Advent Lessons and Carols

For the close of Rock Hill's "Christmasville" activities, our church offered worship to the Lord which put us in a bit of a competition with a fireworks show that finished just as our worship was set to start.

For those of you who went to the fireworks and missed the service, I will provide an order of the service with links to the readings (KJV except for the reading from Baruch) and music where available on the web.

Prelude: "The Holly and the Ivy, Coventry Carol, I Saw Three Ships"

Introit/Procession: "Prepare a way for the Lord" (Michael Bedford 20th c.)

Hymn 102 "Once in royal David's city"


Lesson I Genesis 3:1-15

Anthem: This is the truth sent from above (Ralph Vaughan Williams1872-1958)


Lesson II Isaiah 40:1-11

Anthem: The Lord is my Shepherd (Howard Goodall b. 1958)


Lesson III Baruch 4:36-5:9

Hymn 70 "Herald, sound the note of judgment"

Lesson IV Isaiah 65:17-25

Anthem: All my heart this night rejoices (Johann Georg Ebeling 1637-1676)


Lesson V Isaiah 7:10-15

Anthem: Come Jesus, Holy Son of God (G. F. Handel 1685-1759) arr. Hal H. Hopson


Lesson VI Micah 5:2-4

Hymn 78 "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Lesson VII Luke 1:26-38

Anthem: Magnificat (Peter Aston b. 1938)


Lesson VIII Luke 2:1-20

Hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten"


Lesson IX John 1:1-18

Hymn 83 "O Come all Ye Faithful"


Offertory Anthem: Gloria (John D. Horman 20th c.)

Hymn 87 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"


Postlude: Angels we have heard on high, Deck the halls