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Home , Nine Lessons and Carols

A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS WITH HOLY COMMUNION

DECEMBER 8, 2019 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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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.

2 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.

3 VOLUNTARY Come, redeemer of the earth (setting by Barbara Kinyon, b. 1929) Savior of the nations, come (setting by Cathy Moklebust, b. 1958) Come, thou long-expected Jesus (Kinyon) Holy Comforter Handbell Choir

WELCOME

THE WORD OF GOD

INTROIT We are waiting for the Lord (William T. Paxson) Makayla Belcher, Allison Hancock, Paul Malina, and Zachary Wald, soloists 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 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. People Amen.

4 PROCESSIONAL (please stand) Come, thou 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

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

5 CHOIR (, 1937-2012) He will come like last leaf's fall. One night when the November wind has flayed the trees to bone, and earth wakes choking on the mould, the soft shroud's folding.

He will come like frost. One morning when the shrinking earth opens on mist, to find itself arrested in the net of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come like dark. One evening when the bursting red December sun draws up the sheet and penny-masks its eye to yield the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come, will come like crying in the night, like blood, like breaking, as the earth writhes to toss him free. He will come like child. -Text by Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury (b. 1950)

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

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 Kirt Hibbitts, lector

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. 6 THE FOURTH LESSON John the Baptist prepares the way. Matthew 3:1-12 Liz Weathers, lector

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 Michele Meyer, lector

CHOIR ANTHEM Come, thou long-expected Jesus (setting by David Ashley White, b. 1944) Come, thou long-expected Jesus, Born thy people to deliver, born to set thy people free; born a child, and yet a King, from our fears and sins release us, born to reign in us forever, let us find our rest in thee. now thy gracious Kingdom bring.

Israel’s strength and consolation, By thine own eternal Spirit hope of all the earth thou art: rule in all our hearts alone; dear desire of every nation, by thine all sufficient merit joy of every longing heart. raise us to thy glorious throne. -Text by , 1744

THE SIXTH LESSON The angel salutes the blessed Virgin Mary. Luke 1:26-38 My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, LordShannon Kissinger, lector

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.

7 THE OF THE DAY Celebrant The Lord be with you. People And with thy spirit. Celebrant Let us pray. Merciful God, who didst send thy 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 liveth and reigneth with thee 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 with thy spirit. 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 Mary’s Whys (Helen Williams) Sung by the Girls’ Choir and Adult Chamber Ensemble “Why me?” She asked of Gabriel, “What heartbreak this? I mourn and cry “For I am such a simple girl. and watch they mock and crucify What role is this that you foretell my son, whose death upon the cross to bear God’s son, Emmanuel?” is not just mine but this world’s loss.”

“Will I keep Joseph by my side? Yet Mary’s questions were dispelled Who else will take me as his bride? by trust in God and Christ her child. If I do what my Lord has asked, Through simple faith was God made man; Will I find courage for this task?” At Mary’s ‘yes’ the Church began.

“Why can’t I have a proper bed As Mary magnified the Lord on which to lay my Jesu’s head? So we rejoice to hear his word. Score What have these strangers come to see His might be known, his mercy sure, And why from Herod must we flee?” His people raised forevermore. -Text by Sarah Lutton

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 -

6 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!˙.

8 EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II (please kneel or remain standing) BCP, Page 340

THE S114 (Willan)

# & # ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ w ˙ Ho˙ - ly,˙ ho - ly, ho - ly, Lord Godœ ofœ

## j ˙ & w œ. œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ Hosts: Hea - ven and earthœ areœ full of thy glo - ry. Glo -

## œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œ w ˙ œ œ . j ˙ ˙ ry be to thee, O Lord Most High. Blessœ œ - ed is heœ thatœ com - eth

# & # œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ in the name of the Lord. Ho˙ - sanœ - na in theœ œ high˙ - est.w

THE ANTHEM S154 (Willan) # # ∑ & ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ n˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙˙ n˙ ˙ O Lamb of God, that that tata - - kest kest a a - -

# & ˙ ˙ ˙ ŒŒ ÓÓ ÓÓ ˙ ˙ ˙˙ & ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w œ ˙˙ ˙ ˙ way the sins of the world,w œ havehave mermer - - cy cy up up - -

# ˙ ˙ ∑ ˙˙ & œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ & œ œ ˙ ˙ w.. ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ on us. O Lamb of of God,God, that that

# & n ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ŒŒ ÓÓ ÓÓ & n˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ w œ ˙˙ ta - kest a - way the sinssins of of the the world,world,w œ havehave

# ˙ œ ∑ & ˙ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ œ ∑œœ ˙ & ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ w.. ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ mer - cy up - on us. OO Lamb Lamb of of

# # # # ˙ ###### & ˙ ˙ ˙ n˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ God, that ta - kest kest a a - - way the sinssins of of the the

# # ˙ # # Œ ˙ œ ∑œ œ & Œ œ œœ w.. ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ œœ œœ ww ww.. world,w œ grant us thy peace. world, grant us thy peace. 9 THE MINISTRATION OF COMMUNION

COMMUNION #324 Let all mortal flesh keep silence WLP 722 The desert shall rejoice

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 Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. 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.

VOLUNTARY O come, O come, Emmanuel (setting by Matthew Corl, b. 1965)

MUSICIANS PARTICIPATING IN THE SERVICE The Holy Comforter Choir The Holy Comforter Handbell Choir The Holy Comforter Girls Choir Jane Arant, organ

10 HOLY COMFORTER PRAYERS THIS WEEK DECEMBER 8-14, 2019 “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 12/9 Stephen Redfern; 12/10 Mary Amos, Gil Gaffney, Gerry Smith, Linda Price, Windy Wingard-Gay; 12/11 Luke Williams; 12/12 Grace Bott, Anna Lucke, Danitza DeMiguel-Corado; 12/13 Lee Ann Barrineau, Juala Smythe, Seamus Ireland; 12/14 Ray Neel, Michael Tomblin, Jose Almao-Mendez

Of support for parishioners Sandy Cooke for family and friends For those who have died Jonathan Hobson

The altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Dan Blackwood by Deb Blackwood.

The lectern flowers are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the 21st birthday of McDaniels Bell Durfee by his family.

ON-GOING PRAYERS Of support for Vicky Adkins, Dixon Brown, Annie Brugmans, Martin Cerezo, Hope Diaz, Rick Evans, Connie Guthery, Jenny Guthrie, Marie Guthrie, Dave Hatton, Molly Howe, James Hunt, Bryan D. Jackson, Bernard Kane, Amber Lakin, Allegra Liana, Nathan Maliff, Charles McDuffie, John Nagem, Yvonne Nagle, Gayle Passons, Danny & Vera Payne, Frank Poe, Lindsay Poe, Fran Platts, Scot Riddlesberger, Amy Samonds, Chanel Samonds, Lee Shamblin, Linda Shuping Smith, Gay Silver, Lance Solomon, Joey Starnes, Billie Stutts, Jami VanBrunt, Susan VanBrunt, Vernon, Betty Webb, Asher White, Karen Wilson, Michael Wood, Rebecca Yarborough for military service Stephen DenBoer, McDaniels Bell Durfee, Allen Guthery, Chase Lingle, Will Perlik, Emory Walls, Ladson Walls, Chris WarHawk

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 . Please contact the church office, 704-332-4171, to inform us of upcoming surgeries or anytime you or a member of the parish is admitted to the hospital. For after-hours, emergency pastoral care call 980-819-1225.

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