Christmas in July

During this year’s Advent Lessons and Carols service, most of the readings will be straightforward. I’m working with a couple of readers on some choral readings of the scripture. I wrote these a few years ago.

THIRD LESSON Isaiah 11:1-9
Voice 1: A shoot shall come out!
Voice 2: A shoot!
Voice 3: A shoot!
Voice 1: A shoot shall come out!
Voice 2: A shoot!…
Voice 3: …shall come out!
Voice 1&2: of the stump of Jesse!
Voice 3: A branch shall grow out of his roots.
Voice 1: The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
Voice 2: the spirit:
Voice 1: of wisdom, understanding,
Voice 3: of counsel, of might,
Voice 2: of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
Voice 1: His delight is in the fear of the Lord.
Voice 3: He shall not judge by what the eyes see,
Voice 2: or by what the ears hear; but with righteousness
Voice 1: he shall judge the poor,
Voice 3: the meek.
Voice 2: The wolf shall live
Voice 3: with the lamb.
Voice 1: the leopard,
Voice 2: the kid,
Voice 3: the calf,
Voice 1: the lion,
Voice 2: the fatling,
Voice 3: the cow,
Voice 1: the bear,
Voice 2: and the child,
Voice 3: the child,
Voice 1: the child shall lead them.
Voice 2: They will not hurt,
Voice 3: They will not destroy.
Voice 1: And the earth will be full
Voice 2: of the knowledge of God
Voice 3: as waters cover the sea.

FOURTH LESSON BASED ON Luke 1:26-35, 38; Matthew 1:18-21

(DANA AND CHEVAL)
Voice 1: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.
Voice 2: An angel was sent…
Voice 1: An angel was sent…
Voice 2: to Mary,
Voice 1: to Joseph,
Voice 2: saying, “Greetings, favored one!”
Voice 1: saying, “Joseph, son of David!”
Voices 1&2: “Do not be afraid.”
Voice 2: “The Lord is with you.”
Voice 1: The angel appeared in a dream.
Voice 2: But Mary was perplexed, and pondered the greeting.
Voice 1: The angel spoke…
Voice 2: “Mary, you have found favor with God.”
Voice 1: “Joseph, Son of David!”
Voice 2: “You will conceive and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Voice 1: “She will bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Voice 2: “He will be great, the Son of the Most High,”
Voice 1: “He will save his people from their sins;”
Voice 2: “and his kingdom will never end.”
Voice 1: “Do not be afraid.”
Voice 2: “Do not be afraid.”
[pause]
Voice 1: While they were engaged, Mary was found to be with child.
Voice 2: Mary said, “How can this be?”…
Voice 1: …While her husband planned to dismiss her quietly.
Voice 2: The angel said: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you”
Voice 1: “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife,”
Voice 2: “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;”
Voice 1: “the child is conceived from the Holy Spirit.”
Voice 2: “the child will be holy; he will be called Son of God.”
Voice 2: Then Mary said,
Voice 1: Then Joseph awoke…
Voice 2: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord…”
Voice 1: And he took her for his wife,
Voice 2: “let it be with me according to your word.”
Voice 1: And she bore a son,
Voice 2: and he named him—
Voice 1: Jesus.
Voice 2: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.