Lessons & Carols Service – December 2020

December 14, 2020 Sermons

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Worship Bulletin and Bible Coloring Pages:

Lessons-Carols-Bulletin-2020Download

During the pre-prelude, you are invited to gather into a peaceful area of your home, perhaps dimming your lights, and lighting candles as you settle in to a place of contemplation and prayer.

Pre-Prelude
(The Pre-Prelude will begin at 3:45 on Saturday, December 12)

Interlude, from A Ceremony of Carols Benjamin Britten
Carol Medley I: What Child Is This; Lully Lullay: Il Est Ne
Carol Medley II: Joy to the World; Hark the Herald; Nowell Sing We
Church of Our Redeemer – Gilded Harps Trio, December 2015

Prelude
I Wonder as I Wander John Jacob Niles
Guilded Harps Trio – Church of Our Redeemer, December 2015
Felice Pomeranz, Harp, Fernando Brandao, Flute, Timothy Roberts, Cello

Introit
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, V. 3                                     9^th c. Plainsong
Atrium Singers, Congregation and Riverview Chamber Players
Church of Our Redeemer, December 2016

O come, o come great Lord of might who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times once gave the law in cloud and majesty and awe

Congregation Response:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Meditation
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Trad. Huron Carol
Redeemer Adult Choir – Recorded and mastered, November 2020

1. ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime,
when all the birds had fled,
that God the Lord of all the earth
sent angel choirs instead;
before their light the stars grew dim,
and wondering hunters heard the hymn:

Refrain:
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.

2. Within a lodge of broken bark
the tender Babe was found;
a ragged robe of rabbit skin
enwrapped his beauty round,
but, as the hunter braves drew nigh,
the angel song rang loud and high:

3. The earliest moon of wintertime
is not so round and fair
as was the ring of glory on
the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.

Processional
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Divinum Mysterium) 11^th c. Plainsong
Adult Choir, Atrium Singers, and Renaissonics, December 2017

1. Of the Father’s love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Atrium Singers and Congregation: Evermore and evermore.

2. Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Atrium Singers and Congregation: Evermore and evermore.

3. O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Atrium Singers and Congregation: Evermore and evermore

4. Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Atrium Singers and Congregation: Evermore and evermore.

First Lesson:
God creates man and woman to live in obedience
to him in the Garden of Eden.

Hymn
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Redeemer Choir and Congregation, December 2019

Anthem
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Elizabeth Poston
Redeemer Adult Choir – December 2017
Soloist: Marie Efromson, Soprano

1.The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the apple tree

2.His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne’er can tell
His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the apple tree.

3.For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
I missed of all but now I see
‘Tis found in Christ the apple tree.

4.I’m weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
I’m weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the apple tree.

5.This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
This fruit does make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Second Lesson:
Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden

Hymn
Cold December Flies Away, v. 1 & 2
Redeemer Choir, Congregation and Renaissonics, December 2017

Cold December flies away at the rose-red splendor.
April’s crowning glory breaks while the whole world wonders at the holy unseen power of the tree which bears the flower.
On the blessed tree blooms the reddest flower, on the tree blooms the rose here in love’s own garden, full and strong in glory.

In the hopeless time of sin shadows deep had fallen,
All the world lay under death, eyes were closed in sleeping
But, when all seemed lost in night, came the sun whose golden light brings unending joy,
brings the endless joy of our hope,
highest hope,
of our hope’s bright dawning,
Son beloved of heaven.

Anthem
In A World Where People Walk in Darkness R. Willis/J. Harper
Redeemer Adult Choir – Recorded and mastered November 2020

In a world where people walk in the darkness,
let us turn our faces to the light,
to the light of God revealed in Jesus,
to the daystar scattering our night.

Refrain:
For the light is stronger than the darkness
and the day will overcome the night,
though the shadows linger all around us,
let us turn our faces to the light.

In a world where suffering of the helpless
cast a shadow all along the way,
let us bear the cross of Christ with gladness
and proclaim the dawning of the day.

Refrain

3. Let us light a candle in the darkness,
In the face of death a sign of life:
As a sign of hope where all seemed hopeless,
as a sign of peace in place of strife.

Refrain

Third Lesson:
God comforts his people and calls on them to prepare for redemption

Hymn
Comfort, comfort ye, my people, v. 1 & 3
Blue Hymnal 67
Choir, Congregation and Renaissonics, December 2017

Anthem
How shall I fitly meet Thee? from The Christmas Oratorio J.S. Bach
Redeemer Adult Choir and Cleary String Quartet, December 2013

How shall I fitly meet Thee,
And give Thee welcome due?
The nations long to greet Thee,
And I would greet Thee, too.

O Fount of light, shine brightly
Upon my darkened heart,
That I may serve Thee rightly
And know thee as Thou art

Fourth Lesson:
A new covenant is promised which will be written in our hearts

Hymn
Prepare the Way, O Zion
Blue Hymnal 65
Redeemer Choir, Congregation and Renaissonics, December 2017

Anthem
E’en so Lord Jesus Quickly Come P.O. Manz
Redeemer Adult Choir, December 2013

Peace be to you and grace from Him,
who freed us from our sins, who loved us all,
And shed his blood that we might saved be.
Sing holy, holy to our Lord;
the Lord almighty God who was and is, and is to come.
Sing holy, holy Lord.
Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein.
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, for Christ is coming soon.
E’en so Lord Jesus quickly come, and night shall be no more.
They need no light, no lamp, nor sun, for Christ will be their All!

Fifth Lesson:
The Scribe Baruch urges the people to look East because salvation is at hand

Hymn Sleepers, wake! v. 1-3
Blue Hymnal 61
Redeemer Adult Choir-Recorded and mastered November 2020

Anthem
And the glory of the Lord, from The Messiah G.F. Handel Adult Choir and Cleary String Quartet, December 2013

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.
And all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it

Sixth Lesson:
God promises that a child shall be conceived who will be known as “God with us.”

Hymn
Isaiah the prophet has written of old
Wonder, Love, & Praise 723
Choir and Congregation, December 2019

1 Isaiah the prophet has written of old
how God’s earthly kingdom shall come.
Instead of the thorn tree the fir tree shall grow;
the wolf shall lie down with the lamb.
The mountains and hills shall break forth into song,
the peoples be led forth in peace;
for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God
as the waters cover the seas.

2 Yet nations still prey on the meek of the world,
and conflict turns parent from child.
Your people despoil all the sweetness of earth;
the brier and the thorn grow wild.
Lord, hasten to bring in your kingdom on earth,
when no one shall hurt or destroy,
when wisdom and justice shall reign in the land
and your people shall go forth in joy.

Anthem
There is no Rose                                                         Benjamin Britten
Mvt. 3, Allegretto, from A Ceremony of Carols
Redeemer Adult Choir and Felice Pomeranz-Harp, December 2015

There is no rose of such vertu
As is the rose that bare Jesu.
Alleluia, Alleluia.

For in this rose conteinèd was
Heaven and earth in litel space
Res Miranda, Res Miranda. (Miraculous thing …)

By that rose we may well see
There be one God in persons three,
Pares forma, Pares forma. (Created in the parents’ image …)

The aungels sungen the shepherds to:
“Gloria in excelsis Deo!”
Gaudeamus,Gaudeamus. (Let us rejoice …)

Leave we all this werdly mirth,
And follow we this joyful mirth.
Transeamus, Transeamus. (We are transformed …)

Seventh Lesson
The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary
that she will bear the Son of the Most High

Hymn
Sing we of the Blessed Mother, v. 1&4
Blue Hymnal 278
Adult Choir, Congregation, and Renaissonics, December 2017

1 Sing we of the blessed Mother
who received the angels word,
And obedient to his summons
bore in love the infant Lord;
Sing we of the Joys of Mary
at whose breast that child was fed
Who is Son of God eternal
and the everlasting Bread.

4. Sing the chiefest joy of Mary
when on earth her work was done,
And the Lord of all creation
brought her to his heavenly home:
Where raised high with saints and angels
In Jerusalem above
She beholds her son and Savior
Reigning as the Lord of love.

Anthem
Nova, Nova                                                     C.P. Daw/15^th c.
Redeemer Adult Choir and Renaissonics, December 2017
Soloists: Linda Kukolich, Soprano and Murray Daniels, Baritone

Nova! Nova! Ave fit ex Eva! (News! News! “Ave” has been made from “Eve”!)

1. Gabriel of high degree,
He was sent from the Trinity
From Nazareth in Galilee …Nova!

2. He met a maiden in that place;
There he knelt down before her face;
And said: “Hail, Mary, full of grace!”…Nova!.

3. When the maiden heard his song,
She was filled with confusion strong
And feared that she had done a wrong …Nova!

4. Said the angel: “Have no fear;
By conception without compare
The Savior Jesus shall you bear.”…Nova!

5.”There are yet but six months gone
Since Elizabeth conceived John
To be the herald of God’s Son” …Nova!

6. Said the maiden “Verily, :
“I am your servant right truly,
The handmaid of the Lord now see.”… Nova!

Hymn
Lo! He Comes
Blue Hymnal 57
Adult Choir, Congregation and Cleary String Quartet, December 2013