CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO Service of Lessons & Carols We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him. Matthew 2:2 Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 4 at 4 and 7 p.m. LessonsProgram2011.indd 1
PRELUDE Chamber Orchestra, Organ, University Handbells PROCESSIONAL Once in Royal David s City Henry J. Gauntlett (1805 1876) Combined choirs and congregation arr. David Willcocks (b. 1919) Solo 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. Choir 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 and mean and lowly Lived on earth our Savior holy. PRAYERS AND LORD S PRAYER FIRST LESSON Genesis 3:8-15 Curse and promise in Eden Congregation And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above; As He leads His children on, To the place where He is gone. Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see Him; but in heaven, Set at God s right hand on high; Then like stars His children crowned All in white, His praise will sound! Cecil Francis Alexander (1823 1895) 1 LessonsProgram2011.indd 2-3
In Adam We Have All Been One Richard Hillert (1923 2009) Laudate, Männerchor, and Chamber Orchestra In Adam we have all been one, One huge rebellious man: We all have fled that evening voice That sought us as we ran. We fled Thee, and in losing Thee We lost our brother too; Each singly sought and claimed his own; Each man his brother slew. But Thy strong love, it sought us still And sent Thine only Son That we might hear His Shepherd s voice And hearing Him, be one. O Thou who, when we loved Thee not, Didst love and save us all; Thou great Good Shepherd of mankind, Oh, hear us when we call. SECOND LESSON Genesis 22:15-18 Promise to Abraham Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 62, mvt. 1 Johann Sebastian Bach Kapelle and Chamber Orchestra (1685 1750) Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Now come, the Gentiles Savior, Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt, As the Virgin s child made known, Des sich wundert alle Welt, At this the whole world marvels, Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt. That God has ordained such a birth for him. Anonymous chorale tune German setting by Martin Luther (1483 1546) based on Veni redemptor genitum of Saint Ambrose (c.340 397); Tr. Melvin Unger, adapted THIRD LESSON Isaiah 9:2-7 The child who is the Prince of Peace Send us Thy Spirit, teach us truth; Thou Son, oh, set us free From fancied wisdom, self-sought ways, And make us one in Thee. Then shall our song united rise To Thine eternal throne; Where with the Father evermore, And Spirit, Thou art one. The Saint s Delight, Southern Harmony, 1835 Martin H. Franzmann (1907 1976) Macht hoch die Tür attributed to Johann Crüger (1598 1662) Männerchor adapted by Charles P. Brown Macht hoch die Tür, die Tor macht weit; Raise high the door, the gate make wide; Es kommt der Herr der Herrlichkeit, The Lord of glory comes, Ein König aller Königreich, King of all Kingdoms Ein Heiland aller Welt zugleich, And Savior of the whole world, Der Heil und Leben mit sich bringt; Salvation and life with Him; Derhalben jauchzt, mit Freuden singt: Therefore shout and sing with joy: Gelobet sei mein Gott, Blessed be my God, Mein Schöpfer, reich von Rat. My Creator, rich in council. Er ist gerecht, ein Helfer wert; He is just, a worthy helper; Sanftmütigkeit ist sein Gefährt, Meekness is His vehicle Sein Königskron ist Heiligkeit, His kingly crown is holiness, Sein Zepter ist Barmherzigkeit; His scepter is mercy; All unsre Not zum End er bringt, To all our needs He brings an end, Derhalben jauchzt, mit Freuden singt: Therefore shout and sing with joy: Gelobet sei mein Gott, Blessed be my God, Mein Heiland, groß von Tat. Savior, great in deed. Komm, o mein Heiland Jesu Christ, Come, O my Savior, Jesus Christ, Meins Herzens Tür dir offen ist. My heart s door is open to you. Ach zieh mit deiner Gnade ein; Oh, draw in with your grace; Dein Freundlichkeit auch uns erschein. Your kindness appear to us. Dein Heil ger Geist uns führ und leit Your Holy Spirit, lead and guide Den Weg zur ew gen Seligkeit. The way to eternal bliss. Dem Namen dein, o Herr, Sei ewig Preis und Ehr. To Your name, O Lord, Be forever praise and honor. Praxis Pietatis Melica, Berlin, 1661; Georg Weissel (1590 1635); Tr. Charles P. Brown and Maurice Boyer 2 3 LessonsProgram2011.indd 4-5
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen Congregation God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Was born upon this day To save us all from Satan s power When we were gone astray. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy! From God our heav nly Father A blessed angel came, And unto certain shepherds Brought tidings of the same, How that in Bethlehem was born The Son of God by name: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy! FOURTH LESSON Isaiah 11: 1-3a; 4a; 6-9 The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown Behold, a Branch Is Growing Joseph Herl (b. 1959) Schola Cantorum Behold, a branch is growing of loveliest form and grace, as prophets sung, foreknowing; it springs up Jesse s race and bears one little flower in midst of coldest winter, at deepest midnight hour. Isaiah hath foretold it in words of promise sure, and Mary s arm enfold it, a virgin meek and pure. Through God s eternal will this child to her is given at midnight calm and still. arr. David Willcocks Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place, And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace. The holy tide of Christmas All others doth efface. O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy! West Country traditional, Sandys, 1833 This flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God; from sin and death He saves us and lightens every load. O Savior, child of Mary, who felt our human woe; O Savior, king of glory, who dost our weakness know, bring us at length, we pray, to the bright courts of heaven and to the endless day. German, 16 th century Tr. Harriet R. K. Spaeth (1845 1925), sts. 1-3 FIFTH LESSON Luke 1:26-33 The Annunciation O Magnum Mysterium Maurice Boyer (b. 1969) Laudate O magnum mysterium, O great mystery, et admirable sacramentum, and wondrous sacrament, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, that animals should see the newborn Lord, jacentum in praesepio! lying in their manger! Beata virgo, cujus viscera Blessed is the virgin whose womb meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia! SIXTH LESSON Luke 2:1-7 The Holy Birth was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! unknown, inspired by 1 Samuel 2: 7-8; Psalm 113: 5-8; Luke 1:28, 30, 42, 47-48; Luke 2:12, 17 Tr. Ron Jeffers A Babe Is Born Peter Racine Fricker (1920 1990) A babe is born all of a may, To bring salvation unto us. To Him we sing both night and day Veni Creator Spiritus. (Come, Creator Spirit) At Bethlehem, that blessed place, The child of bliss now born he was: And Him to serve God gave us grace, O lux beata Trinitas (O the light of the Blessed Trinity) There came three kings out of the east, To worship the king that is so free, With gold and myrrh and frankincense, A solis ortus cardine. (From where the sun rises) OFFERING University Handbells The shepherds heard an angel s cry, A merry song then sungen he. Why are ye so sore aghast? Jam ortus solis cardine. (Now the sun is rising) The angels came down with one cry, A merry song then sungen they In the worship of that child: Gloria tibi, Gloria tibi, Domine. (Glory to you, Glory to you, O Lord) English traditional Tr. John C. Mattes, (1876 1948), st. 4 4 5 LessonsProgram2011.indd 6-7
God Loves Me Dearly Charles P. Brown (b. 1969) Kapelle God loves me dearly, grants me salvation, God loves me dearly, loves even me. Refrain: therefore I ll say again, God loves me dearly, God loves me dearly, loves even me. He sent forth Jesus, my dear redeemer, He sent forth Jesus and set me free. Now I will praise You, O Love Eternal, Now I will praise You, all my life long. German folk song August Rische (1819 1906) Tr. composite SEVENTH LESSON Luke 2:8-20 The Shepherds The First Noel Congregation and Kapelle The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter s night that was so deep: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. (Choir) They looked up and saw a star, Shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night: (Men) And by the light of that same star, Three wise men came from country far, To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went: arr. David Willcocks (Women) This star drew nigh to the north-west; O er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay: (Choir) Then enter d in those wise men three, Full reverently upon their knee, And offer d there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav nly Lord, That hath made heav n and earth of naught, And with his blood man-kind hath bought: English traditional carol Sandys 1833, adapted EIGHTH LESSON Matthew 2:1-11 The Wise Men Star in the East Brad Holmes (b. 1956) Hail the blest morn! See the great Mediator Down from the regions of glory descend! Shepherds, go worship the Babe in the manger! Lo! for His guard the bright angels attend. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid; Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore Him, in slumber reclining, Wise men and shepherds before Him do fall. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odors of Edom and off rings divine, Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine? Early American verse 1, anonymous, verses 2-3 after Reginald Heber (1783 1826) 6 7 LessonsProgram2011.indd 8-9
NINTH LESSON John 1:1-14 The Word Made Flesh Fantasia on Christmas Carols Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 1958) 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. The first thing which I will relate, Is that God did man create. The next thing which to you I ll tell, Woman was made with man to dwell. 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. And they did eat, which was a sin, And thus their ruin did begin. Ruined themselves, both you and me, And all of their posterity. Thus we were heirs to endless woes, Till God the Lord did interpose, And so a promise soon did run, That he would redeem us by his Son. Come all you worthy gentlemen, That may be standing by, Christ our blessed Saviour Was born on Christmas day. Christ our Blessed Saviour Now in the manger lay. He s lying in the manger, While the oxen feed on hay. On Christmas Night all Christians sing, To hear the news the angels bring. News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King s birth. When sin departs before thy grace, Then life and health come in its place. Angels and men with joy may sing. All for to see the new born King. God bless the ruler of this house And long on may he reign, Many happy Christmases He live to see again. From out of darkness we have light, Which makes the angels sing this night. God bless our generation, who live both far and near And we wish them a happy, a happy New Year. O we wish you a happy, a happy New Year, Both now and evermore, Amen. English traditional RESPONSES L: Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. C: And this is the name by which He will be called, the Lord is our righteousness. L: In those days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. C: And this is the name by which He will be called, the Lord is our righteousness. L: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. C: And this is the name by which He will be called, the Lord is our righteousness. L: We wait for your loving kindness, O Lord, C: In the midst of your temple. COLLECT BLESSING RECESSIONAL Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful Combined choirs and congregation Oh, come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him Born the king of angels: Christ the Lord! God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the virgin s womb Very God, Begotten, not created: Christ the Lord! arr. David Willcocks Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God In the highest: Christ the Lord! attr. John F. Wade (c.1711 1786) Tr. composite Noël, Noël Carl Schalk (b. 1929) Combined choirs 8 LessonsProgram2011.indd 10-11
PARTICIPANTS CHOIRS The Kapelle Charles P. Brown, conductor Laudate Maurice Boyer, conductor Männerchor Charles P. Brown, conductor Schola Cantorum Jonathan Kohrs 85, 93 conductor University Handbell Choirs Maurice Boyer, conductor Chamber Orchestra Maurice Boyer, conductor SOLOIST Douglas Anderson, baritone ORGANIST Steven Wente 75, 76 organist to the Chapel of Our Lord READERS Abigail Keller, 15, freshman student Carlea Mavros, 13, Kapelle president Gerard Bolling, 12, president, spiritual life committee Julie Hinz 93, managing director A.C.T. Christian Hauser, assistant professor of music education (Sat.) Steven Wente 75, 76, professor of music, music department chair Kevin J. Brandon, dean, college of education (Sun., 7 p.m.) Gary Wenzel 70 dean, college of arts and sciences, (Sat. and Sun., 4 p.m.) Marilyn Reineck, senior vice president for academics John F. Johnson, president USHERS Members of the Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony LEADER Jeffery Leininger, campus pastor LessonsProgram2011.indd 12