A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 20, 2020 Five o’ clock in the afternoon First Presbyterian Church • Greensboro, North Carolina First Presbyterian Church Greensboro, North Carolina A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 20, 2020 • Five o’ clock in the afternoon Given by the Music Ministry of First Presbyterian Church This is a service of worship. Through the singing of carols and the reading of scripture, we offer our gifts to God who sent His Son to live and grow among us. PROCESSIONAL CAROL: Once in Royal David’s City .........................................................................................................irby Text: Cecil Francis Alexander / Music: Henry John Gauntlett BIDDING PRAYER Reverend Dr. Jill Duffield, Senior Pastor FIRST LESSON God makes an announcement in the Garden of Eden Genesis III Lizzie Albert, Canticle Choir Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: Adam lay y bounden .......................................................................................................................Philip Ledger (b. 1937) Chancel Choir Ensemble Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond: Ne had the apple taken been. Four thousand winter thought he not too long. Ne had never our lady abeen heavnè queen. Deo gracias! (Thanks be to God) Deo gracias! And all was for an apple, an apple that he took, Blessed be the time that apple taken was. As clerkes finden written in their book. Therefore we moun singen Deo gracias! Deo gracias! – Anonymous, 15th century SECOND LESSON God makes a promise to faithful Abraham Genesis XXII Rhonda Youngdahl, Coventry Ringers Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming ...................................................................................................... arr. Cynthia Dobrinski Coventry Ringers Susan Fancher, soprano saxophone THIRD LESSON The Prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour Isaiah IX Terry Lashley, Chancel Choir Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain ..........................................................................Carolyn Jennings (b. 1936) Chancel Choir Ensemble Climb to the top of the highest mountain, Joyous tidings proclaim to the world, He will come in power and glory, Lift up your voice, shout the good news: He will rule with mercy and truth, Behold, your Lord comes to you. Hope of the nations, Light of all the world. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, He will love the little children, He will carry the lambs in his arms, He will hold them in his arms. He will ever keep them safe from harm. Love him and trust him as a child, Behold, your Lord comes to you. Behold, your Lord comes to you. – text adapted from Isaiah 40 He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea, From time eternal He was God, the Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord! FOURTH LESSON The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown Isaiah XI Ty Buckner, President of the Chancel Choir Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: The Lamb .................................................................................................................................... John Tavener (1944-2013) Chancel Choir Ensemble Little Lamb who made thee Little Lamb I’ll tell thee, Dost thou know who made thee Little Lamb I’ll tell thee! Gave thee life and bid thee feed. He is called by thy name, By the stream and o’er the mead; For he calls himself a Lamb: Gave thee clothing of delight, He is meek and he is mild, Softest clothing wooly bright; He became a little child: Gave thee such a tender voice, I a child and thou a lamb, Making all the vales rejoice! We are called by his name. Little Lamb who made thee Little Lamb God bless thee. Dost thou know who made thee Little Lamb God bless thee. – William Blake FIFTH LESSON The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary Luke I John Whisnant, Chair, Worship Committee Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: O Magnum Mysterium ........................................................................................................... Morten Lauridsen (b.1943) Chancel Choir Ensemble O magnum mysterium, O great mystery, et admirabile sacramentum, and wonderful sacrament, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, that animals should see the new-born Lord, jacentem in praesepio! lying in a manger! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera Blessed is the Virgin whose womb meruerunt portare was worthy to bear Dominum Christum. Christ the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia! SIXTH LESSON Luke tells of the birth of Jesus Luke II Keith Dove, Sid & Cathy Batts Pastoral Resident Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: Cradle Hymn ............................................................................................................................................James E. Clemens Canticle Choir Hush, my Babe, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard your bed! May you live to know and fear him, Heav’nly blessings without number Trust and love him all your days; Gently fall on your head. The go dwell forever near him, See his face and sing his praise! Soft and easy is your cradle, – Isaac Watts Coarse and hard your Savior lay, When his birth-place was a stable And his softest bed was hay. SEVENTH LESSON The shepherds go to the manger Luke II Robert Wells, Director of the Chancel Choir Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CAROL: My Lord Has Come ...............................................................................................................................Will Todd (b. 1970) Chancel Choir Ensemble Shepherds, called by angels, called by love and angels; no place for them but a stable. My Lord has come. Sages, searching for stars, searching for love in heaven; no place for them but a stable. My Lord has come. His love will hold me, his love will cherish me, love will cradle me. Lead me, lead me to see him, sages and shepherds and angels; no place for me but a stable. My Lord has come. EIGHTH LESSON The wisemen are led by a star to Jesus Matthew II John Alexander, Director of Music and Principal Organist Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. CONGREGATIONAL CAROL: O Come, All Ye Faithful ....................................................................... adeste fideles Text: John Francis Wade / Music: John Francis Wade CAROL: Shepherd’s Pipe Carol ........................................................................................................................John Rutter (b. 1951) Canticle Choir Chancel Choir Going through the hills on a night all starry Angels in the sky came down from on high, On the way to Bethlehem, Hovered o’er the manger where the babe was lying Far away I heard a shepherd boy piping Cradled in the arms of his mother, Mary, On the way the Bethlehem. Sleeping there at Bethlehem. Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily, ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King “I will find him soon by the star shining brightly is come to bring us peace on earth, Is he there at Bethlehem?” and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’ In the sky o’er Bethlehem.” ‘Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: On the way to Bethlehem, ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King Who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely is come to bring us peace on earth, On the way to Bethlehem?’ and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’ Angels in the sky brought this message nigh: “May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily, ‘Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King Pay my homage too at the new King’s cradle, is come to bring us peace on earth, Come with you to Bethlehem? and he’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.’ Is it far to Bethlehem?” ‘None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely Angels in the sky brought this message night: On the way to Bethlehem, “Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King is But a King will hear me play sweet lullabies Born this night in lowly stable yonder, When I get to Bethlehem.’ Born for you at Bethlehem.” NINTH LESSON John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation John I Reverend Dr. Jill Duffield, Senior Pastor Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God. RECESSIONAL HYMN : Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ............................................................................... mendelssohn Text: Charles Wesley / Music: Felix Mendelssohn BENEDICTION Dr. Jill Duffield VOLUNTARY: Chorale Prelude on ‘In dulci jubilo’ ................................................................................... J. S. Bach (1685-1750) John Alexander, organ A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is drawn from ancient sources and has a format patterned after that used at King’s College, Cambridge, England, since 1918. Carols are sung as a response to each of the traditional lessons. Readers have been chosen to represent various aspects of congregational life. Offering supports the Music Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, including the Music Scholarship Intern Program. If you would like to show your support in this manner please click on the link here to give. Thank you for your generosity! A special thanks to Lee Lashley, our Choral Librarian My Lord Has Come by Will Todd was given by Ann and Trip Adams in memory of Curtis Lashley and his love of the Music Ministry of First Presbyterian Church, July