NOV. 30 | 4 PM Advent Lessons & Carols Worship Bulletin by Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

Advent

LESSONS AND CAROLS

Advent is a season of both quiet reflection and joyful expectation. This Lessons and Carols Service is intended to be a time of spiritual preparation, as we watch and wait for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Through our experience of sacred word and music, the story of the coming of Christ gradually unfolds and deepens our understanding of God’s message of love and redemption. The liturgy itself embodies the sense of Advent, a sense of waiting with anticipation, in the increasingly powerful prophecies and promises of Holy Scripture. The music selected today, which highlights the readings, includes titles and texts that are both familiar and new. It is our hope that these words and this music guide you quietly toward the true joy of Christmas.

Advent Lessons and Carols

Prelude

Prelude and Fugue on Macht hoch die Tür Margaretha Christina de Jong

Veni Emmanuel Richard Purvis

Welcome (seated) The Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata

Responsory (seated, sung by the Saint Michael Choir)

I look from afar Trevor Jarvis

I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming, and a cloud covering the whole earth.

Go ye out to meet him and say:

Tell us, art thou he that should come to reign over thy people Israel?

— First Matins Responsory for Advent Sunday (early medieval Roman rite)

Entering Procession (standing, v. 1 choir, v. 2-6 all)

“Come, thou Redeemer of the earth”

ALL: 2. Be

3. The

4. From CHOIR: 1. Come, got vir God e thou - ten gin the qual Re-of womb Fa to deemno that ther thy erhu bur he Fa of man den pro ther, the-will, gained ceeds, thou! earth, But With To Gird And

5. O

6. OJesu, - Virgin - born, - totheeE -

Incense will be used at this service.

Hymn continues on the next page.

¢ of vir God on man the gin the thy iflesh Spi hon Fa festrit, or ther ly thy-thou all back man vir art un he tle ginstill stained, speeds, now, birth: The The Runs The Let Word ban out weak ev of ners his ness ery-ternal - praiseandglory - be,Whomwiththe & ##

God, there course of age in of to our a flesh vir death mor dorar tue and tal ing-rayed, glow, hell, state fall, - The God Re With Such Sav in turns death birthior, his on less benow tem God’s might fitsto ple high in theFather - weadore - AndHoly - Spirit,man dwells throne vig God dis be to o ofplayed. low. dwell. rate. all.A men. ever - more. -

After final verse only:

The Bidding Prayer (standing)

O fficiant

Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, let it be our care and delight to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, to see the Babe lying in a manger.

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 his holy Child; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise.

But first let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace and goodwill over all the earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which he died, and especially in this country and within this city.

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless; the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; and all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.

Lastly, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and 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 this Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one. In these prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in the words which Christ himself hath taught us:

Mark Demler, Mission & Outreach, Project Moses Ministry

All 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 trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Officiant

The Almighty God bless us with grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and unto the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen.

The First Lesson (seated) Genesis 3:1-15

Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’”

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened,

and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” The LORD God said to the serpent, “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

Gustav Holst’s “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” is a choral setting of a traditional hymn from the Orthodox liturgy, which speaks of awe and reverence before the divine. Holst’s arrangement, marked by rich harmonies and a slow, meditative pace, creates a sense of solemnity and mystery. This piece captures the grandeur of the text, showcasing its power and reflectiveness.

Carol (seated, sung by the Saint Michael Choir)

Let all mortal flesh keep silence arr. Gustav Holst

Let all mortal flesh keep silence

And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, For with blessing in his hand Christ our Lord to earth descendeth

Our full homage to demand.

King of Kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth he stood, Lord of Lords, in human vesture,

In the body and the blood

He will give to all the faithful

His own self for heav’nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

Spreads his vanguard on the way, As the light of light descendeth

From the realms of endless day, That the pow’rs of hell may vanish

As the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six wing’d seraph; Cherubim with sleepless eye Veil their faces to the presence

As with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia, alleluia, Alleluia, Lord most high. Amen.

- Words from the Liturgy of St. James

The Second Lesson (seated) Isaiah 35:1-10

The prophet proclaims that God will come and save us.

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Elizabeth Williams, Women of Saint Michael, President

they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but

God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his

Cecilia McDowall’s “O Oriens” is one of seven antiphons inspired by the traditional “O Antiphons” of Advent. The text—a plea for light to break into darkness—is matched by McDowall’s shimmering harmonies and shifting tonal colors, creating a sense of mystery and radiance. The music builds in intensity before resolving into a hushed, luminous conclusion, capturing Advent’s anticipation of dawn and renewal.

Kelly Reddell, Saint Michael Acolyte Corps, Head Verger

Philip Wiley, Mission and Outreach, Meals on Meals

The one who is to rule Israel will be born in the village of Bethlehem. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to

and rejoice forever in what I am creating, for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days or an old person who does not live out a lifetime, for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat, for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD—and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They

In 1953, Paul Manz’s three-year-old son was critically ill and not expected to survive. During this time, Manz composed this anthem. A devoted Lutheran church musician, he masterfully blends compositional techniques from the Renaissance and Baroque eras to create a deeply heartfelt piece. The text, written by his wife Ruth, expresses both resignation to God’s will and hope for the future, drawing parallels to Advent themes.

Dee Ann Anigan, Saint Michael Vestry, Senior Warden

Carol (seated, sung by the Saint Michael Choir)

E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come Paul Manz

Peace be to you and grace from Him

Who freed us from our sins, Who loved us all and shed His blood That we might saved be. Sing Holy, Holy to our Lord, The Lord, Almighty God, Who was and is and is to come; Sing Holy, Holy, Lord!

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein, Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, For Christ is coming, is coming soon, For Christ is coming soon!

E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, And night shall be no more; They need no light nor lamp nor sun, For Christ will be their All!

- from Revelation 22

The Sixth Lesson (seated) Luke 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of the Most High.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 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, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor 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 Most High, and the Lord God will give to him

the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who 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

Francisco Guerrero, a prominent Spanish Renaissance composer, was renowned for his devotion to the Virgin Mary, earning him the moniker “El cantor de María.” His motet “Ave Virgo Sanctissima” exemplifies his mastery of sacred choral music, characterized by serene polyphonic texture and expressive vocal lines that reflect his deep reverence for Mary. The piece became so popular during Guerrero’s lifetime that it was regarded as the quintessential Marian motet and used as a parody model by many composers, including Flemish contemporaries.

Offertory Carol (seated, sung by the Saint Michael Choir)

Ave Virgo sanctissima Francisco Guerrero

Ave Virgo sanctissima, Dei Mater piissima, maris stella clarissima.

Salve semper gloriosa, margarita pretiosa, sicut lilium formosa, nitens olens velut rosa.

Hail, most holy Virgin, Most loving Mother of God, Brightest star of the sea. Hail, ever glorious, Precious pearl, Beautiful as the lily, Shining and fragrant like the rose.

- Anonymous,

Old Spanish antiphon for Nativity of St. John the Baptist Hymn (standing) Hymn 57

Verse 3 sung by upper voices (women); lower voices (men) join in at “with what rapture.”

“Lo! he comes, with clouds descending” Helmsley

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent (standing)

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Advent Blessing (standing)

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

Today’s postlude is the third and final section of the famous hymn “Sleepers, Awake.” It takes its primary material from the line “Now let all the heav’ns adore you.”

Wold taught at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, where he served as Chair of the Music Department and Professor of Music. His published compositions number over 400 and include three books, numerous articles, organ works, hymn texts and tunes, and choral works for adults and children.

Streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE # M - 402151.

Christmas Christmas

WedneSDAY, DECEMBER 24

1 PM Jazz Service | Church

Holy Eucharist Rite II | Saint Michael Chapel

5 PM

Holy Eucharist Rite II | Church

Holy Eucharist Rite II | Saint Michael Chapel 10 PM

Holy Eucharist Rite I | Church Incense will be used at this service

ThurSDAY, DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY

10 AM

Holy Eucharist Rite II | Saint Michael Chapel saintmichael.org/christmaseve