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A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF
Lessonsand
carols
December 27, 2020
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The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS
The Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, Bishop of Lexington,
Officiant
A Bidding Prayer The Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering,Bishop of
Lexington
December 27, 2020
Opening Carol, Hymn 102 The Musicians of St. Michael's,
Lexington
"Once in Royal David's City" Irby
1 Once in royal David's citystood a lowly cattle shed,where a
mother laid her babyin a manger for his bed:Mary was that mother
mild,Jesus Christ, her little child.
2 He came down to earth from heavenwho is God and Lord of
all,and his shelter was a stable,and his cradle was a stall:with
the poor, the scorned, the lowly,lived on earth our Savior
holy.
5 And our eyes at last shall see him,through his own redeeming
love;for that child who seemed sohelpless is our Lord in heav'n
above:and he leads his children onto the place where he is
gone.
6 Not in that poor, lowly stable,With the oxen standing round,We
shall see him; but in heaven,Where his saints his throne
surround:Christ revealed to faithful eye, set atGod’s right hand on
high.
Words: Sts. 1-2 and 4-6, Cecil Francis Alexander (1818-1895),
alt.; Music: Irby,melody Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876); harm.
Arthur Henry Mann (1850-1929). M. 87.87.77
Dear People of God: In this Christmas Season, let it be our duty
and delight to hearonce more the message of the Angels, to go to
Bethlehem and see the Son of God lyingin a manger. Let us hear and
heed in Holy Scripture the story of God’s loving purposefrom the
time of our rebellion against him until the glorious redemption
brought to usby his holy Child Jesus, and let us make this place
glad with our carols of praise.
But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world, for
peace and justice on earth, forthe unity and mission of the Church
for which he died, and especially for his Church inour country and
in this city.
And because he particularly loves them, let us remember in his
name the poor andhelpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed,
the sick and those who mourn, thelonely and unloved, the aged and
little children, as well as all those who do not knowand love the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Finally, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother,
and that wholemultitude which no one can number, whose hope was in
the Word made flesh, and withwhom, in Jesus, we are one for
evermore.
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Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that
the Lord God hadmade. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You
shall not eat from any tree in thegarden”?’ The woman said to the
serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in thegarden; but
God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in
the middle ofthe garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.”
’ But the serpent said to thewoman, ‘You will not die; for God
knows that when you eat of it your eyes will beopened, and you will
be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman sawthat the
tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and
that the treewas to be desired to make one wise, she took of its
fruit and ate; and she also gavesome to her husband, who was with
her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both wereopened, and they knew
that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together andmade
loincloths for themselves.
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at
the time of theevening breeze, and the man and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of theLord God among the trees of the
garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and saidto him, ‘Where
are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I
wasafraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who
told you that you werenaked? Have you eaten from the tree of which
I commanded you not to eat?’ The mansaid, ‘The woman whom you gave
to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, andI ate.’ Then the
Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’
Thewoman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ The Lord God
said to the serpent,
The Lessons
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the
joys of everlasting life; andto the fellowship of the citizens
above, may the King of Angels bring us all.Amen.
And now, to gather up all these petitions, let us pray in the
words which Christ himselfhas taught us, saying:
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 trespassagainst us. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver
us from evil.For thine is the kingdom, and the glory,for ever and
ever. Amen.
Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of
EdenAudrey Elliott, Good Shepherd, Lexington
The First LessonGenesis 3:1-15
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Thanks be to God.
‘Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals
and among all wild creatures;upon your belly you shall go, and dust
you shall eat all the days of your life.I will put enmity between
you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;he will
strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’
Hymn 82
St. Martha's, Lexington: Nathan, Ani, and Adela Wilson
"Of the Father's Love Begotten" Divinum Mysterium
1 Of the Father's love begottenere 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!
2 O 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!
3 Let the heights of heaven, adore him;angel hosts, his praises
sing:powers, dominions, bow before himand extol our God and
King;let no tongue on earth be silent,ev'ry voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!
4 Christ, to thee, with God the Father,and, O Holy Ghost, to
thee,hymn and chant and high thanksgivingand unwearied praises
be,honor, glory, and dominionand eternal victory,evermore and
evermore!
Words: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-410?); tr. John
Mason Neale (1818-1866) and Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877), alt.
Music: Divinum mysterium, Sanctus trope, 11th cent.;
adapt. Piae Cantiones, 1582; acc. Bruce Neswick (b. 1956) Meter:
87. 87 with Refrain
God promises that a child shall be conceived who will be known
as“God with us”
Steve Engels, Grace, Florence
The Second LessonIsaiah 7:10-15
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord
your God; let it be deep asSheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz
said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to thetest. Then
Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you
to wearymortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord
himself will give you a sign.Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a son, and shall name himImmanuel. He shall eat
curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the eviland
choose the good.
Thanks be to God.
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In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town
in Galilee calledNazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David.The virgin’s name was Mary. And
he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one!The Lord is with
you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered whatsort
of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be
afraid, Mary, for youhave found favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you will name him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the MostHigh, and
the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He
will reignover the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom
there will be no end.’ Mary said tothe angel, ‘How can this be,
since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spiritwill
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
thereforethe child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son
of God. And now, your relativeElizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for herwho was said to
be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary
said,‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.’ Then theangel departed from her.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town
in the hill country,where she entered the house of Zechariah and
greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabethheard Mary’s greeting, the child
leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with theHoly Spirit and
exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, andblessed
is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that
the motherof my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound
of your greeting, the childin my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is
she who believed that there would be afulfilment of what was spoken
to her by the Lord.’
Hymn 82
Resurrection, Jessamine, County: Justin Handshoe
"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" Est is ein Ros
1 Lo, how a Rose e'er bloomingFrom tender stem hath sprung!Of
Jesse's lineage comingAs seers of old have sung.It came, a flower
bright,Amid the cold of winterWhen half-spent was the night.
2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it,The Rose I have in mind:With Mary we
behold it,The virgin mother kind.To show God's love arightShe bore
to us a SaviorWhen half-spent was the night.
The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will
bear theSon of the Most High
Therese Yeiser Smith, Emmanuel, Winchester
The Third LessonLuke 1:26-58
Words: German, 15th cent.; tr. Theodore Baker (1851-1934).
Music: Es ist ein Ros, melody from Alte Catholische Geistliche
Kirchengesäng, 1599; harm. Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) Meter:
76. 76. 676
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And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my
Saviour,for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will callme
blessed;for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy
is his name.His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to
generation.He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the
proud in the thoughts of their hearts.He has brought down the
powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;he has filled
the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.He has
helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,according to
the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his
descendants for ever.’
And Mary remained with her for about three months and then
returned to her home.Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth,
and she bore a son. Her neighbours andrelatives heard that the Lord
had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced withher.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn 96
St. John's, Corbin: Amber Hannah
"Angels We Have Heard On High" Gloria
1 Angels we have heard on high,singing sweetly through the
night,and the mountains in replyechoing their brave delight.
Refrain:Gloria in excelsis Deo,gloria in excelsis Deo.
2 Shepherds, why this jubilee?Why these songs of happy
cheer?What great brightness did you see?What glad tidings did you
hear?[Refrain]
3 Come to Bethlehem and seehim whose birth the angels sing.Come,
adore on bended kneeChrist the Lord, the newborn King.[Refrain]
4 See him in a manger laidwhom the angels praise above.Mary,
Joseph, lend your aid,while we raise our hearts in
love.[Refrain]
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Words: French carol; tr. James Chadwick (1813-1882), alt Music:
Gloria, French carol; arr.Edward Shippen Barnes (1887-1958) Meter:
77. 77 with Refrain
Jesus is born at Bethlehem and is worshiped by angels and
shepherdsChristine and Justin Stanley, Christ Church Cathedral,
Lexington
The Fourth LessonLuke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
the world should beregistered. This was the first registration and
was taken while Quirinius was governorof Syria. All went to their
own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the townof
Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he wasdescended from the house and family of
David. He went to be registered with Mary, towhom he was engaged
and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the timecame
for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn
son and wrappedhim in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger,
because there was no place for themin the inn. In that region there
were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their
flockby night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shonearound them, and they were terrified. But
the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; forsee—I am bringing you
good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this
dayin the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign for you:you will find a child wrapped in bands
of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenlythere was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and
saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among
those whom he favours!’ When the angels had left them and gone into
heaven, the shepherds said to oneanother, ‘Let us go now to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, whichthe Lord
has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and
Joseph,and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they
made known what hadbeen told them about this child; and all who
heard it were amazed at what theshepherds told them. But Mary
treasured all these words and pondered them in herheart. The
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had
heard andseen, as it had been told them. Thanks be to God.
Hymn 87
Trinity, Covington: Elise Hyder and John Deaver
"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" Mendelssohn
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1 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 th'angelic hosts
proclaim,"Christ is born inBethlehem!" Refrain:Hark! the herald
angels sing,"Glory to the newbornKing"
3 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.Risen with
healing in his wings,light and life to all he brings,hail, the Sun
of Righteousness!hail, the heavenborn Prince ofPeace![Refrain]
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,Christ, the everlasting
Lord,late in time behold him come,offspring of the Virgin's
womb:veiled in flesh the Godhead see;hail th'incarnate
Deity,pleased as man with us to dwell,Jesus, our Emmanuel.
[Refrain]
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788), alt. Music: Mendelssohn,
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847);adapt. William H. Cummings
(1831-1915) Meter: 77. 77. D with Refrain
In the fullness of time, God sent his Son whose reign is for
ever and everMike Barnard, Ascension, Mt. Sterling
The Fifth LessonHebrews 1:1-12
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by
the prophets, butin these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,through whom he also created
the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and theexact
imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his
powerful word.When he had made purification for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of the Majestyon high, having become as much
superior to angels as the name he has inheritedis more excellent
than theirs.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by
the prophets, butin these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,through whom he also created
the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and theexact
imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his
powerful word.When he had made purification for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of the Majestyon high, having become as much
superior to angels as the name he has inheritedis more excellent
than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
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‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’?Or again,‘I will be
his Father, and he will be my Son’?And again, when he brings the
firstborn into the world, he says,‘Let all God’s angels worship
him.’Of the angels he says,‘He makes his angels winds, and his
servants flames of fire.’But of the Son he says,‘Your throne, O
God, is for ever and ever, and the righteous sceptre is the sceptre
of your kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated
wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil
of gladness beyond your companions.’
And,
‘In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens
are the work of your hands;they will perish, but you remain; they
will all wear out like clothing;like a cloak you will roll them up,
and like clothing they will be changed.But you are the same, and
your years will never end.’ Thanks be to God.
Hymn 107
St. Martha's, Lexington: Nathan, Ani, and Adela Wilson
"Good Christian Friends, Rejoice" In dulci jubilo
1 Good Christian friends, rejoicewith heart and soul and
voice;give ye heed to what we say:Jesus Christ was born today.Ox
and ass before him bow,and he is in the manger now.Christ is born
today!Christ is born today!
3 Good Christian friends, rejoicewith heart and soul and
voice;now ye need not fear the grave:Jesus Christ was born to
save!Calls you one and calls you allto gain his everlasting
hall.Christ was born to save!Christ was born to save!
2 Good Christian friends, rejoicewith heart and soul and
voice;now ye hear of endless bliss:Jesus Christ was born for
this!He has opened heaven's door,and we are blest
forevermore.Christ was born for this!Christ was born for this!
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Words: John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt. Music: In dulci
jubilo, German carol, 14th cent.; harm.Charles Winfred Douglas
(1867-1944) Meter: 66. 77. 78. 55
The Word was made flesh and we have seen his gloryThe Rt. Rev.
Mark Van Koevering, Bishop of Lexington
The Sixth LessonJohn 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word wasGod. He was in the beginning with God. All things came
into being through him, andwithout him not one thing came into
being. What has come into being in him was life,and the life was
the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and
thedarkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. He came as a witness totestify to the light,
so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the
light,but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which
enlightens everyone, wascoming into the world. He was in the world,
and the world came into being through him; yet the world didnot
know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not
accept him.But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to becomechildren of God, who were born, not of blood
or of the will of the flesh or of the will ofman, but of God. And
the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his
glory, the gloryas of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
(John testified to him and cried out,‘This was he of whom I said,
“He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because hewas before me.”
’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The
lawindeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ. No onehas ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who
is close to the Father’s heart, who hasmade him known. Thanks be to
God.
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The Collect for the First Sunday After Christmas
IAlmighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your
incarnate Word: Grantthat this light, enkindled in our hearts, may
shine forth in our lives; through JesusChrist our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,now
and for ever. Amen.
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The Christmas Blessing
May Almighty God, who sent his Son to take our nature upon him,
bless you in thisholy season, scatter the darkness of sin, and
brighten your heart with thelight of his holiness. Amen. May God,
who sent his angels to proclaim the glad news of the Savior’s
birth, fillyou with joy, and make you heralds of the Gospel. Amen.
May God, who in the Word made flesh joined heaven to earth and
earth to heaven,give you his peace and favor. Amen..And the
blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the HolySpirit,
be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
Hymn 100
St. Patrick’s, Somerset: The Loiacono and McQueary Families
"Joy to the World!" Antioch
1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!Let earth receive her
king;let every heart prepare him room,and heaven and nature
sing,and heaven and nature sing,and heaven, and heaven and nature
sing.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace,and makes the nations
provethe glories of his righteousness,and wonders of his love,and
wonders of his love,and wonders, wonders of his love.
2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!Let us our songs
employwhile fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,repeat the
sounding joy,repeat the sounding joy,repeat, repeat the sounding
joy.
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), alt. Music: Antioch, George
Frideric Handel (1685-1759); adapt. and arr. LowellMason
(1792-1872) Meter: CM with Refrain
Postlude
David Gierlach, Organist, St. Andrew’s, Lexington (Recorded at
Ascension, Frankfort)
"Allemande and Tripla from Suite XV" Johann Hermann Schein
Readings from the New Revised Standard Version
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