As seers of old have

sung
 Advent Lessons & Carols

OPENING HYMN

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel, O come, O Branch of Jesse's

and ransom captive Israel stem,
that mourns in lonely exile unto your own and rescue
here them!
until the Son of God appear. From depths of hell your
people save,
Refrain: and give them victory o'er the
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel grave. Refrain
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Key of David, come
[ALL] and open wide our heavenly
O come, O Wisdom from on home.
high, Make safe for us the
who ordered all things heavenward road
mightily; and bar the way to death's
to us the path of knowledge abode. Refrain
show
and teach us in its ways to go. O come, O Bright and Morning
Refrain Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
O come, O come, great Lord of Dispel the shadows of the night
might, and turn our darkness into
who to your tribes on Sinai's light. Refrain
height
in ancient times did give the O come, O King of nations, bind
law in one the hearts of all
in cloud and majesty and awe. mankind.
Refrain Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of
Peace. Refrain
THE BIDDING PRAYER

Dear People of God: In the season of Advent, let us hear and heed in
Holy Scripture the story of God’s loving purpose from the time of the
Fall 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 his
whole world, for peace and justice on earth, for the poor, homeless, the
lonely, and those who are suffering from war. Let us also remember
before God His pure and lowly Mother, and that whole multitude of
saints, with whom we are one for evermore. To sum up these petitions,
let us pray in the words which Christ himself has taught us, saying:

Padre nostro, che sei nei cieli,

sia santificato il tuo nome,
venga il tuo regno,
sia fatta la tua volontŕ come in cielo cosě in terra.
Dacci oggi il nostro pane quotidiano,
e rimetti a noi i nostri debiti
come noi li rimettiamo ai nostri debitori,
e non ci indurre in tentazione,
ma liberaci dal male.
Amen.
THE FIRST LESSON

Genesis 3:1-15 The Fall

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals
the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say,
‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the
garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in
the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God
knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will
be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the
fruit of the tree was good for food
and pleasing to the eye, and also
desirable for gaining wisdom, she
took some and ate it. She also
gave some to her husband, who
was with her, and he ate it. Then
the eyes of both of them were
opened, and they realized they
were naked; so they sewed fig
leaves together and made
coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard
the sound of the Lord God as he
was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from
the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called
to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I
was naked; so I hid.”
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from
the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some
fruit from the tree, and I ate it.
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl
on your belly, and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will
put enmity between you and the woman, and between your
offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his
heel.”
CAROL

What Hope! An Eden Prophesied

2. A shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stem

A branch from David’s line,
A Prince of Peace in Bethlehem:
The fruit of God’s design.

3. Come, Jesus, come, Messiah Lord

Lost Paradise restore;
Lead past the angel’s flaming sword
Come, open heaven’s door.
THE SECOND LESSON

Isaiah 9:2–7 The Promised King

You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing;

They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest,
as they exult when dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
The rod of their taskmaster,
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for fire.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
 Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,

Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
By judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

CAROL

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers

THE THIRD LESSON

Isaiah 40:1–11 God Comforts His People

1 Comfort, comfort my people, 1 Consolate, consolate il mio
says your God. popolo, dice il vostro Dio.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 2 Parlate al cuor di
and proclaim to her Gerusalemme, e proclamatele
that her hard service has been che il tempo della sua servitù è
completed, compiuto; che il debito della sua
that her sin has been paid for, iniquità è pagato, ch’ella ha
that she has received from the ricevuto dalla mano dell’Eterno
Lord’s hand il doppio per tutti i suoi peccati.
double for all her sins.
3 La voce d’uno grida:
3 A voice of one calling: "Preparate nel deserto la via
“In the wilderness prepare the way dell’Eterno, appianate ne’ luoghi
for the Lord[a]; make straight in aridi una strada per il nostro
the desert a highway for our God. Dio!
4 Every valley shall be raised up, 4 Ogni valle sia colmata, ogni
every mountain and hill made low; monte ed ogni colle siano
the rough ground shall become abbassati; i luoghi erti siano
level, the rugged places a plain. livellati, i luoghi scabri diventino
5 And the glory of the Lord will be pianura.
revealed, and all people will see it 5 Allora la gloria dell’Eterno sarà
together. For the mouth of the Lord rivelata, e ogni carne, ad un
has spoken.” tempo, la vedrà; perché la bocca
dell’Eterno l’ha detto".
6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?” 6 Una voce dice: "Grida!" E si
“All people are like grass, and all risponde: "Che griderò?" "Grida
their faithfulness is like the flowers che ogni carne è come l’erba, e
of the field. 7 The grass withers che tutta la sua grazia è come il
and the flowers fall, because the fiore del campo.7 L’erba si
breath of the Lord blows on them. secca, il fiore appassisce quando
Surely the people are grass. 8 The il soffio dell’Eterno vi passa
grass withers and the flowers fall, sopra; certo, il popolo è come
but the word of our God endures l’erba.
forever.” 8 L’erba si secca, il fiore
appassisce, ma la parola del
9 You who bring good news to nostro Dio sussiste in eterno".
Zion, go up on a high
mountain.You who bring good 9 O tu che rechi la buona
news to Jerusalem, lift up your novella a Sion, sali sopra un alto
voice with a shout, lift it up, do not monte! O tu che rechi la buona
be afraid; say to the towns of novella a Gerusalemme, alza
Judah, “Here is your God!” forte la voce! Alzala, non
temere! Di’ alle città di Giuda:
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes "Ecco il vostro Dio!"
with power, and he rules with a
mighty arm. 10 Ecco, il Signore, l’Eterno,
See, his reward is with him, and his viene con potenza, e col suo
recompense accompanies him. braccio Ei domina. Ecco, la sua
11 He tends his flock like a mercede è con lui, e la sua
shepherd: ricompensa lo precede.
He gathers the lambs in his 11 Come un pastore, egli
arms pascerà il suo gregge;
and carries them close to his heart; raccoglierà gli agnelli in braccio,
he gently leads those that have se li torrà in seno, e condurrà
young. pian piano le pecore che
allattano.
CAROL

Of the Father’s Heart Begotten

THE FOURTH LESSON

Isaiah 11:1–3a, 6–9 Creation Will be Renewed

But a shoot shall sprout from the
stump of Jesse, 1 Poi un ramo uscirà dal tronco
and from his roots a bud shall d’Isai, e un rampollo spunterà
blossom. dalle sue radici.
The spirit of the Lord shall rest 2 Lo spirito dell’Eterno riposerà
upon him: su lui: spirito di sapienza e di
a spirit of wisdom and of intelligenza, spirito di consiglio e
understanding, di forza, spirito di conoscenza e
A spirit of counsel and of strength, di timor dell’Eterno.
a spirit of knowledge and of fear
of the Lord, 3 Respirerà come profumo il
and his delight shall be the fear timor dell’Eterno.
of the Lord.
6 Il lupo abiterà con l’agnello, e
Then the wolf shall be a guest of il leopardo giacerà col capretto,
the lamb, il vitello, il giovin leone e il
and the leopard shall lie down bestiame ingrassato staranno
with the young goat; assieme, e un bambino li
The calf and the young lion shall condurrà.
browse together,
with a little child to guide them. 7 La vacca pascolerà con l’orsa,
The cow and the bear shall graze, i loro piccini giaceranno
together their young shall lie assieme, e il leone mangerà lo
down; strame come il bue.
the lion shall eat hay like the ox. 8 Il lattante si trastullerà sul
The baby shall play by the viper’s buco dell’aspide, e il divezzato
den, stenderà la mano sul covo del
and the child lay his hand on the basilisco.
adder’s lair.
They shall not harm or destroy on 9 Non si farà né male né guasto
all my holy mountain; su tutto il mio monte santo,
for the earth shall be filled with poiché la terra sarà ripiena della
knowledge of the Lord, as water conoscenza dell’Eterno, come il
covers the sea. fondo del mare dall’acque che lo
coprono.

CAROL
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen / Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Translation: O, how a rose e'er blooming / From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse's lineage coming / As men of old have sung;
It came, a flow'ret bright / Amid the cold of winter / When half spent
was the night.

2. Isaiah 'twas foretold it, 3. O Flower, whose fragrance tender

The Rose I have in mind, With sweetness fills the air,
With Mary we behold it, Dispel with glorious splendour
The virgin mother kind; The darkness everywhere;
To show God's love aright, True man, yet very God,
She bore to men a Savior, From Sin and death now save us,
When half spent was the And share our every load.
night.

THE FIFTH LESSON

Isaiah 35:1–10 A Highway for Our God

The wilderness and the parched land will exult;

the Arabah will rejoice and bloom;
Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen hands that are feeble,
make firm knees that are weak,
Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall see,
and the ears of the deaf be opened;
Then the lame shall leap like a stag,
and the mute tongue sing for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the Arabah.
The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals crouch
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
but it will be for his people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.
No lion shall be there,
nor any beast of prey approach, nor be found.
But there the redeemed shall walk,
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and enter Zion singing,
 crowned with everlasting joy;
They meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning flee away.

CAROL

Latin: Translation:
Conditor alme síderum, Gracious Creator of the stars,
aetérna lux credéntium, eternal light of those who believe,
Christe, redémptor ómnium, O Christ, Redeemer of all,
exáudi preces súpplicum. hear the petitions of your suppliants.

Cuius forti ponténtiae To Whose almighty power

genu curvántur ómnia, all are bowed on bended knee,
caeléstia, terréstria things of heaven and earth,
nutu faténtur súbdita. acknowledging
themselves submitted to His
Sit, Christe, rex piissime command.
tibi Patríque glória
cum Spíritu Paráclito To you, O Christ, King most loving,
in sempitérna sáecula. Amen. and to the Father be glory
with the Spirit, the Paraclete,
for everlasting ages. Amen.

Conditor Alme Síderum “Gracious Creator of the Stars” (Latin

hymn)
THE SIXTH LESSON

Zechariah 9:9–10 A Kingdom of Peace

Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! and the horse from Jerusalem;

Shout for joy, O daughter The warrior’s bow will be
Jerusalem! banished,
Behold: your king is coming to and he will proclaim peace to the
you, nations.
a just savior is he, His dominion will be from sea to
Humble, and riding on a donkey, sea,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. and from the River to the ends of
He shall banish the chariot from the earth.
Ephraim,

CAROL

Once in Royal David’s City

THE SEVENTH LESSON

Luke 1:26–38 Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s
pregnancy, God sent the angel
Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to
be married to a man named
Joseph, a descendant of David. The
virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The
angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly
favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his

words and wondered what kind of
greeting this might be. 30 But the
angel said to her, “Do not be
afraid, Mary; you have found favor
with God. 31 You will conceive and
give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s
descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be
born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is
going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable
to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever
fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to
me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

CAROL

Gabriel's Message
THE EIGHTH LESSON
John 1:1–14 The Word Comes to Dwell Among Us

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to
be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not
the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which
enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the
world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own
people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave
power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a
man’s decision but of God.

AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH and made his dwelling among us, and
we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and
truth.
CAROL

Радуйся!
Как в Иерусалиме рано зазвонили The bells rang early in
Радуйся! Ой радуйся, Земля! Jerusalem
Сын Божий народился! Rejoice! Oh rejoice, Earth!
The Son of God is born!
Пресвятая дева сына породила
Радуйся! Ой радуйся, Земля! The Blessed Virgin gave birth
Сын Божий народился! to a Son
Rejoice! Oh rejoice, Earth!
А как первый праздник – Святое The Son of God is born!
Рождество
Радуйся! Ой радуйся, Земля! And as the first holiday - Holy
Сын Божий народился! Christmas
Rejoice! Oh rejoice, Earth!
А на этом слове бывайте здоровы The Son of God is born!
Радуйся! Ой радуйся, Земля!
Сын Божий народился!’ And on this word, be healthy
Rejoice! Oh rejoice, Earth!
The Son of God is born!
THE NINTH LESSON

Apocalisse 21:1–7, 22:12–17, 20 A New Creation

Poi vidi un nuovo cielo e una nuova terra, perché il primo cielo e la
prima terra erano passati, e il mare non era più. E vidi la santa città, la
nuova Gerusalemme, scender giù dal cielo d’appresso a Dio, pronta
come una sposa adorna per il suo sposo. E udii una gran voce dal
trono, che diceva: Ecco il tabernacolo di Dio con gli uomini; ed Egli
abiterà con loro, ed essi saranno suoi popoli, e Dio stesso sarà con loro
e sarà loro Dio; e asciugherà ogni lagrima dagli occhi loro e la morte
non sarà più; né ci saran più cordoglio, né grido, né dolore, poiché le
cose di prima sono passate.

E Colui che siede sul trono disse: Ecco, io fo ogni cosa nuova, ed
aggiunse: Scrivi, perché queste parole sono fedeli e veraci. Poi mi
disse: E’ compiuto. Io son l’Alfa e l’Omega, il principio e la fine. A chi ha
sete io darò gratuitamente della fonte dell’acqua della vita. Chi vince
erediterà queste cose; e io gli sarò Dio, ed egli mi sarà figliuolo;

Ecco, io vengo tosto, e il mio premio è meco per rendere a ciascuno

secondo che sarà l’opera sua. Io son l’Alfa e l’Omega, il primo e
l’ultimo, il principio e la fine.

Beati coloro che lavano le loro vesti per aver diritto all’albero della vita
e per entrare per le porte nella città! Fuori i cani, gli stregoni, i
fornicatori, gli omicidi, gli idolatri e chiunque ama e pratica la
menzogna.

Io Gesù ho mandato il mio angelo per attestarvi queste cose in seno

alle chiese. Io son la radice e la progenie di Davide, la lucente stella
mattutina.
E lo Spirito e la sposa dicono: Vieni. E chi ode dica: Vieni. E chi ha sete
venga: chi vuole, prenda in dono dell’acqua della vita. Colui che attesta
queste cose, dice: Sì; vengo tosto! Amen! VIENI, SIGNOR GESÙ!

CAROL

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

CONCLUDING PRAYER
Oh God, you have said through the mouth of the prophet: “From of old
no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God
besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” (Isaiah 64:4).
In your mercy, dispel the darkness of this night.
Let your household so sleep in peace that,
at the dawn of a new day,
they may with joy waken in your name with joy.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
CLOSING HYMN

Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending