Lessons and Carols 2011

On Sunday, Dec. 18 we had a wonderful Lessons and Carols Service under the direction of our Music Director Mikyoung Cho.   Below is a complete program and list of participants.

You can listen to the entire service on our podcasts page.

A Service of Lessons and Carols

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church

Washington, DC

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2011

Music Director / Conductor/Pianist

Mikyoung Cho

The Choir

Soprano

Barbara Beach

Joni Bell

Kay Sidahmed

Sue Van Slyke

Mary Beth Weaver

Haley Willis

Alto

Lee Cliburn

Chantal Dalton

Brenda Dunlap

Camilla Hallman

Linda Killian

Jennifer Newton

Mary Ann Sroufe

Tenor

Byron Buck

Gene Larkin

Andy Walton

Bass

Bob Mantel

Greg Schildmeyer

Ron Berger

Frank Allen

The Orchestra

Violin I

Solomiya Gorokhivska Jennifer Lee

Chun Hsin Wu

Violin II

Hyun Kyung Kim

Allison K Bailey

Kelley L. Williams

Viola

Sarah Pohl Castrillon

James J. Kelly

Cello

John P. Gockel

Philip von Maltzahn

Double Bass

Eric Seay

Flute

Peggy Bair

Oboe

Ron Erler

Clarinet

Jonathon Troy

Bassoon

Eric Dircksen

Trumpet

James Carlton Rowe

Michael Bosch

The Readers

1.   Vicki Schildmeyer
2.   Jonathan Sager

and Marisa Scalera
3.   John Kuykendall
4.   Macon Mann
5.   Emilie Sommer
6.   Brian Testa
7.   Eleanor Fluharty
8.   Maryann Stampfli
9.   Gary Barbour

PRELUDE                        Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466                     W.A. Mozart

1^st Movement

LESSON ONE

Micah 5:2-5                                                                                           A Savior Promised

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 the ends of the earth;

and he shall be the one of peace.

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” congregation #41

LESSON TWO                                                                                         The Advent Wreath

As we light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath

We rejoice that Christ comes to us as an innocent baby.

And just as the baby Jesus was dedicated and consecrated in the temple

We come today as those before us have come

dedicating and consecrating new life in the Sacrament of Baptism.

The waters of Baptism remind us of Immanuel, God with us.

As we once again celebrate Christ presence in a baby

May we also remember our own baptisms,

Re-dedicating and re-consecrating Christ’s presence in our lives.

As we do, we will rejoice that Christ has come to us –
Immanuel…God with us.

On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of joy.

Christ comes into our lives, bringing the fullness of joy,
annointing our hearts with the oil of gladness.

When Jesus is born,
angels proclaim good news of great joy for all people.

Because Christ has come to us,
we can live every day in the joy of the Lord!

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM       Micah Worth Sager

“What Child Is This”                                                                                                 Traditional

What child is this, who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping?

Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here. The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, one and all, to own Him.
The king of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

LESSON THREE

Isaiah 7:10-14                                                                                              God With Us

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, 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 him Immanuel.

“In the Bleak Midwinter” congregation                                                  #36

LESSON FOUR

Jeremiah 31:31-34                                                                                  A New Covenant

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

“In Dulci Jubilo”                                                                                          Old German Carol

LESSON FIVE

Luke 1:26-38                                                                                    The Annunciation

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 word.” Then the angel departed from her.

“The Holly and the Ivy”                                                                        English Traditional Carol

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

The rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a blossom as white as the lily flower, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to be our sweet Savior.

The rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir.

The holly bears a berry as red as any blood, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ to do us sinners good.

The holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall, and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ on Christmas Day in the morn.

The rising of the sun and the running of the deer, the playing of the merry organ, sweet singing in the choir

LESSON SIX

Luke 2:1-7                                                                                                         The Birth

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

“Emmanuel for Christmas”                                                                                  William Billings

The shepherds in jewry were guarding their sheep,

promisc’usly seated estranged from sleep,

an angel from heaven presented to view.
And thus he accosted the trembelling few,

dispel all your sorrows and banish your fears,

for Jesus your Saviour in jewry appears.

Though Adam the first in Rebellion was found,

for bidden to tarry on hallowed ground:

yet Adam the second appears to retreive,
The loss you sustained by the Devil and Eve.

Then shepherds be tranquil tis instant arise,

go visit your Saviour and see where he lies.

A token I leave you where by you may find,

this heavenly stranger this friend to mankind:

A manger his cradle a stall his aboad,
The oxen are near him and blow on your God.

Then shepherds be humble be meek and lie low,

for Jesus your Saviour’s abundantly so.

“Hosanna!” the angels in extacy cry,

“Hosanna,” the wondering shepherds reply,

salvation redemption are centur’d in one.
All glory to God for the birth of his son.

Then shepherds a dieu we commend you to God.

Go visit the Son in the humble abode.

LESSON SEVEN

Luke 2:8-20                                                                                               The Shepherds

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, 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 suddenly there 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 favors!”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the 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 had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

“Away in a Manger” congregation #24

THE OFFERTORY PRAYER

THE OFFERTORY                           “Carol of the Bells”                                         Traditional

LESSON EIGHT

John 1:1-5, 14                                                                                The Word Among Us

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without 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 the darkness did not overcome it.  And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Alleluja from “Exultate, Jubilate” K.165 W.A. Mozart

Alleluja, Alleluja, Alleluja

LESSON NINE

Isaiah 9:2-7                                                                        In The Darkness, A Great Light

The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness–

on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors

and all the garments rolled in blood

shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,

a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,

and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and forevermore.

“Angels We Have Heard on High” congregation                                                       #23

CHARGE

CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION        “Gloria”                                    Refrain from #23

Please join in singing Gloria in excelsis Deo

POSTLUDE                       Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550                       W.A. Mozart

1^st Movement