Each week, you may find information here about the music in the traditional worship services at First United Methodist Church in Lewisville, Texas. Some of this information is original; most of it is copied from other websites such as Wikipedia, GBOD, and hymnary.org. It is my hope that this information will enhance your understanding and enrich your worship experience.
Festival of Lessons and Carols - Joseph Martin
(c. 2008, Harold Flammer Music)
Joseph Martin (b. 1959 ), a native of North Carolina, earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Subsequently he earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Texas, Austin. Joseph taught for five years in the Piano Pedagogy Department of the University of Texas.. He is a member of the staff of Shawnee Press as Director of Sacred Publications, with responsibilities for overseeing the editorial and creative direction of the company’s sacred publications and also coordinating the recording and production aspects of future sacred publishing efforts. Joseph has performed solo piano recitals and has been the featured artist with symphony orchestras in the United States and Mexico. As winner of the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, he performed with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His solo recital in Ex-convento del Carmen was broadcast nationally throughout the country. Though he continues to perform in concert, he now devotes his efforts to playing in churches and for conferences of church musicians Recognized throughout the United States for his many choral compositions, over 1200 compositions are currently in print and the list continues to grow.
This work follows the order of a traditional Lessons and Carols service. Our presentation uses six lessons and five choral movements, plus one duet. All of the choral movements include congregational singing of the carols.
A Christmas Processional
Once, in royal David’s city, stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all,
and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, the scorned, the lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
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!
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 the Father, 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!
Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia! Sing alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ the lord is born!
First Reading
The Birth of Christ foretold, From the Book of Isaiah:
The People who walk in darkness will see a great Light, a Light that will shine on everyone, even those who live in the shadow of death. A Child will be born to us, a Son given who will be our leader. We will call Him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His kingdom and the peace it brings will last forever and He will rule with justice and goodness (Isaiah 9:2, 6-7)
Thanks be to God.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease. Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Come, O come Emmanuel.
Second Reading
The Peace of Christ Foretold, From the Book of Isaiah:
From the ancient roots of David's family tree, a shoot will spring up, a new Branch that will bear fruit. This Branch will blossom with the wisdom, power, and understanding that come from obedience to God. He will not be influenced by outward appearance or unreliable testimony, but will exercise fairness over the poor and needy and bring justice to those who break His law.
There will come a day when the wolf and the lamb will live together peacefully, a time when the leopard will sleep next to the goat and the lion beside the deer, and a little child will care for them. The cow and the bear will eat side by side and their young will lie down together. The lion will no longer be a predator, but will eat straw like the ox. Children will play near the snake's den and not be in danger. No creature will harm or be harmed for creation will overflow with the ways of God. (Isaiah 11: 1-3a, 4a, 6-9)
Thanks be to God.
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, born a child, and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne!
By Thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.
Come, O Come Emmanuel!
Third Reading
The Angel Gabriel's Appearance to Mary, From the Gospel According to Luke:
God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth with a message for a young girl. The girl's name was Mary and she was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel greeted her with these words, "You have been highly regarded by God, and He is with you." As Mary thought about the meaning of this, the angel continued, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God has chosen you to become a mother. You will have a Son and you are to name Him Jesus. He will raise to power and be called the Son of the Highest. God will give Him David's throne and He will rule His people forever." Mary asked the angel, "How can I have a child since I am a virgin?" And the angel said, "This will happen by the power of the Lord. His spirit will be upon you, for this child will be the Son of God Himself." At this, Mary said, "I am willing to serve God as He sees fit; let it be as you have said." Then the angel Gabriel left. (Luke 1: 26-35, 38)
Thanks be to God.
My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
Michele Anderson and Paul Burnett
On that day forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, held the Savior of our race.
My soul doth magnify the Lord; My heart rejoices forevermore,
for God has chosen me to sing a mother’s song to heaven’s King.
Lord, let Thy will in me be done and I will carry Your treasured One,
Emmanuel, the Living Light, the Prince of Peace, the promised Christ.
Lord, make in me a holy place, a living cradle of gentle grace,
and let me nurture near my heart they holy Child that You impart.
My soul doth magnify the Lord. My soul doth magnify the Lord. Amen.
Of the Father’s love begotten.
Fourth Reading
The Birth of Jesus, From the Gospel According to Luke:
Soon after this event, the emperor Augustus ordered that a census be taken of his empire. Everyone had to travel to the city of his ancestors to be counted. Since Joseph was a descendent of David, he had to be counted in David's hometown, which was Bethlehem. So he and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The city was overflowing with visitors and lodging was scarce. While they were there, Mary gave birth to her first Child, a Son. And because the only room available to them was a stable, his cradle was a manger, which was a feeding crib for the animals. (Luke 2: 1, 3-7)
Thanks be to God.
Cradle Carols
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright
‘round yon virgin mother and child! Holy infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight,
glories stream from heaven above, heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.”
Christ the Savior is born.
Fifth Reading
The Shepherd's Journey to the Manger, From the Gospel According to Luke:
That night in the hills surrounding Bethlehem, shepherds tended their sheep. An angel of the Lord came to them and a bright light surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I am not here to harm you, but to bring you good news, news of joy for the entire world. A Child has been born in Bethlehem tonight, a Child who will be a Savior to you, who is the Messiah. This is how you will know Him: you will find Him wrapped in cloth, sleeping in a manger." Suddenly many more angels appeared and they praised God, singing "Glory to God in the highest part of heaven! Peace to all on earth who find favor with Him!" When the angels left, the shepherds said to each other, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this Child." And they found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger, just as the angel said. (Luke 2: 8-16)
Thanks be to God.
A Christmas Recessional
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply, echo back their joyous strain.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth.
Ye who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, Come and worship Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies.
With th’angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace. Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings; ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is born! Christ the Lord is born!
Sixth Reading
The Mystery of the Incarnation, From the Gospel According to John:
In the very beginning, the One called the Word existed. This Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. In the beginning the Word and God were one. Through Him everything came into being; nothing came into being without Him. In Him was Life and He gave life to everything He made. His life was like a Light shining in the darkness of human existence. But the darkness was so heavy that people were unable to see the Light, even though it continued to shine despite the darkness.
So God sent a man named John to tell people about the Light, that they might know about it and believe in it. John was not the Light himself; he was sent to announce the Light. The one perfect Light, that gives its light to everyone, was coming into the world. When He came to the world, a world He Himself had made, it did not recognize Him. He came to His own people, the ones he made, and was not welcomed by them. But those who did welcome Him into their lives became children of God like Him. Even though they were not God's flesh and blood children, He welcomed them into His family. But Christ, who was the Word, became flesh and blood like us and lived with us. We saw His Light, the Light of the Father shining through the Son, showing us His grace and truth. (John 1: 1-14)
Thanks be to God.
First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas
A Community of Everyday People Learning to Love Like Jesus
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