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JUBILEE

Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas

LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan
December 5, 1999


We Gather for Worship

Organ Voluntary: Passacaglia in C Minor, J.S. Bach

Processional Hymn: O Come, O Come, Immanuel, Psalter Hymnal 328

Sing assertively.

Stanzas 1-2: choir
Stanza 3: all women and girls of the congregation and choir
Stanza 4: all men and boys of the congregation and choir
Organ interlude, during which all are invited to stand
Stanzas 5-7: all

* Bidding Prayer

	Pastor:	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 redemption brought us by this Great Little One, the Eternal Word, 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 Christ, 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.
	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!

* God's Greeting

I. The Terrible Effects of the Fall and a Promise of Future Redemption

A Reading from Genesis 3:8-14

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sung Lament: O Savior, Throw the Heavens Wide, arr. Robert V. Scholz

II. The Shofar-Trumpet Announces Jubilee to a Waiting People

Readings from Leviticus 25:8-17 and Psalm 81:1-4

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

O Come, O Come, Immanuel, arr. John Ferguson

Great Day, African-American Spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan

III. A Longing for Righteousness and Praise Springs Up in the Nations of the World

A Reading from Isaiah 61

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Southeast Asia: Hunger Carol, I-to Loh, arr. Roy Hopp

This new arrangement was commissioned for the 1999 Campus Choir for use at this service.

—text by Shirley Erena Murray

South America: Jesucristo, esperanza del mundo/Jesus Christ, Hope of the World

("Venga tu reino, Senor" means "may your kingdom come, Lord")

Text: Silvio Meincke, 1982; tr. from Portuguese by Pablo Sosa
Music: João Carlos Gottinari and Edmundo Reinhardt, 1982
Text copyright © 1982 Silvio Meincke; trans. copyright © 1988 Pablo Sosa.
Music copyright © 1982 João Carlos Gottinari and Edmundo Reinhardt.

South Africa: Freedom is Coming, Freedom Song

Freedom is coming! Yes, I know!
Jesus is coming! Yes, I know!

IV. The Trumpet Announces the Day of the Lord

Readings from Joel 2:1-2, 12-13

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

* O Christ! Come Back to Save Your Folk, Psalter Hymnal 330

Stanza 1: choir
Stanza 2: all boys and men
Stanza 3: all girls and women
Organ interlude by Helmut Walcha, during which all are invited to stand.
Stanzas 4-5: all

Where Shall I Be When the Trumpet Sounds, Andre Thomas

V. Divine Promises of Righteousness and Justice in God's Coming Kingdom

Readings from Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and Isaiah 11:1-5

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

O Savior, Throw the Heavens Wide, Johannes Brahms, opus 74, no. 2

Meditation: Who Would Have Thought It?

* Hark, the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes, Psalter Hymnal 335

Introduction for trumpet and organ by Paul Manz
Please stand at the end of the instrumental introduction, as directed.
Sing all four stanzas in harmony.
Sopranos are invited to join the choir on the descant on stanza 4.

VI. The Messiah Brings Righteousness to a Despairing World

A Reading from Psalm 72

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Jesus, Joy of All Desiring, Johann Sebastian Bach, from Cantata 147

The congregation is invited to join the choir in singing this chorale. After each phrase, there is a rest of variable length. Simply sing with the choir as directed.

* Hail to the Lord's Anointed (Psalm 72), Psalter Hymnal 72, arr. Roy Hopp

Please stand immediately at the introduction of the hymn.

Stanza 1: all, followed by organ and trumpet interlude
Stanza 2: women
Stanza 3: all
Stanza 4: men
Stanza 5: all, followed by organ and trumpet interlude
Stanza 6: all

VII. Mary Celebrates the Angel's News with a Canticle of Jubilee

A Reading from Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:46-55: Magnificat, Halsey Stevens (1908-1989)

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

* Tell Out, My Soul, Psalter Hymnal 478

Introduction for trumpet and organ by Paul Manz
Please stand at the end of the instrumental introduction, as directed.
Stanzas 1-4: all in unison

VIII. The Earthly Birth of the Heavenly King and Prophet

Readings from Luke 2:1-6 and Luke 4:16-21

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

Carols of Enthronement and Jubilee

Of the Father's Love Begotten

Stanza 1: choir
Stanza 2: all

Angels We Have Heard on High

What Child Is This, arr. David Willcocks

Stanza 1: choir
Stanza 2: all

Please stand as directed:

* Crown Him with Many Crowns

IX. We are Called to Receive God's Incarnate Son as Lord

Readings from John 1:1-14 and Psalm 24:9-10

followed by
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

God is Gone Up with a Triumphant Shout, Gerald Finzi

—text by Edward Taylor (1646-1729), from Sacramental Meditations

We Leave to Bring This Gospel of Peace to a Hurting World

* Prayer

	All:	Almighty God, you wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored the dignity of human nature. 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.
	Choir:	Now may your servant, Lord, according to your word, depart in exultation. My peace shall be serence, 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

* Parting Challenge

Pastor:

Go forth into the world in peace; Be of good courage; Hold fast to that which is good; Render to no one evil for evil; Strengthen the faint-hearted; Support the weak; Help the afflicted; Honor all people; Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

* Benediction

Pastor:

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.

Congregation: Amen!

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

Organ Voluntary: Partita on 'O Come, All Ye Faithful,' Charles Callahan

* All who are able, please stand.