A Service of Lessons and Carols

December 13, 2015 ♦ 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church

Rochester, Minnesota

Third Sunday in Advent

Prelude Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Julie Turner

Jubilate Deo Handbell Choir

♦ Carol 140 Once in Royal David’s City IRBY

Please stand as the processional cross passes.

Advent Candle Song (Sing refrain, stanza 3, and refrain; see insert)

Lighting of the Advent Candles (We crave quietness.)

(8:30) Dan Wentz and Yamei Wang and Family

(11:00) The Brett and Jamie Carroll Family

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”

Even though it is Advent, and the candlelight is shining and gathering us around it, heading toward its Christmas fullness, still many of us are rushing around, fearing that we aren’t doing all we should.

We light this third Advent candle in honor of quietness. We pray for quietness for every person in the world, especially for those who need it most.

Remind us, O God, of the pressures we have already faced in our lives, remind us of last Christmas and how everything did come out fine in the end. Remind us that in you is ultimate victory and salvation. In the name of the center and source of this holy season, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Carol 108 Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Stanzas 1, 5, 6) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

Stanza 1 – All men

Stanza 5 – All women and children

Stanza 6 – ALL

Lesson One from Genesis 3 Reader

Anthem Christ, the Apple Tree Stanford Scriven

The tree of life my soul hath seen, laden with fruit and always green.

The trees of nature fruitless be compared with Christ, the apple tree.

His beauty doth all things excel. By faith I know, but n’er can tell,

The glory which I now can see in Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

For happiness I long have sought, and pleasure dearly I have bought.

I missed of all but now I see, ‘tis found in Christ, the apple tree.

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, it keeps my dying faith alive.

Which makes my soul in haste to be with Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

I’m wearied with my former toil, here I will sit and rest a while.

Under the shadow I will be of Jesus Christ, the apple tree.

Lesson Two from Genesis 22 Reader

Anthem Lo, How a Rose/The Rose arr. Craig Hella Johnson

Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung.

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed;

Of Jesse’s lineage coming as men of old have sung.

Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed;

It came, a Flow’ret bright,

Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need;

Amid the cold of winter,

I say love, it is a flower and you, its only seed.

When half spent was the night.

It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance;

It’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes a chance;

It’s the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give;

And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air,

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long;

Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.

And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong;

True man, yet very God,

Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow.

From sin and death He saves us

Lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes the rose.

And lightens every load.

Lesson Three from Isaiah 9 Reader

¨ Carol 130 Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light Ermuntre Dich

Anthem Gaudete Michael Burkhardt

Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary: Rejoice!

Now the time has come at last, bringing joy and gladness;

Time foretold by sages past, healing earth’s deep sadness.

Nature marvels at the sight, earth looks on in wonder:

For the Lord of love and light rends the heavens asunder.

Christ is born: Emmanuel, hope of every nation!

Therefore, let us sing noel with the whole creation!

Lesson Four from Isaiah 11 Reader

Carol 373 O Day of Peace JERUSALEM

Lesson Five from Luke 1 Reader

Anthem A Maiden Most Gentle Andrew Carter

A maiden most gentle and tender we sing: Of Mary the mother of Jesus our King.

Ave, ave, ave Maria.

How blessed is the birth of her heavenly child, who came to redeem us in Mary so mild.

The archangel Gabriel foretold by his call the Lord of creation and Saviour of all.

Three kings came to worship with gifts rich and rare and marveled in awe at the babe in her care.

Rejoice and be glad at this Christmas we pray;

Sing praise to the Saviour, sing endless ‘Ave’.

Lesson Six from Luke 2 Reader

Anthem Ding Dong, Merrily on High Stephen Mager

Ding, dong! merrily on high, in heav’n the bells are ringing!

Ding, dong! verily the sky is riv’n with angels singing! Gloria! Osanna in excelsis!

E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,

and “io, io, io” by priest and people sungen!

Pray you dutifully prime your matins chime ye ringers!

May you beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers!

Anthem Angels We Have Heard on High Taylor Davis

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,

and the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?

What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see Christ whose birth the angels sing;

come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

¨ Carol 134 Joy to the World! ANTIOCH, arr. Mack Wilberg

Stanza 1 – ALL

Stanza 2 – All women and children

Stanza 3 – All men

Stanza 4 – ALL

Please hold “king” “employ”, “ground”, and “prove” longer than usual.

Offertory

Please sign the Opportunity for Friendship Register and pass it to the person next to you.

At the offertory Candlelight Carol John Rutter

How do you capture the wind on the water? How do you count all the stars in the sky?

How can you measure the love of a mother, or how can you write down a baby’s first cry?

Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star glow, shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn.

Gloria in excelsis Deo! Angels are singing; the Christ child is born.

Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him, seraphim round him their vigil will keep;

Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior, but Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep.

Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger: Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay.

Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation: A child with his mother that first Christmas Day.

Lesson Seven from Luke 2 Reader

Carol 147 The First Nowell arr. Mack Wilberg

Stanza 1 – All men

Stanza 2 – All women and children

Stanza 6 – ALL

Lesson Eight from Matthew 2 Reader

Anthem We Three Kings (See hymn 151 for text.) Philip W. J. Stopford

Anthem Raise Your Voices Graham, Lovland, & Emerson

Raise your voices! Praise to Him, the Living Word!

To the heavens high ascending, raise your voices to the Lord!

Though the night be dark and fearful, though we face the dimming day;

Though the heart be sad and tearful, trust in Him, He will light the way.

Through the mists in this vale of sorrow, through the glass we but darkly see;

We will rise again tomorrow, then our eyes will lifted be.

Long the road that has no ending, far the path that has no turn;

And the soul is ever wending to the place it first was born.

See the host of angels singing, when they hear that trumpet sound;

When the piper’s call is ringing then shall my soul be ever homeward bound.

Mountains tall and seas will thunder, one unceasing chorus ring;

Heaven and earth will sleep no longer, then all the universe as one will sing.

¨ Lesson Nine from John 1 Reader

Congregation, please stand as you are able.

¨ The Lord’s Prayer (using debts and debtors)

¨ Carol O Come, All Ye Faithful ADESTE FIDELES, arr. John Rutter

1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye

to Bethlehem. Come and behold him born the King of Angels!

Refrain: O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,

O come, let us adore him Christ the Lord!

2. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

Very God, Begotten, not created. Refrain.

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, sing all ye citizens of heav’n

above; Glory to God in the highest. Refrain.

4. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be

glory giv’n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Refrain.

Benediction

Postlude Carillon on a Ukrainian Bell Carol Gerald Near

Those who wish may be seated for the postlude. Our music is offered to the glory of God; if you want to express your appreciation, a spoken “Amen” or “Praise God” is appropriate.

¨ Those who are able please stand.

Today’s readers are:

at 8:30 at 11:00

Lesson 1 Martha Sessler Jay Beck

Lesson 2 Courtney Hruska Jean Abels

Lesson 3 Jacob Dyck Liam Claton

Lesson 4 Debra Bauch Jean Marvin

Lesson 5 Christina Wentz Katie Lenn

Lesson 6 Ken Aalderks Gregg Erickson

Lesson 7 William Nichols Britta Youmans

Lesson 8 Denise Ring Carol Carryer

Lesson 9 Jay Rowland T. J. Parlette

We thank these people for their ministry through music:

Calvin, Chancel and Youth Choirs, Jubilate Deo Handbell Choir, and

Church Orchestra:

Violin: Joan Elkins, Dwight Jennings, Anne Judisch, Amy Lindstrom, Melissa Wobig

Viola: John Vettel

‘Cello: Lea Dacy, Kay Tate

Double Bass: Robert Manulik

Flute: Carolyn Beck, Ariel Boswell, Anne Gyura, Chelsea Rostad

Oboe: Gabrielle Alvarado, Kristina Hesby

Clarinet: Jeff Britton, Jenny Matoush

Horn: Corey Henke, Ellington Starks

Trumpet: Warren Bandel, Greg Zent

Trombone: Jeff Daehn, Dennis McMillin, Ryan Perkins

Tuba: Paul Herr

Percussion: Jeremy Braun, Gabe Perkins

Handbells: Jubilate Deo Handbell Choir

Piano: Zoe Abrahamson

Organ: Lois Marsh, Lee Afdahl

Conductors: Katie Kruger, Lee Afdahl

Some of the music and musicians for today’s service were underwritten by generous donations from Ruth Guy, C. Michel and Mary Harper, and R. and Jane Rudolf.

In addition to the donors listed last week, we thank these people for contributing to the Poinsettia Fund:

Gail Baker in memory of Jane D. Baker, Hillier L. Baker, Jr., and Hillier L. Baker III

C. Michel and Mary Harper

Alternative Giving Opportunity. The Mission Committee encourages you to consider making an alternative Christmas gift through the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Giving Catalogs, which list the specific opportunities, are on a table in the atrium. This is a chance to give a gift in honor of someone who has everything or to give a gift in memory of a loved one. Gifts may be in any amount. Please consider this Christmas shopping opportunity.

Calendar for the week of December 13-December 20

(and beyond)

TODAY – December 13 (Third Sunday in Advent)

We thank all who are sharing their ministries in worship today.

The chancel flowers are given for the Glory of God by Dan and Tammy Buchanan in honor of their anniversary.

A nursery for infants through 2-year-olds is staffed throughout the morning. We also offer a quiet space for nursing mothers. An usher would be happy to direct you if you don’t know where the nursery is located.

Education hour:

9:40-10:45: Nursery - preschool (2-years-old)

9:40-10:20: Calvin Choir for grades 2-5

9:40-10:20: Sunday school for age 3-grade 1

9:40-10:45: Sunday school/education hour for grades 6 – adult education

10:20-10:50: Cherub Choir for age 4-grade 1

10:20-11:00: Sunday school for grade 2-5

Adults:

9:40 a.m.: Kerygma Bible Study in south fireside room … Matthew

9:40 a.m.: Current Issues in Sheldon Jackson lounge … Headlines and More

9:40 a.m.: Grace-based Parenting Class in room A-101 will continue with Building Character. All current and future parents and grandparents are welcome, even if you can’t come every week.

Today is the deadline for bringing gifts to the church for the Sharing Tree.

Sign up in the atrium between services today to help wrap gifts at Apache Mall on December 21 to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

MONDAY – December 14

First Players will present their Winter Concert at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary.

TUESDAY – December 15

Items for the January newsletter are due. Turn them in to the church office or e-mail them to .

Session will meet at 7 p.m. in the south fireside room.

WEDNESDAY – December 16

Priscilla Circle will meet at 10 a.m. in the social hall with a potluck brunch at 11 a.m.

Crafters Group will meet at 3 p.m. in the social hall. Bring that almost finished project or help us make cards for C.A.R.E. members of FPC.

Wednesday Activities
4:15 / Alleluia Ringers (grades 2-5)
5:00 / Youth Choir (grades 6-12)
5:45 / Supper (suggested donation $4/person or $10 max/family)
6:15 / Middle School youth group (grades 6-8)
6:15 / Senior High youth group (grades 9-12)
6:30 / Adult Bible study–“The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem” led by Rev. Parlette
7:15 / Joyous Praise handbells (grades 6-12)

THURSDAY – December 17