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OPENING ANNO:
At ten past eight, it’s time now for Sunday Worship.

Item 1: Welcome Cass Meurig and Gwyneth Glyn

CM: Good morning from St Garmon's church in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, in the north-east of Wales. I'm. Cass Meurig Thomas.Ìý The little church of St Garmon's nestles between the rolling hills of the beautiful Ceiriog Valley, south of Llangollen. There has been Christian worship on this site since the 5th century and indeed it’s thought that the ancient yew trees, which frame the church, date from this time. Although only ten miles from the English border, the Welsh language is still spoken by many people here, and today our worship will focus on the Welsh Plygain carol tradition. We’ll hear of its history, of the tradition today, and enjoy some archive recordings, as well as some live singing from here at St Garmon’s. I'm joined this morning by poet and musician Gwyneth Glyn.

GG: The word 'Plygain' comes from the Latin pulli cantus or cock crow. Here in Wales, it came to mean a carol service held early on Christmas morning. Hours before dawn, across the country, people would walk from near and far carrying torches and lamps, gathering at the church, just like St Garmon’s where we stand today.Ìý The emphasis on the sacredness and wonder of this particular morning runs through the poetry of Plygain singing, and is distilled in the most famous of all Plygain carols, sung here by Parti Fronheulog, a trio of brothers known for their renditions of Plygain carols: ‘Ar gyfer heddiw’r bore’ - ‘For this very morning’.

Item 2:ÌýÌýCarol 1:Ìý Ar gyfer heddiw’r bore (FOR THIS VERY MORNING) – Parti FronheulogÌýÌý

Item 3:Ìý Opening Prayer CM

Let us pray.ÌýHeavenly Father, we come before you in this season of Advent in anticipation, as we prepare for the great mystery of the birth of your Son. We pray that you would open our ears to hear your word and our hearts to receive your grace. May the riches of the Welsh Plygain carols enrich our faith. May the beauty of their harmony lift our hearts to you in worship. May the depths of tradition lead us to a deep encounter with you. Speak through the familiar words of Scripture, we pray, refresh and renew us and help us to respond to your invitation to us today. We ask all this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.Ìý

Item 4:Ìý Introduction to The Plygain CM
The tradition of Plygain carol singing remains strong in this area of North-East Wales.Ìý Here at St Garmon’s the church is filled to the gallery every year for the Plygain service – although it’s now held in the evening rather than at dawn! The Plygain has a sense of ancientness, a tradition stretching back many generations. It’s entirely in the Welsh language, and very little in the service is spoken: after a Bible reading and prayer, the minister declares the Plygain open, and small groups come forward in turn to sing carols in unaccompanied three-part harmony. When all have sung one carol, there’s a second round.
Ìý
Anyone can participate, and there’s no predetermined order to the carols, but there is an unspoken etiquette that any carol may not be sung more than once, which gives an air of anticipation as the groups wonder if someone else might sing their song.Ìý The service ends with all the men coming forward to sing the rousing 'Carol y swper', ‘the supper carol’ and then everyone goes to the village hall to enjoy supper together. In our worship today, we'll be hearing from individuals for whom the Plygain tradition forms an important part of their lives;Ìý First Arfon Gwilym, a folk singer and expert on the Plygain carols, tells us more about the tradition.Ìý

Item 5:Ìý Welsh folk singer Arfon Gwilym shares some of the history of the Plygain, its unique traditions and poetry (underscored by Ffarwel Ned Puw)

Item 6:Ìý Link CMÌý

Our next carol was written by the seventeenth-century poet Huw Morus, ‘Eos Ceiriog’, the Ceiriog Nightingale, who lived just a few miles from St Garmon’s church where we are today. Huw Morus was a staunch churchman and a master of Welsh poetic metre: listen out for the rhyme, the alliteration and the assonance throughout the lines. In fact, the carol itself calls us to listen, saying ‘This is the Messiah, the one who suffered for the sake of all, the Saviour: listen to him and follow his council; this is the way to his love.’ Carol Huw Morus is sung here at St Garmon’s by Arfon Gwilym, Sioned Webb and Siân James.

Item 7:ÌýÌýCarol 2:Ìý Carol Huw Morus (HUW MORUS’S CAROL)Ìý (performed by Siân James, Arfon Gwilym and Sioned Webb, at St Garmon’s Church)

Item 8:Ìý Introduction to the First Reading CM

Our first reading is from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 6 to 7: the prophecy of a child to be born who would be God himself. The reading is read to us by Arwel Morris.Ìý

Item 9:Ìý Reading 1 :Ìý Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)Ìý Arwel Morris

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding itÌý with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Item 10:Ìý Reflection 1Ìý CM

ÌýAs we heard Arfon explain, the Plygain carols are quite different from many of the more well-known Christmas carols. One of the ways they differ is that they speak not only of the birth of Jesus, but of the whole Christian story. The most famous of the carols that we heard at the beginning of the service, Ar gyfer heddiw'r bore by the eighteenth-century poet David Hughes, Eos Iâl, is a good example. 'A little baby was born this morning', it begins, and we expect a familiar and comforting picture of ox and ass around the manger to follow. But no. Instead, the carol tells us who this little baby really is. This baby, it says, is the root of Jesse. The child prophesied by Isaiah. The true Messiah. The atonement on Calvary. 'Yr Alffa a'r Omega' - the beginning and the end.Ìý

In other words, this child was present throughout history. This is God himself, creator of the universe, as a little baby on Mary's lap - 'ar lin Mair'. And the carol goes on to tell us what this child will do for our sake. ‘Christ took off his crown willingly’, sings the poet Eos Iâl. ‘He bent his undefiled head under the crown of thorns, he suffered cruel mockery, in order to raise up the heads of the guilty’. It’s a graphic description of the future of this little baby.Ìý It’s a picture of Christ, crowned King of the universe, the one who was without sin, suffering willingly for our sake on the cross, so that our sins might be forgiven. It’s the ultimate picture of humility and love. It puts the familiar images of the Christmas story into their true context. The Plygain carols reminds us that when we look at that picture of the tiny baby held by Mary, we are looking at the whole story of salvation. We're contemplating a cosmic moment when God's kingdom broke into our world, a moment which launched a new dimension of reality. A moment which opened the way for us to become part of that great story. The invitation is there for us to respond in faith, to make this our story.ÌýÌý

Item 11:ÌýÌýCarol 3:Ìý Teg Wawriodd Boreddydd (FAIR DAWNED THE MORNING) sung by Sian James, Sioned Webb & Arfon GwilymÌýÌý

Item 12:Ìý Backlink & Introduction to Siân JamesÌý CM

That was Teg Wawriodd Boredydd: Fair dawned the morning, sung for us by Arfon Gwilym, Sioned Webb and Siân James. It’s a celebration of the birth of Christ: fair dawned the morning which was like no other since the beginning of the world and the shining of the sun.Ìý Look around us, sings the poet: who created the sun, the moon, the stars and the earth? They spin through space, suspended by his word, while the Word himself rests, on Mary’s gentle breast.ÌýWe hear now from Sian James who grew up amongst the Plygain singers as she shares her memories of taking part of this unique tradition.

Item 13:Ìý Welsh folk singer Siân James shares memories of growing up amongst ‘Y Plygeinwyr’ – the Plygain Singers.

Item 14:Ìý Introduction to Reading 2 GG

Our second reading is from the gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 8 to 15, where the shepherds encounter the angels, and hear the good news. The reading is read by Rheinallt Hughes.

Item 15:Ìý Reading 2:Ìý Luke 2:8-15 NRSVÌý ÌýRheinallt Hughes

8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.Ìý
9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.Ìý
10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 1
to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.Ìý
12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’Ìý
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’

Item 16:Ìý Reflection 2 GG

These verses sum up the ethos of the Plygain tradition. The expectancy that permeates the Plygain service reflects the anticipation in the text of the Plygain carols; the act of going out to the church at dawn mirrors the urgency of the shepherds. It is in response to an invitation to leave everything behind and go in faith to witness a miracle; to participate in a great mystery, and to revel in that most profound of paradoxes; that of seeing God in the flesh.Ìý
The final verse of the Plygain carol we heard at the beginning of our service extends this same invitation. There is no RSVP! Instead we are urged to go "yn brydlon" - immediately - and, more importantly, "fel yr wyt" - as we are - unprepared, broken, full of sin, cynical.Ìý For we are promised that a well has been opened to us, that will wash our blackened wounds clean as the snow on Mount Zalmon - a reference to the Psalms. The carol ends with the same rousing refrain - "Fel yr wyt, fel yr wyt" - as you are - it's almost like a mantra - don't delay, don't procrastinate, don't wait for the perfect moment - just come.ÌýÌý

About fifty miles west of here, in Eifionydd where I come from, is another ancient, tiny church called Ynys Cynhaearn, where Plygain carols would have been sung for centuries. The poet Siân Northey has captured this sense of 'As-you-are-ness' in a characteristically understated poem, 'Fel yr wyt' / 'Just as I am' - a visit to Ynys Cynhaearn.ÌýÌýAs we listen, may we reflect on the meaning of coming "as we are" - which isÌý present in the story of the nativity, manifested in the ancient Plygain tradition, and extended as an invitation to us to respond today.

'Fel yr wyt' / 'Just as I am' - a visit to Ynys Cynhaearn - Siân Northey

Ideally it would be midsummer,or late on a fine December day, the sun considering when to set,Ìýfrost on the fields and the starlings dancing. But this was my only free afternoon.ÌýA grey day,Ìýsleet almost hailÌýand I'd left my gloves at home.ÌýYet as I walked towards the church the vicious drops stopped,Ìýa patch of blue appeared,Ìýa single raven of memories,Ìýand I heard the hopes of the geese out of sight in the reeds.

Item 17:ÌýÌýCarol 4 :Ìý ‘Roedd yn y wlad honno’, ‘In that region there were Shepherds’, Côr Ysgol Glan Clwyd

Item 18: Backlink to Carol & Introduction to Sioned Webb GG

We just heard the mellifluous voices of Côr Ysgol Glan Clwyd singing 'Roedd yn y wlad honno' - a plygain carol recounting the angels' profound encounter with the Shepherds. We're now going to hear from Sioned Webb; composer, author and a beacon of the Welsh folk tradition, about how immersing herself in the Plygain tradition has enriched her own faith.Ìý

Item 19:Ìý Composer and musician Sioned Webb shares how the Plygain tradition has impacted her faith.Ìý ‘Ar Fore Dydd Nadolig’, sung by Catrin Angharad and accompanied by the Â鶹ԼÅÄ National Orchestra of Wales weaves between Sioned’s reflections, as she explains her approach to writing this musical landscape.

Item 20:Ìý Prayers, CM & GG

Let us pray.ÌýFather, we bring before you the needs of our world today. We pray for places where there is conflict, and ask that you would bring peace. We pray for areas damaged by the effects of climate change, and ask for the restoration of our natural world. We pray for refugees, especially children, the weak and the elderly.Ìý

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer / Arglwydd, yn dy drugaredd, gwrando ein gweddi.

We pray for world leaders and for our own government. Give them wisdom and guidance, and enable them to use their power to help the powerless. We pray for our churches and ask that in this season of Advent they could be places where lives are touched by encounter with Jesus.ÌýArglwydd, yn dy drugaredd, gwrando ein gweddi.We pray for those known to us who are in sickness or in need, and for all who find this season hard. We ask that you bring healing and comfort.Ìý

Arglwydd, yn dy drugaredd, gwrando ein gweddi.

And finally, Lord, we pray for ourselves. Help us to respond to your invitation to us today, to come, now, just as we are, to worship Jesus. We say together the prayer that Jesus himself taught us, each in our own language:Ìý

Ein Tad, yr Hwn wyt yn y nefoedd; Sancteiddier dy enw.Deled dy deyrnas. Gwneler dy ewyllys, megis yn y nef, felly ar y ddaear hefyd. Dyro i ni heddiw ein bara beunyddiol. A maddau i ni ein dyledion, fel y maddeuwn ninnau i’n dyledwyr. Ac nac arwain ni i brofedigaeth; eithr gwared ni rhag drwg. Canys eiddot Ti yw’r deyrnas, a’r nerth, a’r gogoniant, yn oes oesoedd. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.ÌýThy kingdom come.Ìý Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.ÌýGive us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.ÌýAnd lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.ÌýFor thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen.Ìý

Item 21:Ìý Final words GG & CM

ÌýAnd so as we go forth into the world, may we reflect upon the Plygain singers, carrying their torches, their lamps and candlelight through the dark hours before dawn, in anticipation of the coming of the true Light into the world. May the traditions and memories we’ve heard enrich our own understanding, and may every Plygain carol we’ve heard today shine a new light upon the mystery of the Nativity.

CM We end our service with the carol which traditionally ends the Plygain, Carol y Swper, sung here by Parti Cut Lloi, a small male voice choir from Powys. It’s an invitation not just to supper, but to a heavenly eternal feast. Let us receive what Jesus offers, it says. Today is the day for redemption, and supper is ready and the table set: Oh, make haste!

Item 22:ÌýÌýCarol 6:Ìý Carol y Swper – Parti Cut Lloi

Item 23:Ìý BlessingÌý CM

May God the Father, creator of the universe, inspire you and strengthen you. May God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you and guide you. May God the Holy Spirit refresh and renew you. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.Ìý

Item 24:ÌýÌýPlayout:Ìý Ffarwel Ned Puw (Cass Meurig – Crwth)

CLOSING ANNO:

Sunday Worship came from the Ceiriog Valley in North East Wales, led by Rev. Dr Cass Meurig Thomas and Gwyneth Glyn, with Arfon Gwilym, Sian James and Sioned Webb.Ìý It was produced by Nia Llewelyn Jones.