A Festival of
Lessons and Carols
Thursday Evening, December 24, at 7:00 PM
at
HOLY CROSS
ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558
“Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” - Isaiah 40:3
“When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” - Galatians 4:4-5
A Festival of Lessons and Carols is a beautiful English tradition that was first held in the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge in December 1918, just after the end of the First World War.
It quickly spread throughout the English speaking world and was first broadcast over the radio in 1928. Sometime in the early 1930s the BBC began broadcasting the Festival on its overseas programs. Since 1963 it has been filmed periodically for television.
We want to thank the Schola Cantorum of Holy Cross Orthodox Church under the direction of Victoria H. for their hard work in preparing for this Festival.
Everyone is invited to stand and join in singing the Processional Hymn and the Carols. You may sit during the reading of the Lessons with the exception of the final Lesson. Please stand for the reading from the Gospel according to St. John.
Refreshments in our parish hall will follow the Festival of Lessons and Carols. The public is warmly invited to attend. Visitors are always welcome.
We wish everyone a spiritually profitable Advent, and a blessed and merry Christmas.
ORDER OF SERVICE
ORGAN PRELUDE
Victoria H., Organist
PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once In David’s Royal City
OPENING PRAYER: Fr. Victor Novak
CAROL: O Little Town of Bethlehem
FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19
CAROL: Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav’nly Light
SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18
CAROL: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7
CAROL: Silent Night
FOURTH LESSON: Isaiah 11:1-4, 6-9
CAROL: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
FIFTH LESSON: St. Luke 1:26-35, 38
CAROL: Sing of Mary
SIXTH LESSON: St. Luke 2:1, 3-7
CAROL: What Child Is This?
SEVENTH LESSON: St. Luke 2:8-16
CAROL: The First Nowell
EIGHTH LESSON: St. Matthew 2:1-12
CAROL: We Three Kings
OFFERING: Fr. Victor Novak
NINETH LESSON: St. John 1:1-14 (STAND)
CAROL: O Come All Ye Faithful
BLESSING: Fr. Victor Novak
Thank you for joining us for this Festival of Lessons and Carols. Everyone is invited to remain for Refreshments in our parish hall.
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
