St. John the Divine Episcopal Church
17740 Peak Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Family Service with Holy Eucharist
December 21, 2014: Fourth Sunday of Advent
Service of Lessons and Carols
Opening Carol: The Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum, A newborn King to
see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum,
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
So, to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, when we come.
Priya: A Bidding Prayer:
Dear People who love God:
Christmas Season is approaching so let us renew our lives by hearing the
Christmas Story. Let us hear the message
of the Angels. Let us go to Bethlehem
and see the baby Jesus lying in the manger.
But let us also review the long story of our salvation. Let us remember that God created us. Let us ponder why we have the tendency to
sin. But let us remember that God redeemed
us from our sins by promising a special Savior and sending us the special
Savior Jesus Christ. Let us also thank
God for all of the good things in life that we enjoy and remember those in this
world who do not have enough food, clothing or shelter. Let us remember those who suffer because of
war and fighting and human cruelty. Let
us also remember with thanksgiving the blessed Mother of Jesus, Mary and let us
remember the great number in the family of Christ who share the same hope that
we do, now and evermore. Amen.
Alex: The First Story In Salvation History: God Creates Man and Woman
In the beginning God created the world. After creating the sun, moon, the stars, the
plants and the animals, God created a man and a woman who were named Adam and
Eve. Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful
garden call Eden. Since Adam and Eve had
the ability to talk, they were given the job of naming everything. And God told Adam and Eve to take good care
of their beautiful garden.
Divine Jubilation Handbell Anthem: Creation Dance, by Gaspar
Sanz, arr. K. McChesney
Catherine : The Second Story in Salvation History: How Good
and Bad Came to the World
God created Adam and Eve as innocent people in a perfect
world. God created Adam and Eve to be
able to make free choices. God did not
make them to be like robots who could not make their own decisions. God gave Adam and Eve a test so they could
know that they had real freedom of choice.
He told them that they could not eat the fruit from one tree in the
middle of the garden. God allowed a very
sneaky serpent to talk to Eve and Adam.
The serpent told them that they could be like God if they ate the fruit
that God told them not to eat. Eve was
tricked into eating and she tricked Adam into eating the fruit too. Perhaps that fruit was an apple or a pomegranate. So Adam and Eve knew that they had freedom to
choose, but they made the wrong choice.
Since imperfect people could not live in the perfect garden, they had to
leave the garden. They started a family
and began to farm, but they missed the beautiful garden.
Choral Anthem: Adam in the Garden, West Indies
Adam in the garden, hidin’, hidin’, hidin’, hidin’, hidin’,
hidin’.
Adam in the garden, hidin’, hidin’, hidin’ from the Lord.
Tell me where is Adam hidin’, hidin’, hidin’, hidin’,
hidin’.
Tell me where is Adam hidin’ from the Lord.
Sam: The Third Story of Salvation History: A special person
from the family tree of Jesse
The prophet Isaiah said that a special person would be born
from the family tree of Jesse, King David’s father. This special person would have God’s Spirit
upon Him and He would begin to be a wise leader. The prophet Isaiah wrote about a vision of
wolves and lambs being able to play together because some day no animal will
harm another animal and men and women will live in peace.
Carol: Baa, Baa, Little Lamb (Tune: Baa, Baa, Black Sheep)
Baa, baa, little lamb, did you lose your way? Yes sir, yes sir, I was lost today.
Far from my shepherd, far from my home. Far from my flock, I ran off alone.
Baa, baa, little lamb, did you lose your way? Yes sir, yes sir, I was lost today.
Baa, baa, little lamb, who found you? My Good Shepherd who
loves you too.
Left His flock of ninety-nine, Looked for me with love so
kind.
Baa, baa, little lamb, your Shepherd looked for you. Yes sir, yes sir, And He found me too.
Dear little children, does your Shepherd love you? Yes sir, yes sir, He loves you too.
If we sin and go from Him, Jesus brings us back to Him.
Dear little children your Shepherd loves you. Yes sir, yes sir, and He loves you too.
Rylie: The Fourth Story of Salvation History: A voice will cry out in the wilderness to
prepare the way
The prophet Isaiah said that a voice would cry out in the
wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord.
This voice would announce the coming of one who would be a strong and
good Shepherd. The voice belonged to
John the Baptist who help to announce the importance of Jesus Christ.
Chancel Choir: Where Once There Lay Dragons, arr. Carol
McClure
Caroline: The Fifth Story of Salvation History: A Promised
Child Named Emmanuel
The prophet Isaiah promised that a sign would be given to
God’s people. A child would be born to a
young woman and his name would be called Emmanuel, which means, God is with
us. Emmanuel is another name for Jesus
because when he was born, he was proof that God was with us.
Carol: Soon and Very Soon
1-Soon and very soon, we will go to Bethlehem. Soon and very soon, we will go to Bethlehem. Soon and very soon, we will go to
Bethlehem. Alleluia! Alleluia!
We’ll go to Bethlehem.
2-Soon and very soon, Mary will give birth. Soon and very soon, Mary will give
birth. Soon and very soon, Mary will
give birth. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Mary will give birth.
3-Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. Soon and very soon we are going to see the
King. Soon and very soon we are going to
see the King. Alleluia! Alleluia!
We are going to see the King.
William : The Sixth Story of Salvation History:
The Angel Gabriel Delivers a Message to Mary
The Angel Gabriel came to Mary one day in the city of
Nazareth. She was surprised to see the
Angel. The Angel told her not to be
afraid because God was going to give her a very special child who would be
called the Son of God. And Mary said,
“Let it be according to your word.” And
Mary obeyed God.
Carol: Mary and the Angel (Tune: Reuben and Rachel)
Mary, Mary, look beside you.
There’s an angel standing there!
It is Gabriel, sent from heaven with Good News for you to
hear.
Mary, Mary, don’t be frightened. God is with you favored one.
You will have a little baby, Jesus Christ, God’s own dear
Son.
“How can this be?” Mary wondered. “ I’ve not married
anyone.”
“God can do all things,” said Gabriel. “The baby will be
God’s own Son.”
“As you say, “ then Mary answered, “As God says, so let it
be.”
We join Mary in her praises; Jesus came for you and me.”
Daniella: The Seventh Story of Salvation History: Jesus is
born in Bethlehem
Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to register to
pay taxes. While they were there, they
tried to get a room at an inn but there was no room for them. So they had to spend the night in a
stable. While they were in the stable,
Mary gave birth to the little baby Jesus.
That same night shepherds came to the stable because the Angels in the
sky had told them about the birth of a special Christ Child who would bring
peace on earth.
Carol: Christ Was Born In Bethlehem (Tune: Michael Row the Boat)
Christ was born in Bethlehem, Hallelujah. Born to save us
from our sin. Hallelujah.
Songs of joy the angel sang, hallelujah. To see Jesus shepherds ran, Hallelujah.
Every girl and every boy, hallelujah, Join us in our song of
joy, Hallelujah.
Andrew : The Eighth Story of Salvation History: Angels tell
the shepherds to come to the manger
When future kings are born it is announced throughout the
kingdom. When Jesus was born a choir of
angels announced his birth in the heavens.
When the shepherds heard the angels announce the birth of Jesus, they
were told to go to the manger and worship the Christ Child. They obeyed and went to be the first visitors
to see baby Jesus.
Choral Anthem with Handbells: Away in a Manger, arr. Susan T. Nelson
Abigail: The Ninth Story of Salvation History: Jesus is
called the Word of God
The writer of the Gospel of John calls Jesus the Word of
God. And as the Word of God, Jesus was
with God from before the beginning of time and he was God before the beginning
of time. The Word of God became the man
Jesus who was born into this world. And
many people did not accept this man Jesus but those who received him became
children of God.
Carol: Hymn # 83 (blue hymnal) Adeste fideles v. 6
Yea Lord we greet thee, born this happy morning; Jesus to
thee be 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.
William : The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according
to John (Please stand)
Reponse: Praise
to you Lord Christ. At the end: Glory
to you Lord, Christ
The Peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving
of an offering
Offertory Anthem: We Three Kings, Divine Joy Handbell Choir
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all
creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost.
Prologue to the Eucharist.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong
the kingdom of God.”
All become members of a family by birth or adoption.
Baptism is a celebration of our birth into the family of
God.
A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.
The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to
his family to keep us together as the family of Christ.
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made
us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.
Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world
that we see and don’t see, we
Forever sing this
hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might. Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.
(Children may gather around the altar.)
Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;
You have made us in your image
And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to
live by faith:
Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob
and Rachel.
And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured
by Joseph
And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.
Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this
Holy Meal so that when we eat
the bread and drink
the wine, we can know that the Presence
of Christ is as near to us as
this food and drink
that becomes a part of us.
And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine.
Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so
that we can we love God and our neighbor.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the
blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat:
This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and
said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is
shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we
eat this Holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the
life, death and resurrection of Christ; and that his presence will be with us
in our future.
Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a
special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ. May we forever live with praise to God to
whom we belong as sons and daughters.
By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit all honor and glory
is yours, Almighty
Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,
(Children rejoin their parents and take up their
instruments)
Our Father (Sung): (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father who art in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.
Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.
Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.
And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.
As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.
Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.
But deliver us from evil: Hallowed by thy name.
Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy
name.
Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.
Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Alleluia!
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore
let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Words of Administration.
Communion Anthem: The
First Noel, arr. Gary R. Smoke
Divine Jubilation
Handbell Choir
Post-Communion Prayer
Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus
asked us to keep;
We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and
the wine.
And His Presence has been known to us.
We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and
brothers
and sisters in
Christ.
Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that
the blessing in the
bread and wine
spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,
As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Closing Carol: Good Christian Friends Rejoice (Blue Hymnal
#107)
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and
voice; give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today; ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the
manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and
voice; now ye hear of endless bliss;
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door, and we are blest for evermore. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Dismissal: Blessing for Advent and Christmas
The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the
joys of everlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above may the
King of angels bring us all. Amen.
Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God!
