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

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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

and Mosaic Monday