Month: December 2023

30Dec

First Sunday of Christmas Season 2023

Christmas 1st Sunday, Lectionary Year B
  1. Prelude: “Adeste Fideles” performed by ALTA BELLEZZA, Ann Allen and Hann Geisel on shawms, and Nathaniel Wood on slide trumpet; From Midnight mass on 24th December 2019, at St. Mauritius, Schötz, Switzerland.  Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  2. First Reading: Isaiah 61:10-62:3, King James Bible.
  3. Carol: “Noël nouvelet” by Verum, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  English Lyrics: (1) Noël nouvelet, sing we a new Noël. Thank we now our God, and of His goodness tell; Sing we Noël to greet the newborn King; Noël nouvelet, a new Noël we sing! (2) Waking from my sleep, a vision came to me; For before my eyes there stood a flow’ring tree, Where on a bright red rosebud I did see. Noël nouvelet, a new Noël sing we. (3) How my heart did glow, with inward joy divine! For with rays of glory did the rosebud shine, As when the sun doth blaze on break of day. This new Noël sing we: Noël nouvelet!
  4. Psalm 148, King James Version.
  5. Carol: “Silent Night”, sung by Malden High School Concert Choir at their 2018 State House Holiday Concert, uploaded to YouTube by Chris Murphy and used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  6. Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7, World English Bible.
  7. Carol: “Away in a Manger” from 2014 YouTube Video “A Christmas Offering: Three Christmas Carols Arranged for Baroque Guitar”, performed by Raymond Andrews, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 
  8. Gospel: Luke 2:22-40, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew.
  10. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  11. Organ postlude: Johann S Bach (1685-1750) “Puer natus in Bethlehem” BWV 603, from Orgelbüchlein, performed by Jens Engel on the Orgel der Christuskirche Lohmar. Available on youtube, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license. 

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

24Dec

Celebration for the Fourth Sunday of Advent 2023

Advent 4th Sunday 2023
  1. Opening Sentence: Psalm 89.
  2. Hymn: “Creator of the Stars of Night”, sung by Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford, CT, Dec 2012; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  3. First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, King James Bible.
  4. Canticle: Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956) “Magnificat”, performed at the Church of the Nativity of the BVM alla Mandria, uploaded to YouTube by “CappellaMusicaleBeataVergine”, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  English Text from Luke 1:46-55:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And 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 mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
  5. Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn arranged for organ and flute: Franz Schubert “Ave Maria”, performed by Sofia Lubyantseva; Uploaded to YouTube by “FluteMasters”, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  7. Gospel: Luke 1:26-38, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From The Book of Common Prayer, 1662..
  9. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  10. Organ postlude: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) “Meine Seele Erhebt den Herren”, Bwv 648. Performed at Jacobikerk Utrecht, uploaded to YouTube by Koos van ‘t Hul, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

17Dec

Celebration for the Third Sunday of Advent 2023

Advent 3rd Sunday 2023
  1. Opening Sentence: Phillippians 4.
  2. Carol: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”, performed by the chorus of the U.S. Army Band, led by Colonel Thomas Rotondi, Jr.  Public domain.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, King James Bible.
  4. Canticle: Zachariáš Zarevúcky (1605-1667): “Magnificat secundi toni à (8, alternatim)”, performed in December 2010 at ČESKÉ MUZEUM HUDBY. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  English Text from Luke 1:46-55:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And 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 mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
  5. Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, World English Bible.
  6. Motet (in lieu of Gospel Reading, from John 1:19-23): Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) “This is the Record of John,” performed by the Men and Boys of Saint Matthew’s Church, Ottawa. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  7. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew.
  8. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  9. Organ postlude: Georg Böhm (1661-1733), Extract from Partita “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele” performed by Benjamin Alard in Aug 2019 on the historical organ by Joachim Kayser (1694) – St. Sixtus und Sinicius’s church in Hohenkirchen (Wangerland), used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

09Dec

A Celebration of the Word for the Second Sunday of Advent 2023

Advent 2nd Sunday 2023
  1. Opening Sentence: Mark 1.
  2. Hymn: Claude Goudimel (c. 1505-1572) “Comfort Comfort Ye, My People”, sung by
  3. Ned Tipton and the St. John’s Cathedral Compline Choir, Los Angeles, uploaded to YouTube by Steven Speciale, and used in Accordance with Creative Commons license.   
  4. First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11, King James Bible.
  5. Psalm Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, King James Bible.
  6. Hymn: Gustav Holst (1874-1934) “In the Bleak Midwinter”, performed in December 2010 by QuireCleveland under direction by Ross W. Duffin, at the Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, OH. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  7. Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a, World English Bible.
  8. Organ sequence: “Hark, A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”, Uploaded to YouTube by Evan Hilsabeck, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  9. Gospel: Mark 1:1-8, World English Bible.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  11. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  12. Organ postlude: Heinrich Scheidemann (1595-1663) “Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit” performed by Reiner Korver on the Severijn organ in the St. Martinuskerk in Cuijk, used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

02Dec

Readings and Music for the First Sunday of Advent

Advent 1st Sunday 2023
  1. Opening Sentence: Isaiah 9:2.
  2. “Come, thou Long Expected Jesus” performed at the University Church in Walla Walla, WA, uploaded to YouTube by “Your Church” and used in Accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, King James Bible.
  5. Gloria Patri (“Glory be to the Father”) by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594), sung by Salt Lake Children’s Choir, at the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, May 2011; Uploaded to YouTube by “lemmondg”; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  6. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, World English Bible. Organ sequence: “Lo, He Comes with Clouds of Glory”, Uploaded to YouTube by “Ubertuba”; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Mark 13:24-37, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: Setting by Robert stone (1516-1613). Sung by the choir of St. David’s Church, Exeter, 2018. Uploaded to YouTube by David Walsh, used by permission.
  9. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  10. Anthem: “O Come O Come Emmanuel” posted by “Ferox” in the Internet Archive. Public Domain.

The Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. Readings correspond to the Revised Common Lectionary. All audio files are given with attribution where known.