Bulletin – December 19, 2021: 11:00am

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SERVICE OF LESSONS & CAROLS

11:00am

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.

Introit
Creator of the Stars of Night
Sarum Plainsong
Westminister Choir
Text – Hymn 84-Latin, 9th Century

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

Carol Winter Song 
Ingrid Michaelson (b.1979)/Sara Bareilles (b.1979)
Jubilate Singers

… This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
It rolls in from the sea
… My voice; a beacon in the night.
My words will be your light,
To carry you to me.
… Is love alive?

… They say that things just cannot grow
Beneath the winter snow,
Or so I have been told.
… They say were buried far,
Just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold.
… Is love alive?

… This is my winter song.
December never felt so wrong,
‘Cause you’re not where you belong;
Inside my arms.

… I still believe in summer days.
The seasons always change
And life will find a way.
… I’ll be your harvester of light
And send it out tonight
So we can start again
… Is love alive?

Second Lesson Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7
Reader: Becki Taylor

Carol Behold a Star Shall Come from Jacob
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Third Lesson Isaiah 11: 1-4, 6-9
Reader: Caleb Meyerhoff

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

Fourth Lesson Luke 1: 26-35, 38
Reader: Lorraine Alcott

Carol In Dulci Jubilo Vincent Lübeck (1654-1740)

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

Carol The First Nowell
arr. Mack Wilberg (b.1955)

The first nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain: Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

They lookèd up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord
who hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood mankind hath bought. [Refrain]

English traditional text

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: Stella Mullins

Carol The Shepherds’ Farewell
Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Thou must leave Thy lowly dwelling,
The humble crib, the stable bare.
Babe, all mortal babes excelling,
Content our earthly lot to share.
Loving father, Loving mother,
Shelter Thee with tender care!

Blessed Jesus, we implore Thee
With humble love and holy fear.
In the land that lies before Thee,
Forget not us who linger here!
May the shepherd’s lowly calling,
Ever to Thy heart be dear!

Blest are ye beyond all measure,
Thou happy father, mother mild!
Guard ye well your heav’nly treasure,
The Prince of Peace, The Holy Child!
God go with you, God protect you,
Guide you safely through the wild!

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

Carol Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
Traditional Spiritual
Cantate Choir
– Text from Hymn 135

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

Carol Choose Something Like A Star
Randall Thompson
(1899-1984)

O Star (the fairest one in sight),
We grant your loftiness the right
To some obscurity of cloud —
It will not do to say of night,
Since dark is what brings out your light.
Some mystery becomes the proud.
But to be wholly taciturn
In your reserve is not allowed.

Say something to us we can learn
By heart and when alone repeat.
Say something! And it says “I burn.”
But say with what degree of heat.
Talk Fahrenheit, talk Centigrade.
Use language we can comprehend.
Tell us what elements you blend.

It gives us strangely little aid,
But does tell something in the end.
And steadfast as Keats’ Eremite,
Not even stooping from its sphere,
It asks a little of us here.

It asks of us a certain height,
So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.

Poem – Robert Frost

*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)