A Service of Lessons & Carols
The story of our humanity, the promised Messiah, and the birth of Jesus
Sunday, December 13, 2020 – The Third Sunday in Advent
We Prepare to Hear God’s Word
Welcome
Prelude: Angels We Have Heard on High, H. Gehrke
Call to Worship
Opening Hymn: Angels We Have Heard on High
Bidding Prayer/Lord’s Prayer
We Hear God’s Word - Lessons & Carols
The First Lesson: Genesis 12:1-4, The promise to Abraham
Carol: In Night’s Deep Silence, Christopher Uehlein
“In night’s deep silence, clear a voice rings through...” Michael P. Snoddy, piano
The Second Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Jesus’ birth foretold
Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Natalie Sleeth
“O come and show us the light divine…” Camille Winton, solo
The Third Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-9, The peace of Christ
Carol: Silent Night, John Johns
“Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace…” John Johns, guitar
The Fourth Lesson: Luke 1:26-35; 38, The angel appears to Mary
Carol: The Angel Gabriel, Mark Albrecht
“Your son shall be Emmanuel…” Angela Dyer, flute
The Fifth Lesson: Matthew 1:18-23, The birth of Jesus
Carol: Coventry Carol, Loreena McKennitt
“This poor youngling, for whom we do sing…” Andra Prewitt, violin
The Sixth Lesson: Luke 2:8-20, The shepherds go to the manger
Carol: The Snow Lay on the Ground, Robert Powell
“And thus the manger poor became a throne…” Tony Inglis, trombone
The Seventh Lesson: John 1:1-14, The mystery of the Incarnation
Carol: I Wonder as I Wander, John Jacob Niles
“For poor orn'ry people like you and like I…” Anna Marie Love, solo and John Johns, guitar
We Respond to God’s Word
Offertory Invitation
Closing Hymn: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Benediction
Postlude: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Hugo Gherke
Readers for the Lessons
Linzi Anderson, Brooks Godwin, Anne Keener, Chris Joiner,
Kim Joiner, Mary Sellers Shaw, and Michael Snoddy
A Word About Lessons & Carols
The tradition of interspersing short “lessons” with carols began in the town of Truro, England in the late nineteenth century. Drawing on the ancient monastic office of Matins (a form of sung prayer), an order of nine lessons, interspersed with familiar carols, was created.
Eric Milner-White, Dean of King’s College, Cambridge felt that the Church of England could benefit from a new form of worship and adapted the earlier 19th century lessons service for the traditional Christmas Eve service at King’s College Chapel in 1918. Thus, the present-day service of Lessons & Carols was born.