Advent IV

Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God’s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Cor, Jenny, Dave, Taye, and Heather!

LIGHTING THE FOURTH ADVENT CANDLE

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness shall never overcome it.
St. Augustine said, “By loving us, God,
You made us lovable.”
Source of LOVE, shine in our hearts,
that we might love everyone we meet.
Amen.

O come, O Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel.

OPENING PRAYER

O come, Emmanuel, come to us,
for we are lonely for God.
Come, bring the peace of God-with-us.
O come, Wisdom from on high,
lead us in the ways of knowledge,
and show us the paths of peace.
Glorious Shoot from the Jesse tree,
come and bring life,
fresh and green and lovely, to our spirits.
O Rose which blooms in the snow of winter,
come and grant to us the blessed gift of hope.
O Bright Morning Star of the darkened world,
come and be for us the Light, the Truth, and the Way.
Jesus our Christ, we welcome you.
Come and be known among us,
for we want to be your people. Amen.

HYMN: “Once in royal David’s city”

Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattleshed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven
who, with God, is over all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall.
There among the poor and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For he is our lifelong pattern;
daily, when on earth he grew,
he was tempted, scorned, rejected,
tears and smiles like us he knew.
Thus he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love;
for that child who seemed so helpless
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

INTRODUCTION TO LESSONS AND CAROLS

We begin our service of lessons and carols with some background. While King’s College, Cambridge remains the most famous example of lessons and carols—started in 1918—the tradition begins much earlier. The present form begins in 1880, in Truro, Cornwall, under the leadership of Bishop Edward Benson. He took carols and paired them with readings that recounted the complete story of our faith, from the Garden of Eden to the revelation of St. John.

The tradition, however, begins earlier still. The oratorio, developed in the 1600’s, combined orchestra, choir, and soloists to recount a sacred story. Some included a dialogue between saints and biblical characters, while others—such as Handel’s Messiah—drew on scripture alone.

Today we follow the theme of God’s light—beginning at the moment of creation and concluding with John’s promise that as the light shines in the darkness, the darkness will never overcome it. As we hear these familiar words, call to mind that everything God created was declared ‘good.’

FIRST READING: Genesis 1:1-3

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

SOLO: “See Amid the Winter’s Snow”

Bishop Benson’s service of nine lessons and carols began with Genesis 3, the story of Adam and Eve. The point of the reading—the fall of humanity—is summarized in the first verse of the next reading. The story of our salvation includes disobedience, exile, and the promise of one who will return to show us God’s way.

Isaiah 9 also highlights the Kingdom of God, the theme that Jesus taught throughout his earthly ministry. Every parable he told was a story of the Kingdom, and every interaction that brought healing and wholeness was a glimpse of his Kingdom.

SECOND READING: Isaiah 9.2, 6-7

2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder,
and his name will be called
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

HYMN: “O little town of Bethlehem”

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary;
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessed gift of heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.

Like the Cambridge version, we include two readings from the prophet Isaiah. This underlines the importance of Isaiah, famously described by St. Jerome as “more evangelist than prophet.” In fact, some scholars have called the Book of Isaiah “the fifth Gospel,” owing to it’s importance in the development of the Christian faith.

Our third reading describes the scope of God’s promise. We will hear this reading again in the season of Epiphany—it reminds us that the light is for all people. Beginning with God’s chosen, and shining for everyone to see, God’s glory will be revealed.

THIRD READING: Isaiah 60.1-3

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.

SOLO: “Il est né, le divin Enfant”

Our fourth reading describes the heart of the nativity according to St. Luke. Jesus’ background and present circumstances are less important than the heavenly messages we are meant to hear.

It begins with Zechariah. The father of St. John the Baptist is the first to hear an angel’s message: He and Elizabeth will have a son, and his task will be to “make ready a people,” and return to the wisdom of the righteous. Next, an angel appears to Mary, and she learns that she will give birth to the son of the Most High.

Finally, in Luke 2, an angel brings “good news of great joy for all people.” The shepherds are sore afraid, but they need not fear—the angel will guide them to a sign.

FOURTH READING: Luke 2.8-14

8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”

HYMN: “Angels, from the realms of glory”

Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o’er all the earth;
ye who sang creation’s story,
now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds in the field abiding,
watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations;
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear:
come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.

Our fifth reading comes from the Book of Revelation, perhaps the most enigmatic book and the least read book in the Bible. The book has provoked debate from the earliest days of the Christian Church—the first debate was whether it should be included in the Bible at all!

The next debate, the debate that continues, concerns meaning. Does it describe past events, presented as future events? Is it a collection of prophecies, foretelling the future? Or is it an elaborate religious allegory that defies interpretation?

Whatever the meaning, chapter 21 seems clear: St. John sees a bright city on the hill, with God as the temple, and the lamb as the light casting light on the world.

FIFTH READING: Revelations 21.22-27

22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light shall the nations walk; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates shall never be shut by day—and there shall be no night there; 26 they shall bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

SPECIAL MUSIC: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”

Matthew 2 gives us a glimpse of the time to come. Some are very excited that God is entering the world in a new way, while others conspire to prevent such a turn-of-events. Both reactions underline that something extraordinary happened in little Bethlehem, and the world would never be the same.

This passage also points to a recurring theme in these readings: Jesus is born for all people. Nations and kings will be drawn to him, and some will find him sooner than others. The story of how our faith is shared will be told in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, but the story of sharing faith begins here: Wise men seeking Jesus.

SIXTH READING: Matthew 2.1-2, 9-11

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

SOLO: “In the bleak midwinter”

Our look at lessons and carols concludes the same way the King’s College version does: with John’s prologue. For over a hundred years, these words within the service have formed an ending that is really a beginning: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory” and we behold it still.

Even in the most trying circumstances, the service continued. Even in the darkness of the Second World War—with the stained glass windows removed for safe-keeping, and the bitter cold—the service continued. For the sake of security the name “King’s College” was not mentioned, though it hardly mattered—the message came through: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall never overcome it.”

SEVENTH READING: John 1.1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

HYMN: “In the darkness shines the splendour”

In the darkness shines the splendour
of the Word who took our flesh,
welcoming, in love’s surrender,
death’s dark shadow at his crèche.
Bearing every human story,
Word made flesh reveals his glory.

Light of nations, veiled in history,
born of woman’s flesh and blood,
calling to the depths of mystery
restless hearts that seek the good.
Healing every human story,
Word made flesh reveals his glory.

Broken bread, sustaining us in sorrow,
wine poured out to toast our joy;
exodus and new tomorrow,
life’s full promise to enjoy!
Gladdening every human story,
Word made flesh reveals his glory.

All God’s people, sing in jubilation
of the birth that sets us free,
telling of the revelation:
Jesus, God’s epiphany.
Celebrate the human story!
Word made flesh reveals our glory.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Gracious God,
we pray this day
for all who have come with us to Bethlehem
We pray for all who are poor and cold
and hungry like the shepherds,
that they may hear good news.
We pray for all who are too tired for the journey,
that their bodies and souls may be healed,
that they grieve no more.
We pray for all who are wandering and searching like the magi,
that they may find the place to leave their gifts
and their burdens.
We pray for all who are busy, hurried,
preoccupied like the innkeeper,
that they may know the peace
that comes from genuine acts of hospitality.
We pray for all like Herod who have power,
that they may use it with good will.
We pray for ourselves—we who need comfort, peace and joy,
even in this starlit season,
and all the days of our lives. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

HYMN: “Hark! the herald angels sing”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!’
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail, the incarnate deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’

Hail, the heavenborn Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King!’

BLESSING

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23

God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.