuel', and the service was led by the Dean of Clogher, the Very Revd Kenneth Hall. The second hymn was 'Waken O sleeper, wake and rise', which preceded the first lesson from Isaiah 40 read by Mr John Irvine, a Lay Honorary Secretary of Diocesan Synod and Council. The third hymn 'Come, thou long-expected Jesus', was followed by the second lesson from Jeremiah 23 read by Ms Ruth McKane, Diocesan Administrative Assistant.
The piece 'I will lead you home' was performed by a duet of Sophie Coalter and Emma Glass, accompanied by Jayne Haslett. The third lesson from Zechariah 9 was read by the Diocesan President of the Mothers' Union, Mrs Geraldine Beattie. The next hymn was 'On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry', followed by the fourth lesson from Haggai 2, which was read by Mr Harrison Boyd, Treasurer of The Friends of Clogher Cathedral. After this reading the Enniskillen Cathedral Choir sang the anthem 'Lead me Lord'.
Mr Jack Johnston, Archivist of St Macartan's Cathedral, Clogher read the fifth lesson from Isaiah 35, the singing of Magnificat followed this. The Revd Alistair Warke, Diocesan Curate, read the sixth lesson from Romans 8.
Soprano soloist Julia Frazer then sang 'Zion hears the watchmen's voices' from Cantata No 140 by J.S. Bach, with the 'chorale' being sung by Enniskillen Cathedral Choir.
The seventh lesson from St Mark 1 was read by the Bishop, the Rt Revd John McDowell, followed by the hymn 'Hail to the Lord's anointed'. A Vesper Responsory, the Collect of the First Sunday of Advent and the Blessing, which was sung by the Bishop, followed this. The final hymn was 'Lo! he comes with clouds descending'.