Bulletin – December 19, 2021: 8:30am

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SERVICE OF LESSONS & CAROLS

8:30am

Festival of Lessons & Carols
The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a bridge between the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas. Our service is an adaptation of the form used on Christmas Eve at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England. As the service begins, the prayers of the people are sought for those in need at Christmastime. The nine lessons which follow detail the salvation story of God’s people, from the time of creation through the prophets, and conclude with the fulfillment of these prophecies as recorded in the gospels. Each lesson is followed by a carol which is chosen to enhance its message. The congregation is invited to prepare for the service in silent meditation. We ask you to refrain from applause.

Prelude
Pastorale on a Christmas Plainsong
Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)

Welcome

Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle — Candle of Love

Reader One: Through the prophets, God promised a messiah who would bring healing and hope.
Reader Two: In the birth of Jesus, God’s love for us was made known in an unexpected way.
Reader One: We light the Candle of Love to remind us that God’s love is in the world and that Jesus comes to us in unexpected places.

(The candle is lit.)

Reader Two: The flame of this fourth candle gives us courage for our daily living by reminding us of the promise of Emmanuel: God is with us.

Will you join me in our unison prayer:
Loving God,
We thank you that you have fulfilled your promise.
Emmanuel has come.
Give us courage to respond with love and compassion.
Amen.

Opening Hymn
Once in Royal David’s City (Irby)
Verse 1: Audrey Figueroa, soloist
*Verses 2-6: Congregation and Choirs (please stand)

He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all,
and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall.
With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And through all his wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey,
love, and watch the lowly maiden In whose gentle arms he lay;
Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he.

For He is our childhood’s pattern, Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles like us He knew;
and He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love,
for that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above;
and He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by,
we shall see Him; but in heaven Set at God’s right hand on high;
where like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around.

*Bidding Prayer

*The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

First Lesson Genesis 1: 1-5 (selected verses)
Reader: Amanda Osenga

*Hymn 83 Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Stuttgart)

Second Lesson Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7
Reader: Adam Waite

Carol Noel Nouvelet Traditional French Carol
arr. Lucille Reilly
Lucille Reilly, hammered dulcimer

Third Lesson Isaiah 11: 1-4, 6-9
Reader: Marilyn Craft

*Hymn 129 Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es Ist Ein’ Ros’)

Fourth Lesson Luke 1: 26-35, 38
Reader: Juli Davidson

Carol Mary Did You Know?
Buddy Greene (b. 1953)
Dianne Briscoe McKenzie, soloist

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm a storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kissed your little baby
You’ve kissed the face of God

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy
Is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great ‘I Am’

Fifth Lesson Luke 1: 39-55
Reader: Sandy Prouty

Carol In Dulci Jubilo
Vincent Lübeck (1654-1740)

Sixth Lesson Matthew 1: 18-21
Reader: Rev. Jason Hays

*Hymn 121 O Little Town of Bethlehem (St. Louis)

Seventh Lesson Luke 2: 1-7
Reader: Dianne Briscoe McKenzie

Carol Ding Dong! Merrily On High
arr. Sandra Eithun
Montview Ringers & Lucinda Waldron Ward, flute

Eighth Lesson Luke 2: 8-20
Reader: Rev. Ian Cummins

Carol Wassail, Wassail
arr. Chip Davis (b.1947)
Leena Waite, violin

Ninth Lesson John 1: 1-14
Reader: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal

Carol Still, Still, Still
arr. Jason W. Krug
Montview Ringers & Lucille Reilly, autoharp

*Collect for Christmas

*Blessing

*Hymn 88 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel) verses 1, 6 & 7

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

6 O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain]

7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
all peoples in one heart and mind;
bid envy, strife, and discord cease;
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. [Refrain]

*Dismissal
Pastor: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward all.
People: Thanks be to God!

Organ Postlude
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Noel Rawsthorne (1929-2019)