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Howard, Gaynor Out of the Darkness

FE4049 Gaynor Howard Out of the Darkness for S.S.A. a cappella

Light is the focus of the Christmas message, “…the light shineth in darkness” states St John in the opening verses of his gospel. The words of this carol are based on the sermon ‘preached before the King’s Majesty at Whitehall on Christmas Day 1622, by Lancelot Andrewes’, recounting the journey of the Magi, which was possibly the inspiration for T.S.Eliot’s poem on the same theme. From St Matthew’s Gospel comes Herod’s reaction to their enquiries as to where they might find the new-born king. The 3rd Collect at Evensong is the inspiration for the final section: a prayer to lighten our own darkness as we journey through life.