As a beautiful respite from the stresses of December, the St. John Lutheran Church musicians and choirs present the Advent message of hope and grace in a traditional Service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Originating in England, the Service of Lessons and Carols is a century-old worship format that combines scripture readings, choral anthems, and familiar carols sung by the gathered congregation. It was inaugurated on Christmas Eve in 1918 at King’s College, Cambridge, and was based on an order of service that had been created for Truro Cathedral in 1880. The beloved service by the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, has become world-famous through annual broadcast at Christmastime, and several American versions of Lessons and Carols are broadcast regionally in the United States.
“The selected lessons and carols remind us how God’s promise to send a Savior was fulfilled in the birth of the Christ child,” said Nick Kwapis, St. John’s Director of Music Ministry and Traditional Praise. St. John’s rendition of Lessons and Carols will include selections by three voice choirs and a handbell choir, and will be accompanied by piano, pipe organ, and brass. The service will culminate with choral anthems sung by a 70-voice festival chorus.
St. John’s Lessons and Carols service will be offered at 2:00 p.m. on December 12 and will be repeated at 4:30 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend. St. John Lutheran Church is located at 1011 W. University Drive, next to Ascension Providence Rochester (Crittenton Hospital). For further information, contact the church at 248-402-8000 or visit their website.
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