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Home , Nine Lessons and Carols

A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS WITH HOLY COMMUNION

DECEMBER 16, 2018 10:00 A.M.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA WELCOME TO HOLY COMFORTER!

The people of Holy Comforter joyfully welcome you to this historic church. We are happy that you are here, and we hope you will find your worship today meaningful and inspiring.

If you are looking for a church to call your own, we hope you will consider our parish. At the root of all we do is our desire to live out the Great Commandment of Christ: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Holy Comforter has made a difference in our lives, and we believe it can do the same for you.

In peace, The Rev. Greg Brown Rector

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

The famous of Nine Lessons and Carols was first held at King’s College, , England, on Eve 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White; at age 34, White had just been appointed dean of King’s after experience as an army chaplain. This experience convinced him that the needed more imaginative worship.

The original service was adapted from an order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later , for use in a wooden shed, which then served as his cathedral in , on 1880. A. C. Benson recalled, “My father arranged from ancient sources a little service for Christmas Eve – nine carols and nine tiny lessons, which were read by various officers of the church, beginning with a chorister, and ending, through the different grades, with the bishop.”

Almost immediately other churches adapted the service for their own use. Its fame began to grow when the service was first broadcast in 1928 and, with the exception of 1930, it has been broadcast annually, even during World War II, when the ancient glass (and also all heat) had been removed from the chapel and the name of King’s could not be broadcast for security reasons. Sometime in the early 1930s the BBC began broadcasting the service overseas.

In these and other ways the service has become public property. From time to time King’s College receives copies of services held in the West Indies or the Far East and these show how widely the tradition has spread. The broadcasts have become part of Christmas for many far from Cambridge. One correspondent writes that he heard the service in a tent on the foothills of Everest; another, in the desert. Visitors from all over the world are heard to identify the Chapel as “the place where the Carols are sung.”

Wherever the service is heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by or congregation: the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, is derived from the lessons and not the music. “The main theme is the development of God’s loving purposes...” seen through the windows and words of the . Local interests appear in the bidding prayer, and personal circumstances give point to different parts of the service.

This service at Holy Comforter is particularly Advent-focused, with lessons and music carefully chosen to illuminate the four-week season of waiting and expectation. The carols and heard this morning are designed to support the readings which they follow – each of which tells but a portion of the prophetic story of Christ’s coming among us.

!2 VOLUNTARY An Advent Prelude (Charles Callahan, b. 1951) Two Advent (arr. Mary Ann Archer) Mary Ann Archer, flute

WELCOME

PROCESSIONAL (please stand) Come, redeemer of the earth Come, thou redeemer of the earth

## & œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ 1. Come,œ thou˙ Re - deem - er of the earth,˙ andœ 2. Be - got - ten of no hu - man will, but 3. O e - qual to the Fa - ther, thou! Gird 4. From God the Fath - er he pro - ceeds; From 5. Thy cra - dle here shall glit - ter bright, And 6. All laud, e - ter - nal Son, to thee Whose

? # œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ # œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙

3 ## œ œ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ & ˙ œ ˙œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ 1. man - i - fest thy vir - gin birth: Let ev - 'ry age a - 2. of the Spi - rit thou art still The Word of God in 3. on thy flesh - ly man - tle now; The weak - ness of our 4. God the Fath - er back he speeds; His course he runs to 5. dark - ness breathe a new - er light, Where end - less faith shall 6. Ad - vent sets thy peo - ple free, Whom with the Fa - ther œ œ ? # ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ # œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ

6 # # ˙˙ œ ˙ ˙ & œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ 1. dor - ing fall; such birth be - fits the God˙ ofœ all.˙ 2. flesh ar - rayed, the pro - mised fruit to all dis-played. 3. mor - tal state With death - less might in - vig - o - rate. 4. death and hell, Re - turn - ing on God's throne to dwell. 5. shine ser - ene, And twi - light ne - ver in - ter - vene. 6. we a - dore And Ho - ly Ghost for ev - er - more.

˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ? ## ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ

!3 THE BIDDING PRAYER (please stand or kneel) Officiant Beloved in Christ, the season of Advent bids us prepare ourselves both for the celebration of Christ’s nativity as also for the day when he shall come to judge the hearts of us all. So, in sorrow and penitence, let us confess our failures and shortcomings, and renew in ourselves the vision of God’s perfect kingdom, which is the end of all our strivings and the consummation of God’s loving purposes for us. In word and music we will give voice to the hope set forth in the scriptures, that God’s kingdom will come; and, with John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we will prepare for its coming, celebrating its dawning in the birth, life and death of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. But first let us pray for those who, by reason of their adversity, yearn especially for its coming: the hungry and the homeless, the sick and the sorrowful, the lonely and the unloved; those who sit in the darkness of despair or who walk in the shadow of death. Let us pray for the leaders of the nations and for all who strive for the establishment of justice, righteousness and peace; and, that it may bear witness to this hope in a world divided by wrath and sorrow, let us pray for the well-being and unity of Christ’s body, the Church. May the Lord when he comes find us watching and waiting. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:1-15

CHOIR We are waiting for the Lord (William T. Paxson) David Duggan, soloist We are waiting for the Lord. Earth is dark, the fires dim; come, Lord Jesus, enter in. Come and help us by your birth; come and brighten all the earth. Free your people from the grave; come, Lord Jesus, come and save. Take the ancient sin away; come, Lord Jesus, show the way. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel.

THE SECOND LESSON God comforts his people and calls on them to prepare for redemption. 40:1-11

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN (please stand) #67 Comfort, comfort ye my people ✙At this time, children ages 3 to the second grade--and any adults who wish to accompany them--are invited to follow the small wooden cross down the center aisle for children's chapel in our parish hall. Older children are welcome to participate as leaders and helpers. Everyone will return at the Peace, in time for Communion. ✙

THE THIRD LESSON The scribe Baruch urges the people to look East because salvation is at hand. Baruch 4:36-5:9

CHOIR ANTHEM People, look East (arr. Craig Phillips b. 1961)

People, look east. The time is near People, look east and sing today: Of the crowning of the year. Love, the bird, is on the way. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim People, look east and sing today: One more light the bowl shall brim, Love, the guest, is on the way. Shining beyond the frosty weather, Bright as sun and moon together. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, People, look east and sing today: One more seed is planted there: Love, the star, is on the way. Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth People, look east and sing today: Christ who brings new life to earth. Love, the rose, is on the way. Set every peak and valley humming With the word, the Lord is coming. Birds, though you long have ceased to build, People, look east and sing today: Guard the nest that must be filled. Love, the Lord, is on the way. Even the hour when wings are frozen -Text by Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) God for fledging time has chosen. !4 THE FOURTH LESSON John the Baptist prepares the way. Luke 3:1-6

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN (please stand) #75 There’s a voice in the wilderness crying

THE FIFTH LESSON The Lord will be among us; we are summoned to rejoice and sing. Zephaniah 3:14-20

CHOIR ANTHEM The Angel from Heaven came (Basque Carol, arr. Malcolm Archer, b. 1952)

The angel Gabriel from heaven came, Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; "To me be as it pleaseth God," she said, "All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary, "my soul shall laud and magnify his holy most highly favored lady," Gloria! Name." Most highly favored lady, Gloria! "For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee, Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, in , all on a Christmas morn, most highly favored lady," Gloria! and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say-- "Most highly favored lady," Gloria! -Text by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) THE SIXTH LESSONMy Soul Proclaims TheYour angel Gabriel Greatness, salutes the blessed Lord Virgin Mary. Luke 1:26-38 CONGREGATIONAL HYMN (please stand) My soul proclaims your greatness, Lord

# 4 & 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 1. My soulœ proœ - claimsœ yourœ great-ness, Lord, I sing my Sav - ior'sœ praise!˙. You 2. To all who live in ho - ly fear, your mer - cy ev - er flows, With 3. To Is - ra - el, your ser - vant blest, your help is ev - er sure, the 5 # œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . œ lookedœ upœ - onœ myœ low - li - ness, and I am full ofœ grace.˙ Now might - y arm you dash the proud, their schem-ing hearts ex - pose. The pro - mise to our par - ents made their child - ren will se - cure. Sing

9 # œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ev - ery land and ev - ery age this bless - ing shall proœ - claim,˙. great ruth - less you have cast a - side, the low - ly throned in - stead, the glo - ry to the Ho - ly One, give hon - or to the Word, and

13 # & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . wonœ - dersœ youœ œ haveœ done for me, and ho - ly is yourœ name.˙ hun - gry filled with all good things, the rich sent off un - fed. praise the pow'r of the Most High, one God, by all a - dored.

!5 THE OF THE DAY Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE PEACE Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you. Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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THE HOLY COMMUNION

OFFERTORY Never weather-beaten sail (setting by , 1866-1926)

Never weather beaten sail more willing bent to shore, Never tired pilgrim's limbs affected slumber more. Than my wearied sprite now longs to fly out of my troubled breast: O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest!

Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven's high Paradise, cold age deafs not there our ears nor vapour dims our eyes: Glory there the sun outshines; Score whose beams the blessed only see: O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my sprite to Thee! -Text by Thomas Campion (1567-1620)

PRESENTATION (please stand)

4 œ & 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ Praiseœ God from whom all bless - ings flow; Praise God, all creaœ -tures here œ beœ -

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& Œ œ œ #œ ˙ #œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ low.˙ Praise God œa-bove,œ ye heav'n - lyœ hosts;˙ Praise Fa -ther, Son,and Ho - ly

12 œ ˙ & ˙ Œ Œ œ ˙ Œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ œ #œ Ghost. Re -joice! Re -joice! Em-man - u - el shall come to thee,œ O Is - œ raœ - el!˙.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER D (please kneel or remain standing) BCP, Page 372

!6 THE S124 (Hurd) # & # œ˙ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œœœ ˙ œ œ œ Ho - ly, ho - ly, hoœœ - ly Lord, God of pow - er and might, hea - ven and ## œ & œ œ œ œ œ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ˙ earth are full of yourœ glo - ry. Ho - san - na in the high - est. ## œ & œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ˙ Bless-ed is he who comes in the name of theœ Lord. Ho-san-na in the high - est.

THE ANTHEM S171 (Martens)

THE MINISTRATION OF COMMUNION We encourage parents to accompany their children to the Hour (for Christian formation) after receiving Communion. The children meet in Van Every 203/204, and will say a postcommunion prayer together in that space and enjoy a snack prior to the start of the lesson.

INVITATION TO THE The heart of our worship as Episcopalians is the Eucharist, or Holy Communion. We experience the Real Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in this ancient sharing of bread and wine. Everyone is invited to come forward during Holy Communion. All Christians, of every age and any denomination, are invited to partake of the bread and wine. Those not wishing to receive communion this day are offered a blessing in God’s holy name. At the rail, you may kneel or stand, whichever connects you closer to God. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher, and ministers will be honored to come to you in your pew. To receive the bread, lay your hands together, palms upward; the bread will be placed in your open palm. Gluten-free bread is available at the altar; simply turn your hands over (palms down). To receive the wine, guide the to your lips. If you prefer --where the bread is dipped into the wine--you may leave the bread in your open palm. The chalice bearer will gently dip your bread into the wine and place it in your mouth. Or you may perform this intinction yourself. To receive the blessing, simply cross your arms across your chest. However you participate today, know this: you are welcome. It is Christ himself who invites you to meet him here.

COMMUNION MUSIC #324 Let all mortal flesh keep silence WLP 722 The desert shall rejoice !7 THE SENDING OUT OF EUCHARISTIC VISITORS (when needed) Celebrant In order that all may receive Holy Eucharist (N) will take communion to (N) today. All In the name of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ’s Body and Blood. We who are many are one body because we all share one bread, one cup. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER AND ADVENT BLESSING Celebrant Let us pray. (please kneel or stand) All Eternal God, heavenly Father you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin. Amen.

May he whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN #65 Prepare the way, O Zion

DISMISSAL At the dismissal, all respond, Thanks be to God. . Alleluia.

VOLUNTARY Wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme (Setting by Robert A. Hobby, b. 1962)

!8 MUSICIANS PARTICIPATING IN THE SERVICE The Holy Comforter Choir Jane Arant, organ Mary Ann Archer, flute

READERS Jessica Dunlap, Kirt Hibbitts, Liz Weathers, May Winiarski The Rev. Gene Humphreys The Rev. Greg Brown

HOLY COMFORTER PRAYERS THIS WEEK (DECEMBER 3-9, 2017) “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

CURRENT PRAYERS Of thanks for birthdays 12/3 Rhoda Garth; 12/4 Ann Moore, Emerson Huntley; 12/5 Elinor Caddell; 12/6 Tom Kearns; 12/7 Leanne Thurman; 12/9 Stephen Redfern for anniversaries 12/6 Karen and Lou Wimbish

The altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Louise Burks by Freddy Burks.

Of support for parishioners for family and friends Nancy Evans, Ryan Waters, Tiffany and Stephen DenBoer, Sandford and Karen Berenberg, Mitch Maliff, Heather Allen Hietala, Claire Rembowski, Benny Benson, Alden Dunlap, Sarah Fletcher Elkins for those who have died Michael Barenberg, Marlene J. Miller, James Thomas

ON-GOING PRAYERS Of support for Holliday Adams, Charlotte Barrows, Bobbie Burnett, Hazel Cline, Mike Follett, Jett Green, Peggy Gurley, Connie Guthery, Chadwick Ham, Marilyn Jamsky, David Johnson, Donna Keith, Tracy Lilly, Larry Limer, Pam Michaud, Dick Moore, Walt Norman, Cesar Ortiz, Anne Ranson, Amy Samonds, Gemma Shaw, Sharon Sturgis, Billie Stutts, Phyllis Thies, Davis Trotter, Jim Webb for military service David Cavins, Colin Clark, Stephen DenBoer, Allen Guthery, Will Perlik

FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH Our , clergy, vestry, and staff; La Escuelita Weekday School, Trinity Episcopal School, and Palisades Episcopal School; Cooperative Christian Ministry of UNC Charlotte, Central Piedmont, and Johnson & Wales; the Churches of Park Road (Avondale Presbyterian, Sedgefield United Methodist, St. Luke’s Lutheran, St. Ann Catholic, Park Road Baptist); Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte; our companion dioceses of Botswana and Costa Rica, and the worldwide .

The prayer list is refreshed every Thursday morning; contact the Membership Coordinator ([email protected]) to add or remove a name. To keep our list current, “current prayers” automatically rotate off after three weeks, and “on-going prayers” are updated twice yearly in Advent and on .

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