THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL
of NINE LESSONS and CAROLS
United Church of GainesvilleSunday, December 11, 2022 – 11:00am & 7:00pmWe warmly welcome you to this special Advent service!Click here to join our 11:00am service. Click here to join our 7:00pm service
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” – Regney and Shane, adapted by Larry Reimer
Youth Trumpet Ensemble: Carl Carter, Brian Martin, David Martin, Ewan Johnson
“Christmas Concerto” – Corelli
“An Angel of Heaven Said to Me” – Lewis
Brass Ensemble: Tim Martin, Larry Reimer, trumpets; Mark Burlingame, flugelhorn
“Sing We Now of Christmas” – French Traditional
“Greensleeves” –Traditional
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – Traditional
“Pat-A-Pan” – Traditional
Dalirusa Fling Trio: Lisa McElwee White, Ruth Saunders, David Turner
7pm
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” – Regney and Shane, adapted by Larry Reimer
Youth Trumpet Ensemble: Carl Carter, Brian Martin, David Martin, Ewan Johnson
“Christmas Concerto” – Corelli
“An Angel of Heaven Said to Me” – Lewis
Brass Ensemble: Tim Martin, Larry Reimer, trumpets; Mark Burlingame, flugelhorn
WELCOME and OFFERING – Rev. Bromleigh McCleneghan
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES – Kate, Aoife, & Charles Boisseau, 11am
Allan and Janet March, 7pm
HYMN – “O Come, All Ye Faithful” by John Frances Wade, 18th c.
Solo – Aiyana Duerksen-Raymond
Choir and Congregation, Brass
Please join in singing with the choir following the solo
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. O come, let us adore Him.
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem Angelorum;
Venite adoremus, venite adoremus, venite adoremus, Dominum!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus to thee be all glory given;
Word of our God, now in flesh appearing; O come, let us adore Him.
O come, let us adore Him. O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
INVOCATION – Rev. Andy Bachmann
THE FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 40 Taylor Williams, 11 am reader
Helda Montero, 7pm reader
CHOIR – “Canticle for Advent” by Lloyd Larson
Advent candles burn with reverence;
their symbolic flames convey
hope that comforts, hope that strengthens,
hope fulfilled on Christmas Day.
Through this season of our waiting,
may our wisest prayers increase.
May our lives display compassion,
faithful to the Prince of Peace.
Come, hope, come pierce the long night.
How lonely the vigil, how harsh winter’s chill.
Come, peace, come heal and unite.We wait, watch, and witness God’s promise fulfilled.
Yearning, faithful hearts have gathered,
waiting for the chosen One.
Soon, oh soon, may joy embrace us,
joy to welcome God’s own son.
Advent candles tell the story;
silent prophets, yet they say:
“Love will crown the King of glory;
Love divine come Christmas Day.”
Come, joy, restoring our sight.
How lonely the vigil, how harsh winter’s chill.
Come, love, redeem by your light.
We wait, watch, and witness God’s promise fulfilled.
THE SECOND LESSON – Isaiah 9 and 40 David Thaler, 11am reader
Stephanie Wohlgemuth, 7pm reader
CHILDREN’S CHOIR – “Do You Hear What I Hear”? by Noel Regney and Gloria Shane
Accompanied by Mariam Sow, guitar & Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite.
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea.
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold.
Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere.
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
will bring us goodness and light.
THE THIRD LESSON – Isaiah 7 and 11; Micah 4 Renata Serra, 11am reader
Christoph Seubert, 7pm reader
CHOIR – “Lo How A Rose” – Traditional, arr. Deborah Govenor
O, how a Rose e’er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse’s lineage coming
As those of old have sung.
It came, a flow’ret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half-spent was the night.
Isaiah ’twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The Sacred Mother kind.
To show God’s love aright,
She bore to us a Savior
When half-spent was the night.
This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness ev’rywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.
THE FOURTH LESSON – Luke 1 Jessica Elkins, 11am reader
Sally Adkins, 7pm reader
CHOIR – “The Angel Gabriel” by Dale Warland
SOLOISTS Adriane Isenberg, Karen Martin, Chad McGinnis, and Stan Smith
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
“All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favor’d lady.” Gloria!
“For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be;
all generations laud and honor thee:
Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favor’d lady.” Gloria!
Then strong young Mary bravely bowed her head,
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said.
“My soul doth laud and magnify his holy name.”
Most highly favored lady Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born.
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn;
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
“Most highly favored lady.” Gloria!
Sing gloria, sing gloria! Most highly favored lady.
THE FIFTH LESSON – Matthew 1 & Luke 2 Orlando Conde-Barros, 11am reader
Nan Ryan, 7pm reader
Hogtown Pickers – “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” by Joe Jewell
Andy Bachmann, guitar; Ned Stewart, guitar; Alan Hill, bass; Jack Nettles, mandolin; David Evans, banjo
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Shining afar through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem shine on.
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns.
Give us a light to guide the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Oh Beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on.
RESPONSIVE PRAYER – Rev. Talia Raymond
Leader: O God, you have already come near to us; otherwise, we would not be waiting for
Christmas, looking for the birth of love in our world.
People: The light we await is already shining. It is the source of our longing, the small voice that will not let us rest content with things as they are.
Leader: You have called us as your children and asked that we act as such toward you and toward each other.
People: Let us kindle the lights of Christmas, the lights of our hopes and of our rejoicing.
Leader: May our Christmas lights be a sign of warmth and acceptance stronger than words, a light that the darkness will never put out.
People: May the love that we see and hear be the light of our church, a beacon of your presence in this world. Amen.
HYMN – “The First Nowell”- Traditional
Choir and Congregation
The First Nowell, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born in a manger, Emmanuel.
They looked above and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born in a manger, Emmanuel.
And by the light of that same star
Three sages came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
Born in a manger, Emmanuel.
THE SIXTH LESSON – Luke 2 Isa Ward, 11am reader
Colleen Anderson, 7pm reader
YOUTH & ADULT CHOIRS – “This Is My Wish” by Tim and Angela Lauer; arr. David Huntsinger
SOLOISTS Stella Bachmann
This is my wish,
My wish for the world:
That peace will find it’s way
To everyone that’s born.
This is the time,
The time for harmony.
Let love be the song
That everybody sings.
Fill the air with joyful noise;
Ring the bells and raise your voice.
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth!
Lift your light, let it shine.
Shine, shine, shine!
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth!
I hear the sweetest sound:
The sound of hope to come.
Together we can bring
Goodwill to everyone.
Let it start with you.
Let it start with me.
Let every nation rise
to sing this melody!
Fill the air with joyful noise;
Ring the bells and raise your voice.
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth!
Lift your light, let it shine.
Shine, shine, shine!
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth!
Fill the air with joyful noise;
Ring the bells and raise your voice.
Let there be peace on earth,
Let there be peace on earth.
Lift your light,let it shine.
Shine, shine, shine!
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth!
Let there be peace on earth.
THE SEVENTH LESSON – Luke 2 Hendrix Robinson, 11am reader
K.C. Nelson, 7pm reader
CHOIR OF UPPER VOICES – “Carol of the Bells” – Ukrainian Carol. Music by M.Leontovich; Lyrics by Peter Wilhousky
Hark! how the bells,
Sweet silver bells,
All seem to say
“Throw cares away.”
Christmas is here,
Bringing good cheer
To young and old,
Meek and the bold.
Ding, dong, ding, dong,
That is their song,
With joyful ring,
All caroling.
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer.
From everywhere,
Filling the air.
O, how they pound,
Raising the sound
O’er hill and dale,
Telling their tale.
Gaily they ring,
While people sing
Songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!
Merry, merry, merry, merry christmas!
On, on they send,
On without end
Their joyful tone
To every home.
Ding, dong, ding, dong.
THE EIGHTH LESSON – Matthew 2 Bill Zegel, 11am reader
Stephen Bottomly, 7pm reader
CHOIR OF LOWER VOICES – “We Three Kings” by John Hopkins, arr. Russell Robinson
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense
We bring to Him,
King for ever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect light.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice,
Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia,
Earth to the Heav’n replies.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light.
We three kings of Orient are,
Alleluia!
THE NINTH LESSON – John 1 and Luke 2 Jenny Hill, reader
CHOIR – “Festival Gloria” by Derek Hakes, based on French carol 18th c.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis; gloria, gloria Deo!
Angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply echoing their brave delight.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria in excelsis; gloria, gloria Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tiding did you hear?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Sing gloria, gloria!
Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
God’s own Son, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria!
BENEDICTION
HYMN – “Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts
Brass Ensemble
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let Earth its praises bring;
Let every heart prepare Christ room, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Christ rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove
The glories of God’s righteousness, and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
Christmas choral music represents a long history of Christian tradition and theology. This diverse theological heritage may not always speak to you, or your understanding of the Christmas story. Our hope is that you will find some measure of hope, peace, joy, and love in the music, the story, and prophecy, and in the gathered community who share in these sacred moments together.
Special thanks to the singers, musicians, readers, and to the following individuals:
