Finding Home—A Service
of
Lessons and Carols
This service is an adaptation of the lessons and carols format, with
special emphasis and expression given to our longing for Jesus—finding home.
This service is a wonderful outreach opportunity to invite neighbors and those
who are inactive to "come home" for Christmas.
Greetings and Welcome
What is all the fuss about being home for Christmas? People with happy
childhoods continue to enjoy going home even after becoming adults. They like
to be at home with people they love. For others, going home is a painful
disappointment. But our longing to find a home is the same. We want to feel
that we are truly and safely "at home."
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 162:7d
|
Processional: "Once in Royal David’s City"
OR "On This Day Earth Shall Ring"
|
HS 240
HS 245 |
Call to Worship
Give thanks to Our God,
and call on God’s Name;
proclaim God’s deeds among the peoples!
Sing to God, sing praise,
and tell of all God’s marvels!
Glory in God’s holy Name;
let the hearts that seek Our God rejoice!
—Psalm 105:1–3 The Inclusive Psalms
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Bidding Carol: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
OR Choir Anthem: "People, Look East!"
—Text
by Eleanor Farjeon, music by Craig Phillips (Selah Publishing, 405-103, 1995;
unison)
|
HS 211 |
Opening Prayer
Our First Home
Scripture Lesson: Genesis 2:4–9, 15–17
|
Choir Anthem: "The Lord at First Did Adam Make"
—Arranged
by David Willcocks (Oxford University Press, 84.198; SATB)
OR Congregational Carol: "Father, in Thy Mysterious Presence"
|
HS 141
|
|
Banished from Home
Scripture Lesson: Genesis 3:17–19, 23–24
|
Choir Anthem: "A Tree There Grew"
—Text by
Fred Pratt Green, music by Al Fedak
(Hope Publishing, MSM-50-3014;
SATB)
OR Hymn: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
|
HS 31
|
|
Longing for Home
Scripture Lesson: Psalm 20
|
Carol: "Song of Zechariah"
OR Choir Anthem: "Surely It Is God Who Saves Me"
—Jack
Nobel White, "First Song of Isaiah" (H. W. Gray, CMR 3347)
Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 26:1–5, 9, 12
|
SP 5 |
Hymn: "God of Earth and Planets"
OR Choir Anthem: "Kingdom of Love"
—Text by
Carl P. Daw Jr., music by David Ashley White
(Selah Publishing, 405-128, 1999;
two-part)
|
HS 198 |
|
At Home with Us: The Incarnation
Scripture Lesson: Luke 2:1–7
|
Choir Anthem: "How Far Is It to Bethlehem?"
—Text by Frances Chesterton, music by Dale
Grotenhuis
(Selah Publishing, 405-242,
1996; SATB)
OR Congregational Carol: "Jesus, Good above All Other"
stanzas 1 and 2
Scripture Lesson: Luke 2:8–20
|
HS 259
|
Carol: "Joy to the World!"
OR Choir Anthem: "When God’s Time Had Ripened"
—Text
by Carl P. Daw Jr., music arranged by Alfred V. Fedak
(Selah Publishing,
405-214, 1992; SATB)
|
HS 258 |
Carol: "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming"
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 2:1–12
|
HS 255 |
Carol: "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"
OR Choir Spiritual: "Mary, Mary"
—By Avery
and Marsh, arranged Carolyn Jennings
(Curtis Music Press, C7943;
SATB)
|
HS 242 |
Carol: "Angels from the Realms of Glory"
|
HS 231 |
|
No Place to Call Home
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 2:13–18
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Carol: "What Child Is This"
OR Choir Anthem: "The Coventry Carol"
—Text
fifteenth-century English, music by Mark Sedio
(Selah Publishing, 405-234,
1993; two-part)
|
HS 257 |
Our Eternal Home
Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 64:1–5; 65:17–19, 21–22
|
Hymn: "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
OR Choir Anthem: "O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide"
—Text
and music by David Cherwein (Concordia Publishing, 98-3209; two-part)
*Scripture Lesson: Revelation 21:1—6
|
HS 170 |
*Hymn: "Of the Father’s Love Begotten"
OR Choir Anthem with Congregation: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep
Silence"
—Arranged by Gustav Holst (Galaxy Music
Corporation, 1.5019, SATB)
*Closing Prayer of Blessing
|
HS 220 |
*Sung Recessional: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
*Postlude
|
HS 252 |
