Wednesday, December 23, 2015

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols



A Festival of Nine Lesson and Carols, a yearly reminder of what Christmas is all about.  Creation...Adam and Eve's joyous relationship with God...Sin, with the consequent broken relationship, leaving humankind in a sinful, helpless state...God's loving promise of a Remedy to restore that relationship with God...Prophets foretelling the coming of the Messiah, the anointed one...Gabriel's announcement to a virgin, that she would bear a son, the Son of God himself, who would save his people from their sin...The birth of Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, the Light of the world, born to set us free, to restore us to that joyous relationship with God.

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!! Let Earth receive her King.

On Sunday evening, we attended A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, patterned on 'the original,' in Cambridge, England. It is a beautiful service, held at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.



1. This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love;
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all, both rich and poor.
2. The first thing, which I do relate,
That God at first did man create
The next thing, which to you I tell,
Woman was made with him to dwell.
3. Then after this, ‘twas God’s own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain from evil free
Except they ate of such a tree.
4. But they did eat, which was a sin,
And thus their ruin did begin;
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.
5. Thus we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose
For so a promise soon did run
That He’d redeem us with a Son.
6. And at this season of the year
Our blest Redeemer did appear
He here did live, and here did preach,
And many thousands He did teach.
7. Thus He in love to us behaved,
To show us how we must be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what He did say.
8. Go preach the Gospel new, He said,
To all the nations that are made
And he that does believe in me,
From all his sins I’ll set him free.
9. God grant to all within this place
True saving faith—that special grace,
Which to His people doth belong—
And thus I close my Christmas song.







"For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 
 His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."


- Isaiah 9:6-7


 
May you have a blessed Christmas, friends, as we celebrate the birth of our  Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the long-expected Messiah, come to set his people free.


 "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope."
- Jeremiah 29:11

***

Listen to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,
Live from King's College Chapel, Cambridge
Christmas Eve Day
(9 AM Central Standard Time)




Merry Christmas, everyone!   I won't be blogging for the next few days. I'll be busy making clam chowder and popovers for our traditional family Christmas Eve dinner and sharing Christmas cake with friends on the weekend. Yes, I found some who are brave enough to partake!


Linked to: InSPIREd Sunday

Photobucket

44 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Good morning, lovely images and post. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Arlene G said...

Merry Christmas Judy!! A lovely post perfect for the day before Christmas eve.

podso said...

Be sure to see the Victorian calendar today! Might look familiar, LOL. Tomorrow we will be listening, one of our traditions and that always reminds me of my parents as they always did. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Cheryl said...

Popping in to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas!! Isn't it amazing that He came?!

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

What a beautiful cathedral. I had not heard of that special song. Merry Christmas. xoxo Su

21 Wits said...

A most wonderful post, words and photos of such goodness to all. Merry Christmas to you.

Angela said...

So jealous of those who'll be there for the clam chowder and popovers!! I'll be sitting here in Texas while you're eating Christmas Eve dinner. :(

MadSnapper said...

beautiful singing and voices and also beautiful cathedral. i liked your very first paragraph, it tells the whole story in a few words. Merry Christmas

Susie said...

Judy, I love the beautiful church. I always love to see and hear young people singing. I want to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a New Year of peace and good health. xoxo,Susie

Heide at ApronHistory said...

How lovely! I just found out one of the historical churches in our town does something similar. But it is the week in December, so I will have to mark the calendar for next year!

Terri D said...

I was positive you would find some folks to share that cake! Looking forward to hearing about it and seeing some photos (please!). A beautiful post today, Judy. Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Enjoy the love!!

Chatty Crone said...

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, full of love and laughter. I am so glad we share the love of Jesus! Love, sandie

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Beautiful pictures and enjoyed listening to the choir singing.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Warmest wishes for the Holidays & Always.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Just amazingly lovely, Judy! Thank you for sharing all the beautiful music and lessons.
Enjoy your Christmas as we celebrate the birth of of our Lord and Savior! ♥

L. D. said...

I really appreciated all that you share. The church is such a wonder building. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

J_on_tour said...

Great post packed with truth, A Happy Christmas to you and your family.

Elizabethd said...

We will be watching it here.It's a broadcast that we wait for.

Jenny Woolf said...

Always lovely to hear the Nine Lessons and carols. Have a wonderful christmas!

Alex said...

I am listening to the 9 lessons land carols on CD this afternoon, while I prep the veg -
As the light fades, it feels as though the mystery of Christmas has begun : )
How blessed we are to have this Hope!
Many good wishes to you and yours, and yes, please cut me a slice!!
X

Vee said...

That carol just about covers it all! It is a blessing to attend special services and performances at Christmastime. Many blessings on your preparations today and tomorrow and all weekend through and beyond. (That should cover it.) Love the photo of you and your husband in the sidebar. You two might like each other! Merry Christmas, Judy!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Merry Christmas my friend. Blessings to your family. Hugs, Diane

Carla from The River said...

Merry Christmas Judy, thank you for sharing this beautiful time. I am listening now live on KUSC.
Carla

Linda Kay said...

Love the hue of the blue glass windows! Amazing color. Have a blessed Christmas weekend.

This N That said...

Blessings...Beautiful post..Merry Christmas

sweetbriardreams said...

What a stunning place! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and I hope the festive period treats you well xx

Judy S. said...

Merry Christmas, Judy! Have a blessed holiday.

Empty Nester said...

Merry Christmas! We are sitting here talking about you. Maggie's boyfriend's parents are here and the dad is from Lancaster. They are wondering where in Wisconsin you are. I told them I didn't know but it sure is beautiful!

Empty Nester said...

Merry Christmas! We are sitting here talking about you. Maggie's boyfriend's parents are here and the dad is from Lancaster. They are wondering where in Wisconsin you are. I told them I didn't know but it sure is beautiful!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

What a beautiful church ! It reminds me of one or two of our local gothic style churches in our area, built in the early 1900's for less than the cost of a "McMansion" today! :)

Merry Christmas to you and your family :) God Bless.

Lowcarb team member said...

What lovely images you've shared, thank you.

Hope your Christmas time has been wonderful.
All good wishes for the coming New Year too.

All the best Jan

Deborah Montgomery said...

What a beautiful church! I know the Lord is present wherever people are gathered in His name, but there's something about the gorgeous stained glass, beautiful architecture, and gleaming wood that inspires an extra reverence, isn't there?
I just looked back at the Christmas cake. What a beauty!
Hope you're enjoying your family, and basking in the after-glow, as I am.
Blessings, Deborah

Tom said...

What a Christmas delight!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

This is the time for tradition and the Christmas service could not have possibly been more traditional than the one you so lovingly picture and describe. I am sure you all had a wonderful Day with those two Traditinal desserts As well as family and friends!

Barbara said...

Such a perfect post for Christmas! Love the architecture and poinsettias, and of course, the music.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

hope you and your family had a great Christmas. i can't believe is is over. the family has gone home & it is quiet here. so snow this year. have you had any? doesn't feel like winter at all. love this church. they are gorgeous with all the reds & greenery. have a happy new year!! 2016!! ( :

betty-NZ said...

What a gorgeous church! The sermon sounds quite interesting, too.

Donna said...

What a beautiful service, A Festival of Nine Lesson and Carols...I had never heard of this so thanks for sharing it! Happy New Year!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

One of the things that I have always looked forward to at Christmas is the concerts and pageants. I have not heard of this festival either but know I would enjoy it as well. Christmas Eve we have a candlelight service at our church and when the lights are turned out and all the candles are swaying to Silent Night, it sure makes one aware of His presence.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2016 Judy.

Sylvia said...

Judy, What a grand looking church. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.

Jaśmin said...

Very nice church.
Yours:)*

Mary Howell Cromer said...

How beautiful this was, such glory in the words and beauty in the shared images. May 2016 be beautiful and blessed for you and yours. Happy New Year~

Red Rose Alley said...

This church is beautiful, Judy. I love the old Cathedrals with their lovely architecture and history. I went to a Cathedral in Jess' town on Christmas Eve, and I think it was the prettiest church I've ever seen. And it was the children's mass, which made it even more special. Thank you for sharing these special pictures with us, Judy.

~Sheri

genie said...

I sat in the back and listened while the organist practiced for a concert. No one was supposed to be in there, but when I told the gentleman I was a church organist he let me stay. It was a treat of a lifetime. Loved all of your pictures. You definitely had a wonderful Christmas. Here’s wishing you a happy and health year this 2016. genie

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails