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When Justice and Peace Embrace:
Singing the Psalms at Christmas
Thirty-Third Annual Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas
LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan
December 3, 2006
Organ Voluntary:
Genevan Psalm 42: Chorale and Four Variations on Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele, Johann Pachelbel Listen
Genevan Psalm 98/118: Cortège Joyeux, George Frederick McKay
Genevan Psalm 98/118, Genevan Psalm 42: New Songs of Celebration Render, Michael Burkhardt
Choral Introit: Matin Responsory, Giovanni Palestrina (c. 1524/26-1594) PSALM 80
. Listen
I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.
Go ye out to meet him and say: "Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?"
High and low, rich and poor, one with another, go ye out to meet him and say:
"Hear, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep,
Tell us, art thou he that should come?
Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come to reign over thy people Israel."
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.-from the liturgy for matins on the first Sunday of Advent in the early medieval Roman rite
*Processional Hymn: Hail to the Lord's Anointed, Psalter Hymnal 72, arr. Roy Hopp (b. 1951) PSALM 72
. Listen
Please stand at the beginning of the organ introduction.
Stanzas 1-3: all
Stanza 4: all women and girls
Stanza 5: all men and boys
Stanza 6: all
*Greeting
Leader: 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.
Please be seated.
Bidding Prayer
. Listen
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 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, and the dead are raised up. 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 the readings from holy scripture, and also now, in the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.
All: 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!
Gaudete Omnes, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621)
. Listen
Gaudete omnes, et laetamini,
quia ecce desideratus ad venit.
Introite in conspectu eius
in exultatione,
scitote quoniam ipse est
expectatio nostra, Alleluia.
O shout with gladness, and cry aloud for joy,
behold him, the hope of all nations is come.
O behold him, lift your voices, praise and magnify the Lord forever,
exalt him with thanksgiving.
Cry aloud this is he.
The desire of heaven and earth is come, Alleluia.
-tr. Lionel Benson, alt.
On the other hand there are the psalms which we desire to be sung in the Church, as we have it exemplified in the ancient Church and in the evidence of Paul himself, who says it is good to sing in the congregation with mouth and heart. We are unable to compute the profit and edification which will arise from this, except after having experimented. Certainly as things are, the prayers of the faithful are so cold, that we ought to be ashamed and dismayed. The psalms can incite us to lift up our hearts to God and move us to an ardor in invoking and exalting with praises the glory of his Name.
-John Calvin
I. Advent Psalms of Penitence
A Reading from
Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 51
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate." The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."
***
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Book of Psalms, on the other hand, preserves you from factions and leads you into the fellowship of the saints; for, whether in joy, fear, hope, or sorrow, it teaches you to be equable in mind and calm in word, as were all the saints. The sum of all is that, if you wish to see the holy Christian church depicted in living colors, and given a living form, in a painting in miniature, then place the Book of Psalms in front of you; you will have a beautiful, bright, polished mirror which will show you what Christianity is.
-Martin Luther
Psalm 77, Gustav Holst (1874-1934) PSALM 77
. Listen
Stanza 1: choir
I cried out to God to help me: in distress and sorrow, hear me.Day and night I sought in vain joy for sorrow, ease for pain.
I stretched out my hands to reach him; day and night my prayers beseeched him.
I was sleepless thru the night, silent in the morning light.
Stanza 2: interpreted by the organ only
I was anxious and bewildered as, in sorrow, I rememberedformer days of peace and light; I recalled songs in the night.
I with doubts and questions wondered, Am I from God's mercy severed?
Are his promises in vain? Will he show his love again?
Stanza 3: tenor solo and women's choir
I cried out to the Lord, hear me; for I remember your great deeds.In my grief I will remember, Lord, your right hand changes never.
I will remember all your great deeds, O Lord Most High; great are all your works, holy your ways.
I will think and meditate on your mighty deeds so great.
I remember all your works, O Lord, all your miracles of long ago.
I meditate on your great deeds, and I consider, Lord, all your mighty deeds.
All your ways, O God, are holy; nations see your power and glory.
For you are the God who performs miracles and all of your ways, O God, are holy; holy your ways.
O Lord our Lord you redeemed your people.
You redeemed your chosen folk out of Egypt's iron yoke.
Stanza 4: soprano solo and combined choirs
I will praise you O Lord my God with all my heart, and I will glorify your name for evermore.
Through the sea a path lay open when your mighty word was spoken.
Clouds poured water, lightning flashed; earth then trembled, thunder crashed.
At your word the sea provided paths your unseen footprints guided.
You your people safely keep, mighty Shepherd of your sheep.
II. Advent Psalms of Lament and Waiting
A Reading from Psalms 42 and 43
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?"
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, "Where is your God?"
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
***
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people;from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
And, among all the books, the Psalter has certainly a very special grace, a choiceness of quality well worthy to be pondered; for, besides the characteristics which it shares with others, it has this peculiar marvel of its own, that within it are represented and portrayed in all their great variety the movements of the human soul. It is like a picture, in which you see yourself portrayed and, seeing, may understand and consequently form yourself upon the pattern given.
-Athanasius (c. 295-373)
Out of the Depths I Cry to You, arr. Dale Grotenhuis (b. 1931) PSALM 130
(tune Sandon; Charles H. Purday [1799-1885], 1860)
. Listen
| Choir: | Out of the depths I cry to you on high; Lord, hear my call. |
| Bend down your ear and listen to my sigh, forgiving all. | |
| If you should mark our sins, who then could stand? | |
| But grace and mercy dwell at your right hand. | |
| I wait for God, I trust his holy word; he hears my sighs. | |
| My soul still waits and looks unto the Lord; my prayers arise. | |
| I look for him to drive away my night- | |
| yes, more than those who watch for morning light. | |
| All: | Hope in the Lord: unfailing is his love; in him confide. |
| Mercy and full redemption from above he does provide. | |
| From sin and evil, mighty though they seem, | |
| his arm almighty will his saints redeem. Amen. | |
| -Psalm 130; vers. Psalter, 1912, alt. |
Comfort, Comfort Ye My People, Michael Bedford (b. 1949)
. Listen
Comfort, comfort ye my people; speak ye peace, thus saith our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them;
tell her that her sins I cover and her warfare now is over.
Hark, the voice of one that crieth in the desert far and near,
calling us to new repentance, since the kingdom now is here.
Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him.
Make ye straight what once was crooked; make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token that the word is never broken.
-Johannes G. Olearius (1611-1684), 1671, tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1863, alt.
III. The Shepherd God Protects and Disciplines the Sheep
A Reading from Psalm 80
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches;
it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.
Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,
the stock that your right hand planted.
They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
These psalms that teach us to pray are, all of them, prayers of people gathered as a community before God in worship. Some of them most certainly originated in solitude, and all of them have been continued in solitude. But in the form in which they come to us, the only form in which they come to us, and therefore in the way they serve as our school of prayer, they are the prayers of the community before God in worship. Prayer is fundamentally liturgical.
-Eugene Peterson
Shepherd Me, O God, Marty Haugen (b. 1950) PSALM 23
. Listen
All join on refrain:
Text and music: Marty Haugen
Copyright © 1986, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord, René Clausen (b. 1953) PSALM 100
. Listen
Make a joyful noise unto God; sing and dance and be merry.
Celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Alleluia!Jesus the Lord is born and he died to save us, Alleluia, to set us free.
We are but sheep needing God as our shepherd, Alleluia. And we are free.
Enter heaven's gates with thanksgiving, singing songs of praise.
Give thanks to God and praise his holy name, Alleluia.For our God is good; God's mercy endures forever,
and God's faithfulness endures from generation to generation, from age to age.Make a joyful noise unto God; sing and dance and be merry.
Celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Alleluia!
IV. God's Salvation Leads Us to Calm Repose and Triumphant Joy
A Reading from Psalm 63:1-7, Psalm 66
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.****
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name."
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,
who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs;
you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.
I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats.
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
So the psalms rightly united the undivided glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so that their praise is proved to be perfect. Truly they are vessels of truth, for they contain so many virtues, they are suffused with so many odours of heaven, and they are thronged with so many celestial treasures. They are the water-jugs containing the heavenly wine and keeping it ever fresh and undiluted.
-Cassiodorus (c. 485-c. 580)
In You, O Lord, David Haas (b. 1957) PSALM 131
. Listen
All join on refrain:
-Psalm 131; verses, David Haas (b. 1957); refrain tr. ICEL (International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.)
Text and music copyright © 1985, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Refrain tr. copyright © 1969, ICEL. All rights reserved.
*Psalm 145: I Will Exalt My God and King, Psalter Hymnal 145, arr. Michael Burkhardt (b. 1957) PSALM 145
. Listen
Please stand at the beginning of the organ introduction.
Stanza 1: choir
Stanza 2: all men and boys
Stanza 3: all women and girls
Stanza 4: all
Israel's prayer-even though stylized and therefore in some ways predictable-is rarely safe, seldom conventional, and never routine. It is characteristically daring, outrageous, and adventuresome. Israel's prayer is indeed limit-language that pushes to the edge of social possibility, of cultural permit, of religious acceptability, and of imaginative experimentation.
-Walter Brueggemann
V. The King of Glory Comes, Full of Truth and Grace
A Reading from Psalm 24
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Silent Night, arr. Katherine Dienes (b. 1970) (tune Stille Nacht, Franz Xaver Gruber [1787-1863], 1818)
. Listen
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and Child. Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.Silent night, holy night, shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ, the Saviour, is born! Christ, the Saviour, is born!Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light
radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.-Joseph Mohr (1792-1848), 1818, tr. John F. Young (1820-1885), 1863, alt.
*Joy to the World, Psalter Hymnal 337, arr. John Rutter (b. 1945) PSALM 98
. Listen
Please stand at the beginning of the organ introduction.
Stanza 1: all
Stanzas 2-3: choir only
Stanza 4: all
VI. The Kings of the Earth Pay Tribute to the Prince of Peace
A Reading from Psalm 72
. Listen
Read responsively, as indicated.
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.
May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long.
May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field.
May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him; may they pronounce him happy.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Wonderful Peace (Jul Jul), Gustav Nordqvist (1886-1946)
. Listen
-Edv. Evers, tr. Norman Luboff (1917-1987)
Copyright © 1983 Walton Music Corporation, New York. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
*The First Nowell, arr. Robert A. Hobby (b. 1962)
. Listen
Please stand at the beginning of the organ introduction.
| All: | 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. | |
| Choir: | They looked 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 | |
| All: | And by the light of that same star Three Wise Men came from country far; |
| to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain | |
| Choir: | This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest; |
| and there it did both stop and stay right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain | |
| All: | Then entered in those Wise Men three, full reverently upon their knee, |
| and offered there, in his presence, their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Refrain | |
| -Traditional English carol, 17th c. (Luke 2:8-14; Matt. 2:1-12) |
VII. When Justice and Peace Embrace
A Reading from Psalm 85:8-13, John 1:1-4, 14
. Listen
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.***
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.
What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,
the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres (from Hodie: A Christmas Cantata), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
. Listen
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth.Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God with us.
Ring out, ye crystal spheres,
Once bless our human ears,
If ye have power to touch our senses so;
And let your silver chime
Move in melodious time,
And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow;
And with your ninefold harmony
Make up full consort to the angelic symphony.Such music (as 'tis said)
Before was never made
But when of old the sons of morning sung,
While the Creator great
His constellations set,
And the well-balanced world on hinges hung,
And cast the dark foundations deep,
And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep.Yea Truth and Justice then
Will down return to men,
Orbed in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing,
Mercy will sit between,
Throned in celestial sheen,
With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering;
And Heaven, as at some festival,
Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall.-John Milton (1608-1674), from On the Morning of Christ's Nativity (1629)
. . . the psalms make our vigils pleasant when in the silence of night the choirs hymn their praise. The human voice bursts into melody, and with words skillfully set to music it leads us back to Him from whom divine eloquence has come for the salvation of the human race.
-Cassiodorus (c. 485-c. 580)
Prayer
. Listen
| Pastor: | God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| you have sent your Son to be our Savior: | |
| our light in the midst of darkness, | |
| our hope in the face of threats, | |
| our peace amid turmoil. | |
| People: | In your Word we have seen him |
| and know that your promises are true. | |
| Pastor: | Send us forth from this place |
| to reflect Christ's light in our lives, | |
| and to bear witness to this sign of hope. | |
| And as we go, grant us, we pray, your peace. | |
| People: | Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. |
| Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us your peace. | |
| Choir: | Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, |
| for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. | |
| A light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. | |
| -Luke 2:29-32 KJV, sung to an arrangement of Robert Scholz (b. 1939) | |
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*Psalm and Benediction PSALM 67
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| Pastor: | May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, |
| People: | that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. |
| Pastor: | Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. |
| People: | Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, |
| for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. | |
| Pastor: | Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. |
| People: | The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. |
| May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. | |
| Pastor: | May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; |
| and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless | |
| at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. | |
| The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. (1 Thess. 5:23-24) | |
| People: | Alleluia! Amen! |
*Recessional Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful, Psalter Hymnal 340
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Organ Voluntary: Genevan Psalm 134: Postlude on Old Hundredth, Michael Burkhardt
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* All who are able, please stand.
Notes and Permissions
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, Cambridge, where the service has been sung each Christmas since 1918. The service has been sung by the Calvin College Campus Choir since 1974, when the choir was directed by Prof. Merle Mustert, with the Women's Chorale joining the choir since 2003.
These recent programs are available.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.