A Service of Lessons and Carols
Prelude
Reading
Read from back of sanctuary or elsewhere as an unseen voice
In the beginning, God said to the angels, "Let us make
humankind in our own image" and all the company of heaven rejoiced at the
goodness of Creation.
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Processional Hymn: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
OR "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones"
(Text:
John Athelstan Laurie Riley; Tune: Lasst Uns Erfreuen)
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HS
211 |
In the Garden
Read from pulpit: Genesis 2:4, 7–9
Read by unseen voice: But Adam and Eve sinned against God
and ate of the forbidden tree.
Read from pulpit: Genesis 3:2–24
Read by unseen voice: Thus darkness and death came into
our world. Toiling and in misery, humankind longed for a savior to redeem
them.
Psalm 91
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*Confessional Carol: "Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus"
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HS
201 |
*Prayer of Confession
*Response
Watching over Us
Read by unseen voice: Through many centuries of longing
and hoping for a redeemer, God sent messengers to remind us that we are not
alone, but in God’s holy care.
Read by people dispersed throughout the congregation:
Genesis 9:12, 15–17 (Abraham and Isaac)
Genesis 28: 10–12, 16–17 (Jacob’s ladder)
Exodus 14:19–20 (Moses)
II Kings 6:15–17 (Elisha)
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Carol: "Heir of All the Waiting Ages"
OR Choir Piece: "Carol of the Ladder" by Hatfield (Boosey
and Hawkes)
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HS 253 |
Gabriel
Read by unseen voice: At last, God sent the angel Gabriel
to Mary, to announce the coming birth of the promised Messiah.
Read from pulpit: Luke 1:26–28, 31, 38
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Carol: "Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming"
OR Choir Piece: "The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came,"
Basque carol in Carols for Choirs 3 (Oxford University
Press)
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HS 255 |
Joseph
Read by unseen voice: Joseph, however, had his doubts
about the child that was to be born in such an unconventional way. Again, it
took an angel to dispel his fears.
Read from pulpit: Matthew 1:18–25
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Carol: "Joseph, Kind Joseph"
OR Choir Piece: "Joseph and the Angel"
traditional
carol in Oxford Book of Carols (Oxford University Press)
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HS 234 |
Bethlehem
Read by unseen voice: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
the world was largely unaware of the great event. But angel choirs rejoiced,
and humble shepherds were the first to hear the glad tidings.
Read from pulpit
OR gather children around a storyteller and use a children’s
Bible version of the Christmas story: Luke 2:1–20
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Carol: "While Humble Shepherds"
OR "What Child Is This"
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HS 236
HS 257 |
Disciples’ Generous Response
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes
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Carol: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear"
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HS
256 |
The Magi
Read by unseen voice: King Herod worried about the
possibility of a child born to be king of the Jews and asked the wise men from
the East to help him find the child.
Read from the pulpit: Matthew 2:1–12
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Carol: "As with Gladness Men of Old"
OR "Silvery Star, Precious Star"
Christmas Prayer of Blessing
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HS 254
HS 239 |
*Recessional Carol Medley: "Angels We Have Heard on
High"
"The First Nowell"
"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing"
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HS 237
HS 246
HS 252 |
*Postlude
—Adapted from Lydia Pedersen in
Worship for All Seasons II, pages 47–48. Used with permission.
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