Programs · Episode
Charlotte Lessons and Carols from St. John’s
Program: Charlotte Lessons & Carols from St. John’s
Aired: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
WDAV’s live holiday broadcast returns with another program of beloved carols and holiday music illuminated by scripture readings. Phil Biedenbender leads the Charlotte Master Chorale Chamber Singers.
Performers
Philip Biedenbender, conductor
Dennis Foust, reader
Rachel Stewart, reader
Rob Dicks, organist
Brass & Percussion
Alex Wilborn, trumpet
Gabriel Slesinger, trumpet
Byron Johns, horn
Justin Isenhour, trombone
Colin Benton, tuba
Rick Dior, timpani
Singers of the Charlotte Master Chorale
Soprano
Sarah Gould
Darlene Ifill-Taylor
Abigail Okland
Emily Shusdock
Alto
Carin Bissiere-Grote
Kristen Grzeca
Caitlin Whalan Jones
Emily Lupsor
Tenor
David Benton
Robert Hochberg
Jonathan Rollin
Jordan Taylor
Bass
Aj Calpo
Jeffrey Hollowell
Skipper Johnson
Ethan Price
Program
Welcome from St. John’s
(Dr. Dennis Foust)
Welcome & Introduction
(Rachel Stewart)
🎵Once in Royal David’s City (Henry John Gauntlett)
Emily Shusdock, soprano, solo
🎵O Come All Ye Faithful (Arr. David Willcocks)
Assembly, Organ, Brass, Timpani
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him born the King of Angels:
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Highest, most holy, Light of light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father now in flesh appearing!
Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God in the highest:
Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
Refrain
Lesson 1: The Creation of Light and Humanity in God’s Own Image
Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27
(read by Dr. Dennis Foust)
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 he 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 his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
🎵Season of Light (Jacob Narverud)
Choir
Come sit by the fire and share stories of old,
Bright visions of time and of wonders we’re told.
Surrounded by comfort and stillness of night,
We live in the mem’ries of the season of light.
Come join in the cheer of the fresh falling snow,
Where wonder and radiance set hearts all aglow.
For a moment on Earth all that’s wrong turns to right
And we’re warm in the spirit of the season of light!
– Jacob Narverud
Lesson 2: Light Overcomes Darkness and Sin
1 John 1:5-6, 8-10
(read by Rachel Stewart)
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.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and God’s word is not in us.
🎵I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (arr. Tom Trenney)
Kathleen Thomerson; choir, piano
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain: In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father.
Refrain
– Kathleen Thomerson
Lesson 3: The Prophecy of the End of War
Isaiah 2:1-5
(read by Dr. Dennis Foust)
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.
🎵Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain (Carolyn Jennings)
Choir; Organ
Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world, Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, He will carry the lambs in his arms, He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea, From time eternal he was God, The Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy truth, Hope of all the nations Light of all the world.
He will love the little children, He will hold them in his arms.
Love him and trust him as a child, Behold, your Lord comes to you.
– Isaiah 40, adapted by Carolyn Jennings
Lesson 4: The Birth of Jesus Foretold to Mary
Luke 1:26-31
(read by Rachel Stewart)
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."
🎵He Comes to Us As One Unknown (C. Hubert H. Parry / Arr. John Ferguson)
Choir; Organ
He comes to us as one unknown, a breath unseen, unheard;
as though within a heart of stone, or shriveled seed in darkness sown,a pulse of being stirred, a pulse of being stirred.
He comes when souls in silence lie and thoughts of day depart;half-seen upon the inward eye, a falling star across the sky
of night within the heart, of night within the heart.
He comes to us in sound of seas, the ocean's fume and foam;
yet small and still upon the breeze, a wind that stirs the tops of trees, a voice to call us home, a voice to call us home.
He comes in love as once he came by flesh and blood and birth;to bear within our mortal frame a life, a death, a saving Name,for every child of earth, for every child of earth.
He comes in truth when faith is grown; believed, obeyed, adored:
the Christ in all the Scriptures shown, as yet unseen, but not unknown, our Savior and our Lord, our Savior and our Lord.
– Timothy Dudley-Smith
Lesson 5: The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-7
(read by Dr. Dennis Foust)
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.
🎵Away in a Manger (Traditional)
Assembly, organ
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.
🎵 Before the Marvel of This Night (Carl Schalk)
Choir; Organ
Before the marvel of this night, adoring, fold your wings and bow,
Then tear the sky apart with light and with your news the world endow. Proclaim the birth of Christ and peace, that fear and death and sorrow cease: Sing peace, sing peace, sing gift of peace, sing peace, sing gift of peace.
Awake the sleeping world with song, this is the day the Lord has made. Assemble here, celestial throng, in royal splendor come arrayed.
Give earth a glimpse of heav’nly bliss, a teasing taste of what they miss: Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss!
The love that we have always known, our constant joy and endless light, Now to the loveless world be shown, now break upon its deathly night. Into one song compress the love that rules our universe above:
Sing love, sing love, sing God is love, sing love, sing God is love!
– Jaroslav J. Vajda
Lesson 6: The Angels
Luke 2:8-12
(read by Rachel Stewart)
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.”
🎵Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mendelssohn / arr. Dan Forrest)
choir, organ, brass, timpani
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing! "Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ, by highest heav’n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th'incarnate Deity, Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Refrain
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace, hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, ris’n with healing in his wings.
Mild He lays his glory by, born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
Refrain
– Charles Wesley
Lesson 7: The Shepherds
Luke 2:15-20
(read by Rachel Stewart)
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.
🎵Go, Tell It on the Mountain (Trad. African-American Spiritual / Arr. Lloyd Larson)
Assembly, Organ, Brass, Timpani
(The audience is asked to stand when invited and sing)
Refrain: Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and ev’rywhere,
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Refrain
The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Refrain
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain
Lesson 8: The Visit of the Magi
Matthew 2:1-10
(read by Dr. Dennis Foust)
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 all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned 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.
🎵Star in the East (Early American Hymn / ed. Brad Holmes)
Choir
Hail thou blest morn, when the great Mediator down from the regions of glory descends. Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger; lo, for his guard the bright angels attend.
Refrain: Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star in the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him, in slumbers reclining,
maker and monarch and savior of all.
Refrain
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, odors of Edom and off’rings divine?
Gems from the mountain, and pearls from the ocean, myrrh from the forest, and gold from the mine?
Refrain
Lesson 9: The Eternal Light of the Word Became Flesh
John 1:1-5
(read by Dr. Dennis Foust)
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.
🎵Where the Light Begins (Susan LaBarr)
Choir, Piano
Perhaps it does not begin. Perhaps it is always.
Perhaps it takes a lifetime to open our eyes, to learn to see what has forever shimmered in front of us—
the luminous line of the map in the dark the vigil flame in the house of the heart the love so searing we cannot keep from singing, from crying out in testimony and praise.
Perhaps this day will be the mountain over which the dawn breaks. Perhaps we will turn our face toward it, toward what has been always.
Perhaps our eyes will finally open in ancient recognition, willingly dazzled, illuminated at last. Perhaps this day the light begins in us.
– Jan Richardson
🎵Joy to the World (George F. Handel / arr. Robert Hobby)
Assembly, Organ, Brass, Timpani
(The audience is asked to stand when invited and sing)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sin and sorrow grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of – – His – – love.