Tag: Feasts and seasons

24Dec

A Festival of Lessons and Carols for Christmas

“My father arranged from ancient sources a little service for Christmas Eve, nine carols and nine tiny lessons. They were read by various officers of the church, beginning with a chorister and ending, through different grades, with the bishop.”A.C. Benson

(Note: This is a repost from 1 year ago. Enjoy)

The “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” originated at Truro Cathedral in England in 1880, and has become a beloved holiday tradition for many churches since then.  I have stitched together this service from the audio sources credited below, and offer it as my reflection upon, and celebration of, the birth of the Messiah. 

  1. Hymn: “Once in Royal David’s City”, sung by the Choir of St Mark’s School, Dallas, Texas, in 2003; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  2. Bidding Prayer: Immanuel Congregational Church, Dec 2012; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  3. Lesson 1: Genesis 3:8-15. God announces in the garden of Eden that the seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.
  4. Carol: Boris Ord (1897 – 1961) “Adam Lay Ybounden”, sung by the First Congregational Church of LA, in 2018. Available on YouTube and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  5. Lesson 2: Genesis 22:15-18. God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed.
  6. Carol: Michael Pretorius (1571-1621) “Veni Redemptor Gentium”, Sung by the choir of Men and Boys of St. Matthew’s Church, Ottawa, Canada, in about 1971. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Lesson 3: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7. Christ’s birth and kingdom are foretold by Isaiah.
  8. Carol: “Joy To The World”, sung by unknown congregation, public domain.
  9. Lesson 4: Micah 5: 2-4. The prophet Micah foretells the glory of little Bethlehem.
  10. Carol: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, sung by the Choir of St Mark’s School, Dallas, Texas, in 2003; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  11. Lesson 5: Luke 1:26-38. The angel Gabriel salutes the virgin Mary.
  12. Carol: “Gabriel’s Message” (Basque Carol), sung by Alexandra Slater, with Gareth Moore and Manx Voices, at Manannan’s Winterfest, 2019.  The music was uploaded to YouTube by Culture Vannin, and is here used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  13. Lesson 6: Matthew 1:18-23. St. Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus.
  14. Carol: “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen”, sung by the Choir of St Mark’s School, Dallas, Texas, in 2003; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  15. Lesson 7: Luke 2:1-20. St. Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
  16. Carol: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”  Sung by congregation of Immanuel Congregational Church, Dec 2012; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  17. Lesson 8: Matthew 2: 1-11. Wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
  18. Carol: “What Child is This?” performed by the U.S. Army Chorus, public domain.
  19. Lesson 9: John 1: 1-14. St. John unfolds the mystery of the Incarnation.
  20. Carol: “On Christmas Night”, sung by the Choir of St Mark’s School, Dallas, Texas, in 2003; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  21. Benediction: Excerpted from a recording from Immanuel Congregational Church, Dec 2012; Available in the public domain at the Internet Archive.
  22. Recessional Hymn:  “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Sung as processional at the Carols by Candlelight service at Washington National Cathedral on December 23rd, 2015.  The music was uploaded to YouTube by Sam Cherubim, and is here used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

The Bible passages from the King James Version were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain. All audio files are given with attribution where known.

21Dec

Celebration of the Word for the 4th Sunday of Advent

  1. Opening Sentence: Isaiah 45:8.
  2. Choral Response: “Rorate Coeli de Super” (Latin version of Isaiah 45:8). This was uploaded to YouTube by “Opera Familia Christi” and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16, King James Version.
  4. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, King James Version.
  5. 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.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7, World English Bible.
  7. 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.  
  8. Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25, World English Bible.
  9. 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.
  10. Blessing: Numbers 6.
  11. 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.

14Dec

Celebration of the Word for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: Phillippians 4.
  2. Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” by The Choirs of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa, directed by Stephen Candow. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 146:5-10
  5. Hymn: “Thine Advent Lord We Hail”, public domain.
  6. Second Reading: James 5:7-10, World English Bible.  
  7. Organ sequence: “Lo, He Comes with Clouds of Glory”, Uploaded to YouTube by “Ubertuba”; Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  8. Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From the Book of Common Prayer 1660.
  10. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  11. Organ postlude: Georg Böhm (1661-1733), “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele” performed by Rainer Schulz, 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.

07Dec

Celebration of the Word for the 2nd Sunday of Advent 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: Mark 1.
  2. Hymn: Claude Goudimel (c. 1505-1572) “Comfort Comfort Ye, My People”, sung by 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.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, King James Bible.
  5. 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.
  6. Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13, World English Bible.
  7. Organ sequence: “Hark, A Thrilling Voice is Sounding”, Uploaded to YouTube by Evan Hilsabeck, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.  
  8. Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12, World English Bible.
  9. The Lord’s Prayer: From Luke.
  10. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  11. Choral Amen, public domain.
  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.

30Nov

A Celebration of the First Sunday of Advent 2025

  1. Opening Sentence: From Psalm 25.
  2. Hymn: “Come, thou Long Expected Jesus.” Public Domain at Archive.org; Uploaded by Fr Timothy Matkin.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 122: “I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me” by Charles H. Hubert Parry (1848-1918). Performed by Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford; available in the Public Domain at Archive.org.
  5. Second Reading: Romans 13:11-14, World English Bible.
  6. Hymn: “Savior of the Nations Come”, sung by Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford, in the public domain at Archive.org.  
  7. Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew.
  9. Blessing: 2nd Corinthians 13.
  10. Anthem: “O Come O Come Emmanuel” posted by “Ferox” in the Internet Archive. Public Domain.
  11. Organ Postlude: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) “Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland”, BWV 659, Performed by David Schaller. Uploaded to YouTube by “After Dark Organ Music”, 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.

27Nov

Thanksgiving Celebration 2025 (Year C)

As you gather with family to remember the blessings of this life, I present this virtual service as an offering of thanks.

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 136:1-3.
  2. Hymn: “Now Thank we All Our God”, performed by St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Guelph, Ontario Canada; used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  3. FIrst reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm: Old 100th. Washington National Cathedral Singers, performed in 2015, used in accordance with Creative Commons license. The organ overpowers the singing at times, so here is the text: “All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Serve him with joy, his praises tell, come now before him and rejoice! Know that the Lord is God indeed; he formed us all without our aid. We are the flock he surely feeds, the sheep who by his hand were made. O enter then his gates with joy, within his courts his praise proclaim! Let thankful songs your tongues employ. O bless and magnify his name! Because the Lord our God is good, his mercy is forever sure. His faithfulness at all times stood and shall from age to age endure.”
  5. Second Reading: Phillippians 4:4-9, World English Bible.
  6. Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” by The Choirs of St. Matthew’s, Ottawa, directed by Stephen Candow. Uploaded to YouTube by Leonard Surges, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: John 6:25-35, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: Setting by Phillippe Radcliffe (1905-1986), performed at Kerke de Laurens, Rotterdam, in 2020. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  9. Benediction: Ephesians 3.
  10. Hymn: “We Gather Together” sung by Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California, uploaded to YouTube by Martijn de Groot, and used in accordance with Creative Commons license.

Bible passages were recorded by Librivox, and are in the public domain.

23Nov

Readings for 24th Sunday of Pentecost 2025: Feast of Christ the King

  1. Opening Acclamation: Revelation 5:12.
  2. Hymn: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, public domain.
  3. First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm 46, Anglican Chant, by St. Paul’s Burlingame, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20, World English Bible.
  6. Alleluia: From “Omnes gentes with Alleluias (Psalm 46)” Posted to YouTube by “verbum gloriae”, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Luke 23:33-43, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
  9. Benediction: From the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.
  10. Organ Postlude: “Praise my soul the King of Heaven.” Performed by Diane Bish, at the Eglise Notre Dame de Caudebec en Caux. Used in accordance with Creative Commons license.
15Nov

Celebration for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 118:1.
  2. Hymn: “Rejoice The Lord Is King” by unknown soloist. Uploaded to YouTube by Christina Iqupen, and used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.  
  3. First Reading: Malachi 4:1-2a, King James Bible.
  4. Psalm: Giovanni Croce (1557-1609) “Cantate Domino” (setting of Psalm 98 in Latin), performed by an anonymous choir, uploaded to YouTube by “Free Music Tube”, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  5. Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, World English Bible.
  6. Organ Sequence: Georg Böhm (1661-1733): “Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend”, performed by Jens Engle, Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Gospel: Luke 21:5-19, World English Bible.
  8. The Lord’s Prayer: From Matthew 6.
  9. Blessing: From 2 Corinthians 13.
  10. Choral “Amen”, public domain.
  11. Organ postlude: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), “Fantasie c-Dur”, BWV 573, performed by Axel Fischer at Lüchow, uploaded to YouTube by NOMINEeV, 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.

02Nov

Celebration for the 21st Sunday After Pentecost

  1. Opening Acclamation: Psalm 46:1.
  2. Organ Prelude: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” performed at Zwingli’s church, Bern Minster, by Diane Bish, from “8719 BERN CATHEDRAL – BERN, SWITZERLAND”, used in accordance with Creative Commons License.
  3. First Reading: Isaiah 1:10-18, King James Bible.
  4. Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” sung by an unknown congregation. Public domain.
  5. Psalm 32:1-7, King James Bible.
  6. Response: Psalm 84 (1), sung at Kerke de Laurens, Rotterdam, in 2020. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  7. Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, World English Bible.
  8. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Chorale prelude on “Allein Gott in der Höh´ sei Ehr´” BWV 716, recorded on Hauptwerk VI, using the Sonus Paradisi Sample Set of the Schnitger Organ in Noordbroek, Netherlands. Uploaded to Youtube by Leon Kopecny in 2021, used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  9. Gospel: Luke 19:1-10, World English Bible.
  10. The Lord’s Prayer: Setting by Phillippe Radcliffe (1905-1986), performed at Kerke de Laurens, Rotterdam, in 2020. Used in accordance with the Creative Commons license.
  11. Blessing: 1 Timothy 1:17.
  12. Organ Postlude: Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): “Toccata and Fugue in D minor.” Played by Fyodor Stroganov (organ). Recorded from a concert on 10/04/2015 at the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul. 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.

01Nov

A Hymn for All Saints Day

“For All The Saints” (verses 1, 2, 4)

For All the Saints (Tune “Sine Nomine), written by William How.

For all the saints who from their labours rest,
All who by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wert their rock, their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them, the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion, family divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one within thy great design.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host.
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!