Calvin Christian Reformed Church December 22, 2013 5:00 PM

Calvin Christian Reformed Church
December 22, 2013
5:00 PM
The Service of Lessons and Carols was first sung at the Cathedral of
Truro, England, and was later adapted for use in Kings College
Chapel, Cambridge, where the service has been sung each
Christmas since 1918. It consists of a series of Scripture lessons
which outline the story of Christmas, coupled with appropriate
carols, anthems, and hymns.
The service proceeds unannounced.
The Preludes:
“Three Noels”
Noel Joseph Revenant un Jour
Noel Joseph est bien Marié
Noel il est un petit L’ange
“Good Christians All, Rejoice”
“In the Bleak Mid-winter”
* The Opening Carol: “Once in Royal David’s City”
Claude Balbastre
Bill Wolaver
Donald Allured
The Bidding Prayer
(concluding with The Lord’s Prayer spoken in unison)
Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again the
message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing
which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Therefore let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God
from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by this Holy
Child.
But first, let us pray.
We pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his
people; for unity and brotherhood within the Church he came to build, and especially in this our
congregation. (Silent prayers)
And because this would rejoice his heart, let us remember in his name the poor and
helpless, the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed; the sick and those that mourn, the lonely and
the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love
him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love. (Silent prayers)
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore,
and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word
made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore. (Silent prayers)
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the Throne of Heaven, in the words
which Christ himself has taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.
The Bidding Carol: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
Music: 13th century, arranged by Michael Larkin
Text: plainsong, translated by John Mason Neale and Henry Williams Blake
Of the Father’s love begotten ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending, he,
Of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.
Oh, that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe, the world’s redeemer, first revealed his sacred face,
Evermore and evermore.
Let the heights of heaven adore him; angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before him and extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert ring.
Evermore and evermore.
Christ, to thee, with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost to thee,
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion, and eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore. Amen.
The First Lesson
Genesis 3
God announces in the Garden of Eden
that the seed of woman shall bruise the serpent's head.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Carol: “When God’s Time Had Ripened”
When God’s time had ripened, Mary’s womb bore fruit,
Scion of the God-head, sprung from Jesse’s root:
So the True Vine branches from the lily’s stem,
The Rose without blemish blooms in Bethlehem.
More than mind can fathom, limit, or untwine,
This mysterious yoking, human and divine,
But what reason fetters, faith at length unlocks,
And wise hearts discover truth in paradox.
As the bread of heaven, that we might be fed,
Chose a manger cradle in the House of Bread,
So has Life Eternal mingled in the womb
With our mortal nature to confound the tomb.
Music: Alfred V. Fedak
Text: Carl P. Daw, Jr.
For this swaddled infant in a humble place
Holds our hope of glory and our means of grace;
In the Love enfleshed here dawns the world’s rebirth,
Promise of salvation, pledge of praise, peace on earth.
The Second Lesson
Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.
Isaiah 9
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Handbell Carol: “Coventry Carol”
* The Carol: “Hark, a Thrilling Voice Is Sounding”
Keith Burt
The Third Lesson
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Luke 1
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Carol: “The Angel Gabriel”
Music: Basque Carol, arranged by Austin C. Lovelace
Text: Sabine Baring-Gould
The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady,” Gloria!
“For known a blessed Mother thou be, all generations laud and honor thee;
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold. “Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head, “To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“My soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name.” “Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say most highly favored lady. Gloria!
The Fourth Lesson
St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
Luke 2
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
The Carol: “Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine”
Music: Traditional German Carol, arranged by Howard Helvey
Text: Traditional German Carol, translated by Percy Dearmer
Joseph dearest, Joseph mine, help me cradle the Child divine;
God reward thee and all that’s thine in Paradise, so prays the mother Mary.
Gladly, dear one, lady mine, help me cradle this Child of thine;
God’s own light on us both shall shine in Paradise, so prays the mother Mary.
He came among us at Christmastide, at Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
We shall bring him from far and wide Love’s diadem:
Jesus, Jesus, lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!
Peace to all that have good will! God, who heaven and earth doth fill,
Comes to turn us away from ill, and lies so still within the crib of Mary.
The Fifth Lesson
The shepherds go to the manger.
Luke 2
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
* The Carol: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Sixth Lesson
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
Matthew 2
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
The Carol: “The First Noel”
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Seventh Lesson
St. John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
John 1
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.
The Carol: “A Child My Choice”
Music: C. Steven White
Text: Robert Southwell
Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child whose heart no thought,
Whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled.
I praise him most, I love him best, all praise and love is his.
While him I love, in him I live and cannot live amiss.
Love’s sweetest mark, laud’s highest theme, man’s most desired light,
To love him, life, to leave him, death, to live in him delight.
He mine by gift, I his by debt, thus each to other due.
First friend he was, best friend he is, all times will try him true.
Though young, yet wise, small, yet strong, though man, yet God he is,
As wise he knows, as strong he can, as God he loves to bliss.
His birth our joy, his life our light, his death our end of thrall.
Alas! He weeps, he sighs, he pants, yet do his angels sing;
Out of his tears, his sighs and throbs, doth bud a joyful spring.
Almighty babe, whose tender arms can force all foes to fly,
Correct my faults, protect my life, direct me when I die.
I praise him most, I live him best, all praise and love is his;
While him I love, in him I live, and cannot live amiss
The Candle Lighting
The congregation shall rise to light their candles and to sing the closing carols.
Candlelight will be passed from the end of each pew to every person in the congregation,
representing the way that the Light, which is Jesus, has come into the world.
Please take care to tip only the unlit candles to avoid dripping wax.
The Carol: “It Came upon a Midnight Clear”
* The Carol: Silent Night
* The Closing Prayer
* The Benediction
* The Handbell Peal
* The Carol: “Joy to the World”
The deacons will receive the offering for Holland Home at the sanctuary exits,
and candles and holders may be returned to the candle carts in the narthex or the atrium.
* The Postlude: Fantasy on “Joy to the World”
Michael Helman
Participants
Liturgist: Rev. Douglas MacLeod
Readers (as they appear): Doris Rikkers, Lynn McBroom, Rev. Jake Heerema, Marissa DeBoer,
Jonathan DeKoster, Elly Nyhof, Rev. Bob Koornneef
Organ and piano: Kenneth Bos
Piano: Lisa Meyer
Flute and piano: Amy Netz
The Calvin Church Festival Choir, under the direction of Kenneth Bos
Sopranos: Madeline Baas, Becky Baker, Ann Boermans, Fay Bos, Melanie Burghgraef, Marian
Heerema, Marcia Huizinga, Judy Jongsma, Vivian Kleinhuizen, Lynn Bardolph McBroom,
Rebecca Padgett, Annette Rayburn, Joanne Rosema, Maria VandenBosch, Jan Walhout,
Melanie Yff
Altos: Suzi Baas, Karen Bordewyk, Cindy Lanning-Burch, Kathy DeMey, Jan Dykgraaf, Bernie
Hedrick, Trudi Huizenga, Kris Kamper, Cathy MacLeod, Amy Netz, Ann Noteboom, Hannah
Pohly, Gerry Slagter, Anjean Stegink, Jane VanZytveld, MaryLou Wilkins
Tenors: Bob DeVries, Dave Dykgraaf, Cornie Huizinga, Kim Kamper, Jackie Lock, Steve
Triezenberg, Gord VandenBerg
Basses: Gord Bordewyk, Jake Heerema, Dave Huisman, Art Jongsma, Ron Rosema, Mark
Stegink, John Tiemstra, Jack VanZytveld, Clare Walhout
The Allegro Ringers, under the direction of Luanne Barnes:
Kim Bultsma, Cherie Schaafsma, Tammy Baker, Sheri Reames, Brenda Boer, Bruce
Klanderman, Elly Nyhof, Arianna Tolsma, Rachel Rayburn, Sue Hoekstra, Donna Houskamp,
Rose Wiersma, Melanie Tolsma