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Church of the Nativity |
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Music Notes
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(From December 2002 Nativity Tidings) Lessons and Carols
Please join us for this wonderful service in preparation of our Lord’s coming. A series of advent readings, prophecies of the coming of our Lord and Savior, are followed by a carol or anthem. Under the guiding hand of our musical director Karla Porter, the choir and handbell choir have prepared some beautiful selections. Plus, the congregation will join in with glorious hymns of praise and anticipation of Christmas. We hope you, your family, and your friends can join us as we worship in the spirit of fulfillment that is the Advent season. The word carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy. Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has survived. In AD 129, a Roman Bishop said that the song called Angel’s Hymn should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. After that, composers all over Europe started to write carols, but the common people didn’t take them up, as they were in Latin. By the Middles Ages most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether. This changed in 1223 when St. Francis of Assisi started his Nativity Plays. The plays included songs in both Latin and in the native language so people could sing along. The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. Traveling minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local people wherever they were traveling. For more about the history of carols and other Christmas traditions, visit www.WhyChristmas.com Advent Festival of Lessons and Music ScheduleEntrance: Choir: Come, Emmanual, Come by Ruth Elaine Schram Reading: Genesis 3:1-11 Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Song: Psalm 62 adapted by Father James Murphy Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Choir: Create a Pure Heart within Me by Lynn S. Lund Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10 Song: The Desert Shall Rejoice Reading: Isaiah 7:10-15 Choir: Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanual by Jay Althouse Reading: Micah 5:2-4 Hymn: Thy Kingdom Come, O God Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18 Hymn: Prepare the Way, O Zion Reading: Luke 1:26-56 Children's Presentation: Collect:
Advent Blessing Hymn: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus It’s never too early to be thinking about those New Year’s Resolutions...If you are resolving to shower more blessings on your Heavenly Father in the new year, please consider the following opportunities: Fascinated by gadgets?? Think about joining the Sunday sound team and work with equipment with more bells and whistles than you have ever seen. Help to bring the best in sound to the Nativity congregation. Training provided; flexible scheduling. People needed for both services. Like to move with the music? Consider ringing with our hand chimes choir. New group forming in January. The hand chimes meet for practice once a week for an hour only. Good fun; great way to meet people; good way to get the brain waves in sync (So we’re told!). Not necessary to read music, but helps if you are a foot tapper when you hear music. Singing in the shower not quite doing it for you? Consider joining more of your fellow shower singers and sing in church. The choir meets for practice on Thursdays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Join the choir and always have a reserved seat for the church service! If you are interested in any of the above, please see Karla. Or phone the church office (355-3262), leave your name and number, and you will receive a return call. May the blessings of Advent and Christmas be yours throughout the new year and always, Karla Porter See previous Music articles from our Newsletter:
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Toward a Happy Advent for our Church family, we are celebrating with one
service on the Sunday before Christmas, December 22. At 9:00 am our one service will be
Advent Lessons and Carols.
