A FESTIVAL OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

December 18, 2016

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Improvisation on "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

arr. deSilva

(11:00 a.m.) CHILDRENS MOMENT [[No additional text about departure; the liturgist will
invite them to stay during the lighting of the Advent Candle, and Barb will let them know if
theyre staying in church for this service or heading out to childrens church]]
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, verse 6

UM Hymnal No. 211

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and deaths dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
PRAYER
Beloved in Christ, let it be our care and delight this morning to prepare ourselves to
hear again the message of the angels, to go to Bethlehem in our hearts and
minds and see this thing that has come to pass, and, with shepherds and wise
men, to adore the Child lying in his Mother's arms. Let us read and note in Holy
Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our
disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought to us by this Holy Child; and
let us make this holy place glad with our carols of praise.
But first let us pray for the needs of his whole world:
for peace and goodwill over all the earth;
for unity and love within the Church he came to build;
for good will and mutual care within this our city of Ashland, within our state,
and across our nation.
And let us at this time remember in Jesus name:
the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed;
the sick in body and in mind and them that mourn;
the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children;
and all who know not the loving kindness of God.
Lastly let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another
shore and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose
hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom we for evermore are one.

These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the
words which Christ himself hath taught us:

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 trespasses, as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
OPENING HYMN
Once In Royal Davids City
UM Hymnal No. 250
(The first verse will be sung as a solo, after which the congregation may join in.)
FIRST LESSON
Genesis 3:1-19
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise
the serpent's head.
ANTHEM

The Lord at First did Adam Make

Words traditional

D. deSilva

The Lord at first did Adam make

out of the dust and clay.
And in his nostrils breathed life
een as the Scriptures say.
and then in Edens paradise
he placed him to dwell,
that he within it should remain
to tend and keep it well.

For in the day thou shalt it touch

or dost to it come nigh,
If so thou do but eat thereof
then thou shalt surely die.
But Adam he did take no heed
unto that single thing,
But did transgress Gods holy law,
and so was wrapt in sin.

And thus within the garden he

was set therein to stay;
and in commandment unto him
these words the Lord did say:
The fruit which in the garden grows
shall be your daily meat,
Except the tree within its midst;
Of that thou shalt not eat.

Now mark the goodness of the Lord,

which he for our kind bore;
His mercy soon he did extend,
lost people to restore;
And then to redeem our souls
from death and hellish thrall,
He sent his own dear Son to be
the Savior of us all,
The Savior of us all.

SECOND LESSON
Genesis 22:9-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed.
2

ANTHEM

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Ref. O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

D. Pearsall

A giant in twofold substance one,

Rejoicing now His course to run.
From God the Father He proceeds,
To God the Father back He speeds;
His course He runs to death and hell,
Returning on Gods throne to dwell.

Come, Thou Redeemer of the earth,

And manifest Thy virgin birth:
Let every age adoring fall;
Such birth befits the God of all.

O equal to the Father, Thou!

Gird on Thy fleshly mantle now;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

Begotten of no human will,

But of the Spirit, Thou art still
The Word of God in flesh arrayed,
The promised Fruit to man displayed.

Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,

And darkness breathe a newer light,
Where endless faith shall shine serene,
And twilight never intervene.

The virgin womb that burden gained

With virgin honor all unstained;
The banners there of virtue glow;
God in His temple dwells below.

All laud, eternal Son, to Thee,

Whose advent sets Thy people free,
And to the Father we adore,
And Holy Ghost forevermore.

Forth from His chamber goeth He,

That royal home of purity,

THIRD LESSON
Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
The prophet foretells the coming of the Savior.
ANTHEM

For Unto Us a Child Is Born from Messiah

G. F. Handel

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his
name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

FOURTH LESSON
Isaiah 11:1-9
Isaiah foretells the peace that Christ will bring.
ANTHEM

Lo! How a Rose Eer Blooming

Lo, how a Rose eer blooming from tender stem hath sprung,
Of Jesses lineage coming, as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright, amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.

M. Praetorius

Isaiah twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind.
To show Gods love aright, she bore to us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,
Dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.
True man yet very God, from sin and death now save us,
And share our every load.

FIFTH LESSON
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
ANTHEM

The Angel Gabriel

1. The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,

His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
All hail, said he, thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

Traditional Basque Carol

3. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,

To me be as it pleaseth God, she said,
My soul shall laud and magnify His holy
Name.
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

2. For know a blessd mother thou shalt be,

All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

4. Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born

In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will
ever say
Most highly favored lady, Gloria

SIXTH LESSON
Luke 2:1, 3-7
Saint Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
ANTHEM

Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head,
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

arr. J. Rutter

Bless all the dear children in your tender care,

And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.

SEVENTH LESSON
Luke 2:8-20
The shepherds go to the manger and announce the good news.
ANTHEM

How Great Our Joy

arr. J. Rutter

While by the sheep we watched at night

Glad tidings brought an angel bright.
How great our joy! Praised be the Lord in heaven on high!
There shall be born, so he did say,
In Bethlehem a child today.
How great our joy! Praised be the Lord in heaven on high!
There shall the child lie in a stall,
This child who shall redeem us all.
How great our joy! Praised be the Lord in heaven on high!
This gift of God well cherish well
That ever joy our hearts shall fill.
How great our joy! Praised be the Lord in heaven on high!
.

EIGHTH LESSON
Matthew 2:1-12
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
ANTHEM

As With Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led by Thee!

At Thy cradle, rude and bare,

So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King!
Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And when earthly things are past.
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

As with joyful steps they sped,

Savior, to Thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy-seat!

In the heavenly country bright

Need they no created light;

As they offered gifts most rare

arr. deSilva

Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun which goes not down.

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our King!

NINTH LESSON
John 1:1-14
St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
ANTHEM

The Glory of the Father

E. Hovland

The Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us. We beheld the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth. In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was God. In him was life, and the life was
the light of men. He came to his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:1, 4, 11, 14 ).

OFFERING
OFFERTORY HYMN

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Verses 1, 2, 3, 6

UM Hymnal No. 234

BENEDICTION
O God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your
only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our
redeemer, we may greet him with sure confidence when he shall come to
be our judge.
Amen.
May he who by his Incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into
one, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing
of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and
remain with you always.
Amen.
HYMN
POSTLUDE

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Christian Friends, Rejoice

UM Hymnal No. 240

P. Manz