January 2, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. | The Second Sunday after Christmas Day | Christmas Lessons and Carols

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA

Processional Hymn  Once in royal David’s city                                                        Hymnal 102

First verse: Isabella Roesch, solo. Please join in on verses 2 and 5:

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 and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love; for that child that seemed so helpless is our Lord in heaven above; and he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.

A Bidding Prayer & the Lord’s Prayer                                                                                               

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson Genesis 2:4b-9,15-25                                                                            

God creates human beings to live in obedience in the Garden of Eden

CarolWe are a part of all creation (verses 1-3)     

We are a part of all creation, all of creation sings in us, earth and sea and sky and creatures, join in the dance of life and love.

Refrain: All of creation, one ohana,* all of creation sings in you; Many the voices, one great music, part of me and part of you.

We are a part of every person, all of the peoples sing in us, one our journey, one our pathway, one in the dance of life and love. Refrain

We are a part of all creation given the breath of life to share all the glory of our Maker with every person everywhere. Refrain

*ohana=great family

Second Lesson Genesis 3:1-15                                                                                  

Adam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden

CarolOf the Father’s love begotten (verses 1 and 3)                                                Hymnal 82

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he, Of the things that are and have been, and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore.

Let the heights of heav’n adore him; angel hosts, his praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before him, and extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, every voice in concert ring, evermore and evermore.

Third Lesson Isaiah 40:1-11                                                                                 

God comforts his people and calls on them to prepare for redemption

CarolComfort, comfort ye my people                                                                      Hymnal 67

Comfort, comfort, ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God. Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning ’neath their sorrows’ load. Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them. Tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.

Hark, the voice of one that crieth in the desert far and near, Calling us to new repentance, since the kingdom now is here. Oh, that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way! Let the valleys rise to meet him, and the hills bow down to greet him.

Make ye straight what once was crooked, make the rougher places plain; let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign. For the glory of the Lord now o’er earth is spread abroad; and all flesh shall see the token that the word is never broken.

Fourth Lesson Isaiah 35:1-10                                                                        

The prophet proclaims that God will come and save us

CarolLo, how a rose e’er blooming                                                                         Hymnal 81

Lo, how a rose e’er blooming from tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming as seers of old have sung. It came, a blossom bright, amid the cold of winter, when half-spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, the Rose I have in mind: With Mary we behold it, the Virgin Mother kind. To show God’s love aright, she bore to us a Savior, when half-spent was the night.

O Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispel in glorious splendor the darkness everywhere; true man, yet very God, from sin and death now save us, and share our every load.

Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-38                                                                            

The Angel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the Son of the Most High

CarolHoly is your name

Please join in the Refrain: And holy is your name through all generations! Everlasting is your mercy to the people you have chosen, and holy is your name.

Sixth Lesson Luke 1:39-46                

The Virgin Mary is greeted by Elizabeth and proclaims her joy

CarolCanticle of the Turning

My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn. So from east to west shall my name be blest; could the world be about to turn?

Refrain: My heart shall sing of the day you bring; let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn!

Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me, and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be. Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. Refrain

From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone. Let the king beware for your justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne. The hungry poor shall weep no more for the food they can never earn There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed for the world is about to turn. Refrain

Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast. God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp. This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound ’til the spear and rod can be crushed by God who is turning the world around. Refrain

Seventh Lesson Luke 2:1-20            

Jesus is born at Bethlehem and is worshiped by angels and shepherds

CarolO little town of Bethlehem, verses 1, 2 and 5                                                  Hymnal 79

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.

For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth! and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

Eighth Lesson Matthew 2:1-12                     

Wise men from the East follow the star to Jesus, paying him homage and offering gifts

CarolWe Three Kings (all sing verses 1 & 5 and refrain)                                        Hymnal 128

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!

(vs. 2-4 solos; please join in on the refrain after each verse)

Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice; heaven sings alleluia: alleluia the earth replies. Refrain

Ninth Lesson John 1:1-18                  

The Word was made flesh and we have seen his glory

CarolStar-Child, Earth-Child       sung by Mattie Smith; please join in on the refrain

Refrain: This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive

Announcements

The Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray. O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing of Christmas

Closing Hymn Joy to the World                                                                                 Hymnal 100

Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; let us our songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.

Dismissal

Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!

Thanks be to God!

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | 1333 Jamestown Rd | Williamsburg VA 23185 | 757.229.1111 | www.martinburg.org