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Home > Resources > Leadership > Worship Services > Advent > Lessons and CarolsA Pentecostal Christmas
A Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas
LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan
December 15, 2002
Organ Voluntary:
Veni Immanuel, arr. John Hebden Schaffner, John Ferguson
Choral Varié du Veni Creator Spiritus, Maurice Duruflé
Processional Hymns
Please remain seated to sing, quietly and prayerfully:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, stanza 1, sung to HYFRYDOL
Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
Please stand to sing, strongly and expectantly:
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art:
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.* Blessed Jesus, at Your Word, Psalter Hymnal 280
All sing stanzas 1-3.
* Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, stanza 2
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.
-Charles Wesley, 1744
* Greeting
* Bidding PrayerLeader: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: Who made the heavens and the earth.
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: Amen.
Leader: Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas, we prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. We have gathered to hear, in readings from the holy scriptures, how the prophets of Israel foretold that God, by the power of the Spirit, would visit and redeem his waiting people.
We rehearse again the account of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience to the glorious appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. We rejoice, in carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and all creation is given hope by the power of the Spirit.
But first, we pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. These prayers we humbly offer as we meditate on each of the readings from holy scripture, and also now, in the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.
People: 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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen!
Please be seated.
I. The Spirit of God Forms and Renews the Creation
A Reading from Genesis 1 (excerpts) and Psalm 104:24-34
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Veni Creator Spiritus, medieval plainchant
Of the Father’s Love Begotten, arr. David Willcocks
Stanzas 1-2: Choir
* Stanzas 3-4: All, standing to sing
Text: (vv. 1, 3, 4) Marcus Aurelius C. Prudentius, 4th c.; tr. John M. Neale, 1854, and Henry W. Baker, 1859, alt.; (v. 2) tr. R.F. Davis; copyright
© J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd.
Music: 12th c. plainsong
Please be seated.
II. A Fallen People Pray for the Spirit of God
A Reading from Genesis 3:8-15 and Psalm 51:1-2, 10-15
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm and Hymn in Alternation: Psalm 51 (Genevan Psalter), arr. Gárdonyi Zoltán
O Come, O Come, Immanuel
Text: Psalm 51; from Psalter Hymnal 51, vers. Stanley Wiersma, 1980, copyright © 1987, CRC Publications
Text: Veni Emmanuel; Latin, 12th c. composite
III. The Spirit of God Leads the People of Israel
A Reading from Isaiah 63:11-14 and 2 Corinthians 3:7
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
In Your Pentecostal Splendor, Dale Wood
Stanzas 1-2: Choir
* Stanzas 3-5: All, standing to sing
Text: John E. Spears, 1916
Music: tune Eden Church, Dale Wood (b. 1934) From "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation." Copyright
© Schmitt, Hall, and McCreary Co.
Please be seated.
Every Time I Feel the Spirit, arr. Moses Hogan
Every time I feel the Spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray.On the mountain, my Lord spoke, out His mouth came fire and smoke.
Down in the valley, on y my knee, asked my Lord have mercy please.
Every time I feel the Spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray.Jordan river, chilly and cold, chills the body not the soul.
All around me looked so fine, asked my Lord if all was mine,
Every time I feel the Spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray.Ain't but one train on this track, runs to heaven and right back.
St. Peter waiting at the gate, said come on sinner, don't be late.
Every time I feel the Spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray.
-Traditional spiritual
IV. The Prophet Foretells of the Anointed One
Who Would Receive God's Spirit
A Reading from Isaiah 42:1-9
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me, Edward Elgar, from The Apostles, op. 49
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor.
He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to preach the acceptable year of the Lord,
to give unto them that mourn a garland for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord,
that He might be glorified.
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
-Isaiah 61:1-4
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Psalter Hymnal 469, arr. John Rutter
Please stand to sing.
Stanza 1: All
Stanza 2: Choir, singing harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach
Stanza 3-4: All
Please be seated.
V. The Prophet Tells of the Shalom
that the Anointed One Will Bring
A Reading from Isaiah 11:1-10
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Dona Nobis Pacem, Z. Randall Stroope
Dona nobis pacem.
The wolf will lie with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat.
And the calf and the lion and yearling together. And the cow will feed with the bear,
And the lion will feed with the ox. And the young child will play near the nest of the viper.Dona nobis pacem.
A shoot will come from the stump of Jesse, from his roots a branch will bear fruit.
The spirit of the Lord will rest on him,
and in that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner to all people.
And his place of rest will be glorious!Dona nobis pacem.
VI. Mary Is Found to Be with Child by the Holy Spirit
A Reading from Luke 1:39-45 and Matthew 1:18-21
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Savior of the Nations, Come, Psalter Hymnal 336
Stanza 1: Choir
Stanza 2: Choir to harmony by Johann Crüger
Stanza 3-4: All to harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach
Text: Ambrose, 4th c., and Martin Luther, 1523; tr. Calvin Seerveld, 1984
Music: tune Nun komm der Heiden Heiland; Gesangbüchlein, 1524; harm. J.S. Bach
A Babe Is Born, William Matthias, opus 55
A babe is born all of a may [maid],
To bring salvation unto us.
To him we sing both night and day.
Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit).
At Bethlehem, that blessed place,
The child of bliss now born he was,
And him to serve God give us grace,
O lux beata Trinitas (O Triune Blessed Light).
There came three kings out of the East,
To worship the King that is so free,
With gold and myrrh and frankincense,
A solis ortus cardine (From the rising of the sun).
The angels came down with one cry,
A fair song that night sung they
In worship of that child,
Gloria tibi Domine (Glory to you, O Lord).
-15th c. carol
VII. The Birth of Jesus of Nazareth
A Reading from Luke 2
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Night of Silence, Daniel Kantor
Text: Daniel Kantor; text copyright
© GIA Publications, Inc.
Text (Stille nacht): Joseph Mohr, 1818; tr. John F. Young, 1818, alt.
VIII. The Holy Spirit Reveals the Redeemer to Simeon
A Reading from Luke 2:25-34 and Titus 3:4-8
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Johann Eccard
Text: Peter Hagen, tr. J. Troutbeck (1832-1871), alt.
Carl F. Schalk
Copyright
© 1994, Concordia Publishing House
Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me, K. Lee Scott
Stanzas 1-2: Choir
Stanzas 3-4: All
Music: tune Adoro te devote, Processionale, Paris, 1697
IX. The Sending of the Son and the Spirit of the Son
A Reading from John 1:1-4, 14 and Galatians 4:5-7
Followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
If You Love Me, Thomas Tallis
If you love me, keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth.
-John 14:15-17
Veni Sancte Spiritus, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, K. 47
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Reple tuorum corda fidelium.
Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Et tui amoris in eis ignem accende,
Qui per divisitatem linquarum cunctarum
Gentes in unitate fidei congregasti.
Alleluja!Come Holy Spirit,
Fill the hearts of the faithful.
Come Holy Spirit,
And kindle in them the fire of your love.
You have gathered together nations
Of all different tongues in the unity of faith.
Alleluia!
Response of Faith and Prayer
* The Nicene Creed
Leader: Let us join together in love
and with one heart and one voice
confess the faith of the church
at all times and in all places:People: We believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
begotten from the Father before all ages,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of the same essence as the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and was made human.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried.
The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again with glory
to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will never end.We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life.
He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
He spoke through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and to life in the world to come. Amen.
* Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, arr. John Ferguson
Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), 1747 (v. 2 from Lutheran Book of Worship 315)
Music: Rowland H. Prichard (1811-1887), 1831
* Prayer
Leader: Let us pray:
People: O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. Grant that we may be grounded and settled in your truth
by the coming of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.
Reveal to us what we do not yet know.
Fill up in us what is wanting.
Confirm what we know.
And keep us blameless in your service.
In your mercy, let us share the divine life of Jesus Christ
who came to share our humanity,
and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Clement of Alexandria and Book of Common PrayerChoir: Now may your servant, Lord, according to your word, depart in exultation.
My peace shall be serene, for now my eyes have seen your wonderful salvation.
You did for all prepare this gift so great, so rare, fulfilling prophet's story,
A light to show the way to Gentiles gone astray and unto Israel's glory.
—Song of Simeon, melody by Louis Bourgeois, from the Genevan Psalter, setting by Claude Goudimel
* Charge and Blessing
Leader: Go out in the power of the gospel.
Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. When you suffer for the gospel, rely on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
(based on 2 Tim. 1:8-14)May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And may the God of peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Alleluia! Amen!
*Recessional Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful, Psalter Hymnal 340
Organ Voluntary: Fanfare, J. Lemmens
* All who are able, please stand
Notes to the Service
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was first sung at the Cathedral of Truro, England, and was later adapted for use in King’s College Chapel, 1918. The service has been sung by the Calvin College Campus Choir since 1974, when the choir was directed by Prof. Merle Mustert.