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Candlelight Serviceof Nine Lessonsand CarolsSunday, December 234:30 pm

Welcome to Christ ChurchWELCOME to our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols which, through story and song, foretells thebirth of our Lord. We hope that this service is a meaningful part of your observance of Christmas.This service, however, is only a beginning. As beautiful as it may be, tonight’s service serves only toshine a light and direct our gaze upon the Nativity itself, a birth for which we still wait and long. Onthat Holy Night of Christmas, I encourage you to make your way to your Church home to celebrateagain the in-breaking of God’s love and light.Of course, if you are looking for a church home, or if God is calling you into a closer relationship thisChristmas, we welcome you here to Christ Church. Christ Church is a vibrant Christian communitywhere you can deepen your relationship with God, experience God’s presence and love in your life,learn how to be more faithful in your spiritual and daily life, and find ways to make a difference in thecommunity.At Christ Church, we have programs of Christian education and nurture for all ages. There is athriving nursery and Church School for our children, a committed youth program, and opportunitiesfor adults to learn and grow in faith. We encourage exploration of the spiritual practices of prayer,meditation, the labyrinth, and personal spiritual direction.The Music of Christ Church is both extensive and exciting, and fulfills an integral role within ourworship, eliciting from us our very best in prayer and praise to God. In addition to the liturgicalofferings of our choirs, we are fortunate to offer regular concerts throughout the year. We alwayswelcome both those who make music and who love music to be a part of our community.We are committed also to service in our wider community. Our parishioners are active in many waysto help those who are in any kind of need, and Christ Church supports a wide range of agencies inour city. From giving assistance to those who come through our doors to providing Summer StarterBaskets for children in Detroit and partnering with Crossroads of Michigan, Christ Church continuesits ministry to those in need. Our annual Christmas Gift Project program provides hundreds of giftsfor the clients of the Ruth Ellis Center and the Front Porch, and the proceeds from our recent Giftsand Greens Sale and the entirety of our Christmas Offering will provide significant support to vitalagencies serving metro-Detroit.For many years, Christ Church has striven to be welcoming and inclusive of all. We rejoice in thediversity of our Church and our willingness to ask the hard questions about life and faith. There areno easy answers in life, and there are no easy answers in faith. So we find that we explore these difficultquestions best as a community, and we give strength to each other on our journey. Christ Churchwelcomes all those who seek a Christian community where all may find a home, regardless of race,sexual orientation, marital status, economic circumstances, or physical and mental challenges. Wewelcome you, too, if you have never been involved much in a spiritual community or church before.Christmas is an invitation to each of us here today to become more deeply involved, to be a part ofsomething larger than ourselves. God calls each of us to a unique relationship of love and commitment,and we encourage you to enter into that exciting pilgrimage with us here at Christ Church GrossePointe, where you will find a warm welcome.The Rector, Staff, Wardens, Vestry, and People of Christ Churchwish you a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Organ ConcertDexter Kennedy, organistFÊteJean Langlais(1907-1991)Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 547Johann Sebastian Bach(1685-1750)Dieu Parmi Nous, from La Nativité du SeigneurOlivier Messiaen(1908-1992)festival of nine lessons and carols 3

The Reverend Andrew Van CulinThe Welcome and AnnouncementsThe Order of ServiceThe people stand at the sound of a bell.HymnOnce in royal David’s cityChoir sings verses 1 and 2. Choir and Congregation sing verses 3 through 6 together.4 christ church grosse pointeIrbyarr. David Willcocks(1919-2015)

The Bidding PrayerOfficiantBeloved in Christ, in this Advent season, let it be our care and delight to hear againthe message of the Angels, and in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem, andsee this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger.Let us read and mark in Holy Scripture the tale of the loving purposes of God fromthe first days of our disobedience unto the glorious Redemption brought us by thisholy Child; and let us make this place glad with our carols of praise.But first, let us pray for the needs of his whole world; for peace and goodwill over allthe earth; for the mission and unity of the Church for which he died, and especiallyin this country and within this community.And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time rememberin his name the poor and the helpless, the hungry and the oppressed; the soldiersfar from home; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the agedand the little children; and all those who know not the love of God.Lastly, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and all those whorejoice with us, but upon another shore and in a greater light, that multitude whichno one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom, inthis Lord Jesus, we for evermore are one.These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven, in thewords which Christ himself hath taught us:PeopleOur 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 trespassesas 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.PeopleThe Almighty God bless us with his grace;Christ give us the joys of everlasting life;and unto the fellowship of the citizens abovemay the King of Angels bring us all.Amen.The people are seated.festival of nine lessons and carols 5

Sussex CarolInvitatoryarr. David Willcocks(1934-1992)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 his grace,Then life and health come in its place;Angels and men with joy may sing,All for to see the newborn King.Then why should men on earth be so sad,Since our Redeemer made us glad,When from our sin he set us free,All for to gain our liberty?All out of darkness we have light,Which made the angels sing this night:‘Glory to God and peace to men,Now and for evermore. Amen.’First LessonGenesis 3:8-15read by: A Boy ChoristerAdam and Eve rebel against God and are cast out of the Garden of Eden.They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of theevening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of theLord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, andsaid to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden,and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told youthat you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded younot to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gaveme fruit from the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “Whatis this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are youamong all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, anddust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and thewoman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and youwill strike his heel.”O remember Adam’s fallCarolO remember Adam’s fall,O thou man, O thou man!O remember Adam’s fall,From heaven to hell.O the angels all did sing,O thou man, O thou man!O the angels all did sing,On heaven’s high hill.In a stable was he born,O thou man, O thou man!The Redeemer took no scorn,Of flesh to take.O remember God’s goodness,O thou man, O thou man!O remember God’s goodnessAnd promise made!O remember Adam’s fall,How we were condemned allInto hell perpetual,There for to dwell.All the angels all did sing,Praise be to our glorious King.And on earth, in everything,To men good will.Grayston Ives(b. 1948)Anonymous, 16th century6 christ church grosse pointe

Adam lay yboundenCarolBoris Ord(1897-1961)Adam lay ybounden,Bounden in a bond;Four thousand winterThought he not too long.Ne had the apple taken been,The apple taken been,Ne had never our LadyA been heavené queen.And all was for an apple,An apple that he took,As clerkès findenWritten in their book.Blessed be the timeThat apple taken was,Therefore we moun singen,Deo Gratias!15th centuryGenesis 22:5-18Second Lessonread by: A Girl ChoristerGod promises to the faithful Abraham that in his seedshall the nations of the earth be blessed.The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “Bymyself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheldyour son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring asnumerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And youroffspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all thenations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”I saw three shipsCarolI saw three ships come sailing inOn Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,I saw three ships come sailing inOn Christmas Day in the morning.arr. Simon Preston(b. 1938)And what was in those ships all three?Our Saviour Christ and his lady.Pray, whither sailed those ships all three?O, they sailed into Bethlehem.And all the bells on earth shall ring,And all the angels in heaven shall sing,And all the souls on earth shall sing,Then let us all rejoice amain!Traditional English CarolThe people stand for the hymn.festival of nine lessons and carols 7

HymnThe people are seated.8 christ church grosse pointeIt came upon the midnight clearNoelarr. D. Willcocks