Programs · Episode
Charlotte Lessons and Carols from St. John’s
Program: Charlotte Lessons & Carols from St. John’s
Aired: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 @ 7:00 pm
Hosted by Theresa Woody
WDAV’s live holiday broadcast of beloved carols and holiday music illuminated by scripture readings. David Tang directs the program with his chorus VOX joined by the Opera Carolina Chorus and the Carolinas Wind Orchestra, plus organist Monty Bennett playing the magnificent Letourneau instrument in the St. John’s sanctuary.
Sponsored by:
Join Us for the Live Event
St. John’s Baptist Church
300 Hawthorne Lane Charlotte, NC 28204
Arrive early. Doors will close shortly before the program begins.
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Performers
VOX
Members of the Opera Carolina Chorus
Members of the Carolina Wind Orchestra
Monty Bennett, organ
Joshua Barber, piano
Lorrie Crochet, Kevin Gray, Virginia Herrick & David Tang, conductors
Scripture Lessons read by:
Martha Kearse
Claudia Soria
Tim Gibson
Theresa Woody, Host
Program
O Come All Ye Faithful (Oakley, Wade / Arr. Elliot)
VOX; Opera Carolina Chorus; Carolinas Wind Orchestra; Monty Bennett, organ
Lesson 1:
(read by Martha Kearse)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness God called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humankind in God’s image; male and female God created them.
In dulci jubilo (Traditional/ arr. Culloton)
VOX
Lesson 2:
(read by Tim Gibson)
God is light and in God there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with God while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and God’s word is not in us.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Sears; Willis)
Opera Carolina Chorus
Lesson 3:
(read by Claudia Soria)
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
In the Bleak Midwinter (Rosetti; Holst/ arr. Gjeilo)
VOX
The Wassail Song (Traditional English/ arr. Nestico)
Carolinas Wind Orchestra
Lesson 4:
(read by Tim Gibson)
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 favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Little Babe, Born of Mary (James Kevin Gray)
VOX
Lesson 5:
(read by Martha Kearse)
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Sweet Little Jesus Boy (MacGimsey arr. Sjolund)
VOX; Kristine Neale, alto soloist; Joshua Barber, piano
Lesson 6:
(read by Claudia Soria)
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”
Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional French/ arr. Culloton)
VOX
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing (Wesley; Mendelssohn/ arr. Wilcocks)
VOX; Opera Carolina Chorus; Carolinas Wind Orchestra; Monty Bennett, organ
Lesson 7:
(read by Tim Gibson)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella (Traditional French/ arr. Chapman)
Monty Bennett, organ
Lesson 8:
(read by Claudia Soria)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened and secretly called for the wise men to learn from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
Silent Night (Gruber; Mohr/ arr. Paulus)
VOX; MaryAnn Foltz, Johnathan White, Cecilia Moneta, soloists
Gloria, from Gloria Mass (John Rutter)
VOX; Carolinas Wind Orchestra; Monty Bennett, organ
Lesson 9:
(read by Martha Kearse)
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 into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Joy to the World (Watts, Handel, Mason/ arr. Wilberg)
VOX; Opera Carolina Chorus; Carolina Wind Orchestra; Monty Bennett, organ