The season of Advent is filled with anticipation of Christmas. This time of waiting is also a wonderful opportunity to consider the mystery how Christ’s birth was the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior to earth. In a spirit of expectation and contemplation on the mystery of Christ’s birth, Christ the King Lutheran Church’s musical ensembles—chorus, choir, youth and brass choirs—will join to present music celebrating the advent and coming of Christ in a Service of Lessons and Carols on December 11 at 5:00 p.m.
The Service of Lessons and Carols originated at King’s College, Cambridge in 1918, and has been broadcast annually since the 1930s. At the heart of the service are nine scripture readings which tell the story of Christ’s birth as the central event in the redemption of the fallen human race. Between the scripture lessons, the choir and the congregation sing carols—a term originally including devotional songs of many kinds—relating to the readings and to the feast of Christmas.
In a variation on that traditional service, Christ the King’s congregation will respond to each of the readings, not with Anglican carols and hymns, but with chorales from the rich treasure of Lutheran music, in the manner of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio or Passion music. Much of the choral music, too, will be from the German tradition although—like the King’s College service—there will be a variety of music from around the world.
The Service of Lessons and Carols is an occasion to hear the music of Advent and Christmas within a worship service centered on the Gospel account of Christ’s birth. It will be an informal event, and will last about as long as a Sunday worship service.