December 18, 2022 — The Fourth Sunday of Advent — A Service of Lessons and Carols
Lessons and Carols: A History: Lessons and Carols has always been a cherished way for communities to focus hearts and minds on the proper subject of the Advent/Christmas season, the Lord Jesus Christ. This long tradition dates back to the original version performed on Christmas Eve in Cornwall, England in 1880. At that time the Right Rev. Edward White Benson, Bishop of Truro (and future Archbishop of Canterbury), concerned with people's worldly attentions and activities during the holidays, looked for a way to get revelers out of the pubs and into church. The Rev. George Walpole had the idea for a celebration consisting of Christmas music interspersed with Bible readings. The first service of “Nine Lessons and Carols” was attended by over 400 people in a temporary wooden structure (the local cathedral was still under construction). Benson’s service grew in popularity, and the young dean of King’s College in Cambridge, Eric Milner-White, became familiar with it. A former army chaplain during World War I, he was concerned that the experience of the war had turned people away from Christian worship. On Christmas Eve, 1918, Milner-White introduced the service at King’s, hoping like Benson, to bring people back to church. While carols have varied, the opening hymn, prayers, and readings have remained virtually unchanged for over 100 years. The “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” continues to grow in popularity, being broadcast by the BBC yearly since 1928 (with the exception of 1930), through World War II (without stained glass or heating), and during the COVID pandemic (without a congregation in 2020). We hope that you will be blessed by this abbreviated version (Six Lessons) of a beautiful Advent/Christmas tradition. It has always been, in its various times, places, and forms, a way of redirecting peoples’ attention from the weariness of the world toward the promise and hope of the coming Messiah. (https://www.trinitasclassical.org/les...) A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS 0:00:03 Gathering Music –"Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" – arr. Howard Helvey David Córdoba Hernández and James R. Jones, piano duet 0:02:23 Welcome – Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kimmel, Senior Pastor 0:04:33 Introit – "O Coming Lord" – COMING LORD 0:05:48 Lighting of the Advent Candle – Laurie Henderson 0:06:15 Opening Carol – "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" – MENDELSSOHN 0:09:42 Bidding Prayer and The Lord's Prayer – Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kimmel, Senior Pastor 0:12:28 The First Lesson – Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 – Eugene Reyneke, reader 0:13:45 Offertory Anthem – Personent Hodie (Lara Hoggard) The Sanctuary Choir 0:17:25 Doxology VENI EMMANUEL 0:18:57 The Second Lesson – Luke 1:26-38 – Pam Schnell, reader 0:20:32 Congregational Carol – "Angels We Have Heard On High" – arr. Todd Wilson 0:24:46 The Third Lesson – Luke 2:1-7 – Rev. Holly Hatton, Associate Pastor, reader 0:25:52 Anthem – Night of the Father's Love (Pepper Choplin) The Sanctuary Choir Scott Moore, trumpet 0:30:42 The Fourth Lesson – Luke 2:8-20 – Rev. Ray Hatton, reader 0:32:57 Anthem – "O Holy Night" (Adolphe Adam) Scott Moore, trumpet Christine Hughes, mezzo-soprano 0:37:10 The Fifth Lesson – Matthew 2:1-11 – Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kimmel, Senior Pastor 0:39:14 Sermon – "Centered In Love" – Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kimmel, Senior Pastor 0:48:06 Anthem – "We Three Kings" – arr. Jeremy Bankson The Sanctuary Choir and congregation 0:53:11 The Sixth Lesson – John 1:1-14 – Cathy Wilhelm, reader 0:55:05 Congregational Carol – "O Come, All Ye Faithful" – ADESTE FIDELES 0:58:42 Commission and Blessing – Laurie Henderson 0:59:03 Benediction – Rev. Dr. Kathryn Kimmel, Senior Pastor 0:59:26 Benediction Response – "Gloria" – GLORIA 1:00:06 Postlude – Fanfare and Flourishes (James Curnow) Service Participants Rev. Kathryn D. Kimmel, Senior Pastor Rev. Holly Hatton, Associate Pastor Dr. Larry Edwards, Director of Music James R. Jones, Associate Director of Music and Organist David Córdoba Hernández, Pianist The Sanctuary Choir Christine Hughes, mezzo-soprano Scott Moore, trumpet Susan Enger, trumpet Robert Patterson, horn Greg Luscombe, trombone Mark Vail, trombone Bill Shaltis, percussion Skip Howard, videoography Jack Hagerman, Chris Jackson and David Schnell, sound Michael Owens, technical assistance The congregation, ministers and staff of the historic First Baptist Church of Memphis wish you the many blessings of this Christmas season.
