ADVENT LESSONS and CAROLS thursday, december 3, 2020 – 7:00 p.m.

The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley Archbishop of Oklahoma City

The Reverend James Aubrey Goins Pastor of St. Thomas More University Parish

The Parish Choir of St. Thomas More Staff, Scholars, and Lay Choristers

Mr. Nolan Patrick Reilly Organist and Director of Music

Dr. Damin Spritzer

Assisting Organist

ADVENT LESSONS and CAROLS A service of darkness to light.

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¶ This liturgy will be recorded. Please silence all electronic devices and refrain from unnecessary noise.

Prelude Music Veni Emmanuel Gerald Near ¶ At the sound of the bell, the people stand.

Processional Hymn STUTTGART

Text: 87 87; Charles Wesley, 1707–1788. | Music: Christian F. Witt’s Harmonia Sacra, 1715; adapt. by Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805–1876.

Bidding Prayer Dear People of God: In the season of Advent, it is our responsibility and joy to prepare ourselves to hear once more the message of the Angels, to go even to Bethlehem and see the Son of God lying in a manger. Let us hear and heed in Holy Scripture the story of the God’s loving purpose from the time of our rebellion against Him until the glorious redemption brought to us by his holy Child Jesus; and let us look forward to the yearly remembrance of his birth with hymns and songs of praise.

But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace and justice on the earth; for the unity and mission of the Church for which he died, and especially for his Church in our country and in this city. And because he particularly loves them, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless; the cold, the hungry and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children; as well as those who do not know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, let us remember before God his pure and lowly Mother, and that whole multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and whom, in Jesus, we are one for evermore. The Almighty God bless us with his grace; Christ give us the joys of everlasting life; and to the fellowship of the citizens above may the King of Angels bring us all. Amen. ¶ The people sit.

First Lesson Isaiah 52: 7-10 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Antiphon O Emmanuel

Anthem Johann Sebastian Bach Zion hears the watchmen singing, and all her heart with joy is springing. She wakes, she rises from her gloom, for her Lord comes down all glorious, the strong in grace, in truth victorious. Her Star is risen, her Light is come. Come, Thou blessèd One, God’s own belovèd Son: Alleluia! We follow till the halls we see where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.

Second Lesson Isaiah 40: 1-11 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Antiphon O Sapientia

¶ The people stand. Carol GENEVA

Text: based on Isaiah 40:1–8; Johann G. Olearius, 1611–1684; tr. by Catherine Winkworth, 1827–1878, alt. | Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Claude Goudimel, 1514–1572

¶ The people sit.

Third Lesson Isaiah 9:1–6 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Antiphon O Adonai

Anthem Charles Wood O Thou, the central orb of righteous love, pure beam of the most High, eternal Light of this our wintry world, Thy radiance bright awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above. Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine, gilding our darksome heaven with rays Divine. Thy saints with holy lustre round Thee move, as stars about thy throne, set in the height of God's ordaining counsel, as Thy sight Gives measured grace to each, Thy power to prove. Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, our nature all shall feel eternal day in fellowship with thee, transforming day to souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen. Fourth Lesson Baruch 4:36-5:5 Look toward the east, O Jerusalem, and see the joy that is coming to you from God. Look, your children are coming, whom you sent away; they are coming, gathered from east and west, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God. Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, “Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.” Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them.

Antiphon O Radix Jesse

¶ The people stand. Carol BESANÇON

Text: Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965, © David Higham Assoc. Ltd. | Tune: French carol; harm. By Martin Shaw, 1875-1958, © Oxford University Press

¶ The people sit.

Fifth Lesson 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Antiphon O Clavis David

Anthem Paul Manz Peace be to you and grace from him who freed us from our sins, who loved us all and shed his blood that we might saved be. Sing Holy, Holy to our Lord, the Lord, Almighty God, who was, and is, and is to come, sing Holy, Holy Lord. Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell within. Rejoice on earth, ye saints below, for Christ is coming, is coming soon, for Christ is coming soon. E'en so Lord Jesus, quickly come and night shall be no more. They need no light nor lamp nor sun for Christ will be their All!

Sixth Lesson Matthew 3: 1-12 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Antiphon O Oriens

¶ The people stand.

Carol WINCHESTER NEW

Text: Jordanis oras praevia; Charles Coffin, 1676-1749; tr. By John Chandler, 1806-1876, alt. | Tune: WINCHESTER NEW, LM; adapt. Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg, 1690

¶ The people sit.

Seventh Lesson Matthew 1:20–23 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. Antiphon O Rex Gentium

Anthem Graham J. Ellis There is no rose of such virtue as is the rose that bore Jesu, alleluia. For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little space, res miranda. By that rose we may all see there be one God in persons three, pares forma. Then leave we all this worldly mirth, and follow we this joyous birth, transeamus.

¶ The people stand.

Concluding Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world. You scatter the shadows before our path, and through your Holy Spirit you lead us into all truth. May we who have been baptized in the ocean of your love, also shine as lights in the world, become instruments of your peace, and ikons of your presence. For you are our God for ever and ever. Amen. Solemn Blessing and Dismissal

May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came amongst us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin. Amen.

May he whose second coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. Amen.

May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Go in peace. Thanks be to God.

Postlude Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland Johann Sebastian Bach

¶ Please remain in your pew until the procession has left the Nave.

Music Reprinted under ONE LICENSE #A-727442 Readings from the New Revised Standard Version Prayers used with permission from St. James Press

The “O”Antiphons The Roman Church has been singing the "O" Antiphons since at least the eighth century. They are the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer from December 17-23. They are a magnificent theology that uses ancient biblical imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ as the fulfillment not only of Old Testament hopes, but present ones as well. Their repeated use of the imperative "Come!" embodies the longing of all for the Divine Messiah.

Lessons and Carols The Festival of Lessons and Carols is a service of Scripture and song that dates to the late 19th century. In this service, we listen to Scripture lessons which recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News. Each lesson is followed by a carol, hymn, or anthem that reflects on the lesson's message.

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Help us restore our pipe organ

It has been our mission to furnish the new St. Thomas More with reclaimed items from churches that have closed with the intention of carrying forward the legacy of those who have gone before us. In keeping with this vision, we have purchased a 1923 E.M. Skinner pipe organ from a church that recently closed in Delaware. The instrument has been moved from Delaware to Norman so that it can be refurbished and installed in our new church. If you are interested in making a contribution, please visit www.stm-ou.org/organ, or contact Nolan Patrick Reilly at 405-321-0990 or music@stm-ou.org.

SAINT THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY PARISH & STUDENT CENTER

1535 jenkins ave., norman | www.stm-ou.org | 405.321.0990