Home > Resources > Leadership > Worship Services > Advent > Lessons and Carols

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

A Festival of Lessons and Carols
for Advent and Christmas

The Calvin College
Campus Choir

From despair emerges hope. From darkness shines light. From a sinful people comes a sin-bearing Messiah. From a stump blossoms the Christmas Rose.

Every reading, prayer, hymn, and carol in tonight's Festival of Lessons and Carols depicts the contrast between death and life, despair and hope. In a world of pain and death, may tonight's service give us a glimpse of the glory of God.

Hillcrest CRC
Hudsonville, Michigan
December 7, 1997

Organ Voluntary: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star, Mark Sedio

Prelude on "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent," Albert L. Travis

Processional Hymn: Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding, Psalter Hymnal 332

stanza 1: choir
stanza 2: women of the choir and congregation
stanza 3: men of the choir and congregation
stanza 4: all
* organ interlude—the congregation stands
stanza 5: all, in unison

* Greeting

Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all. Amen!

Congregation: Amen!

* Bidding Prayer

Pastor: Beloved in Christ, as we await the great celebration 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 redemption brought us by this Rose of Bethlehem. We rejoice, in carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled; and we celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ushers in a kingdom of power and glory forever.

Choir: Praise ye the Lord of hosts, sing his salvation,
bless his name, show forth his praise, in his holy house!
Rejoice you heavens and be joyful on earth,
Rejoice in the face of the Lord, for He cometh. Alleluia!!

—Tollite hostias, Camille Saint-Saens, from Oratorio de Noel, opus 12

Pastor: But first, we pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard th 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 freeed 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.

Congregation: 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!

Congregation is seated.

I. God announces that the seed of woman will bruise the serpent's head

A Reading from Genesis 3:8-15

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Comfort Ye, My People, George Frideric Handel, from Messiah

II. The Lord promises to raise up a righteous branch from the tree of David

A Reading from Jeremiah 23:1-6

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

When God's Time Had Ripened, Al Fedak

—text by Carl P. Daw, Jr.

III. The prophet compares the coming Messiah to the beauty
of a blossoming flower

A Reading from Hosea 14

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

A Rose Tree Blossoms, Alan Hovhaness

—from Four Motets, opus 264, no. 4

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, Psalter Hymnal 351

stanza 1: choir
*interlude—congregation stands
stanzas 2-3: congregation

Congregation is seated.

IV. The prophet foretells that the redeemed of the Lord
shall sing and dance with joy

A Reading from Isaiah 35

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Followers of the Lamb, arr. Philip Dieterrich

—Shaker text and tune, Lebanon, New York, 1847

V. The prophet announces that the grace of God will extend to all nations

A Reading from Isaiah 56:6-7, 60:1-7

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

—sung in Chinese, arr. Carolyn Jennings

Huron Carol: Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, arr. Robert Hobby

Congregation (on v. 4):

Text: Jesse Edgar Middleton (1872-1960), alt. The Frederick Harris Music Co., Limited

Natufurahi Siku Ya Leo—sung in the Taita dialect, Kenya, arr. Boniface Mganga

VI. The prophet declares that the coming Messiah will bring
full redemption to his people

A Reading from Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 53, read in alternation

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Psalter Hymnal 345, with Ah, Holy Jesus

congregation: stanza 1—"Hark! the herald angels sing..."

   choir: "Ah, holy Jesus, how have you offended..."

congregation: stanza 2—"Christ, by highest heaven adored..."

   choir: "For me, dear Jesus, was you incarnation..."

congregation: stanza 3—"Hail the heavenborn Prince of Peace..."

Sermon: "The Birth with a Shadow"

Text: Luke 2:34-35

VII. Mary sings of the One who vanquishes the powers of hell

A Reading from Luke 1:39-56

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Psalter Hymnal 341

stanza 1—choir, in canon
stanza 2—all, in unison
stanza 3—all, in canon, as directed, to portray the text

"rank on rank..."

*organ interlude—the congregation stands
stanza 4—all, in unison

Congregation is seated

VIII. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-8

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Still, Still Night, Jackson Berkey

Shannon Kelley, soprano

IX. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation

A Reading from John 1:1-14

followed by
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!

Splendor is Coming, Walter Pelz
        —text by Herbert Brokering

*Prayers

	Pastor:	Almighty God, you have given us a glimpse of glory at the coming of the Rose of Bethlehem. In Christ, you have filled us with hope as we long for the coming kingdom of God, a kingdom of power and glory forever, With confidence and hope in your promises, we echo the prayers of your saints throughout all times and places:
	Choir:	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, tune by Louis Bourgeois, from the Genevan Psalter, setting by Claude Goudimel
	Pastor:	With gratitude for this gift, we humbly ask that you will send your Spirit to anoint us so that we may bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners, and comfort those who mourn.
	Congregation:	We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

*Benediction

Pastor:

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.

Congregation: Alleluia! Amen!

*Recessional Hymn: O Come, All Ye Faithful, Psalter Hymnal 340

stanzas 1-2—harmony
stanza 3—unison
stanza 4—harmony, with descant

* All who are able, please stand.