Advent Lesson and Carols

by Gary D. Penkala

Last year, at Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church in Inwood WV, a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols was presented by combined adult choirs and combined children's choirs. Here is the program presented.

Welcome to this concert of Chorus Catholicus, a combined Vicariate Choir made up of Catholic choirs from the Eastern Panhandle (of West Virginia). This year we are joined by Youth Choirs from the parishes, as well as handbell ringers and instrumentalists. Clergy from our parishes serve as readers for the Lessons and Orisons (prayers). The translation used for the Lessons is the Douay-Rheims Bible (translated from the Latin Vulgate). The Orisons come from the Book of Divine Worship, the Missal used by the Roman Catholic Anglican Ordinariate. We hope you enjoy the concert this afternoon, based on the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings College, Cambridge UK.

Opening

• Processional: Prepare the Way of the Lord (Jacques Berthier, Taizé Community)
  sung by combined adult and children's choirs, with organ, handbell and violin accompaniment
• Welcome: by The Rev. Alfred Obiudu, Pastor of Saint Leo Church
• Collect: from Book of Divine Worship – Preface for Advent
• Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, verses 1-3
  sung by congregation, accompanied by piano, handbells and violin

Lesson I

• Lesson: Genesis 3:8-15 – The fall of Adam
• Anthem: Deo gracias! from Ceremony of Carols (Benjamin Britten)
  sung by the ladies of the combined adult choirs
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lesson II

• Lesson: Isaiah 11:1-3a, 4a, 6-9 – The root of Jesse
• Anthem: Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen (Melchior Vulpius)
  sung as a four-part round by the combined adult choirs
• Carol: Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming [tune- Es ist ein Ros]
  sung by congregation, accompanied by organ
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – for Peace

Lesson III

• Lesson: Genesis 22:15-18 – The promise to Abraham
• Anthem: Sicut locutus est / Gloria Patri from Magnificat in Bb (Francesco Durante)
  sung by the combined adult choirs, accompanied by organ
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Second Sunday after Christmas
• Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, verses 4-5
  sung by congregation, accompanied organ

Lesson IV

• Lesson: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 – The people who walked in darkness
• Anthem: Bereite dich Zion / Prepare Thyself, Zion from Christmas Oratorio (J.S. Bach)
  sung in German and English by combined children's choirs, accompanied by harpsichord and violin
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – First Sunday of Advent

Lesson V

• Lesson: Isaiah 40:1-11 – Comfort ye, my people
• Organ: Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele / Rejoice reatly, My Soul (Georg Böhm)
• Carol: Comfort, Comfort Ye, My People [tune- Freu dich sehr]
  sung by congregation, accompanied by organ
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Second Sunday of Advent

Lesson VI

• Lesson: Baruch 5:1-9 – Arise, Jerusalem!
• Antiphon: Jerusalem, surge / Jerusalem, arise (Gregorian chant) Communio for 2 Advent
  sung by the gentlemen of the combined adult choirs, intonation by Gary Penkala
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Third Sunday of Advent
• Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, verses 6-7
  sung by congregation, accompanied by organ, handbells and violin

Lesson VII

• Lesson: Wisdom 18:14-15 – The Word leapt from heaven's royal throne
• Antiphon: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Gregorian chant)
  sung by the combined children's choirs, intonation by Jacob Perkowski, treble
• Motet: Alma Redemptoris Mater (G.P. da Palestrina)
  sung by the combined adult choirs, intonation by Brian Kaltenbaugh
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Feast of the Holy Family

Lesson VIII

• Lesson: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6 – A woman clothed with the sun
• Motet: Ave Maria (Jacob Arcadelt)
  sung by the combined adult choirs
• Carol: Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above [tune- Salve Regina cælitum]
  sung by congregation, accompanied by organ
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Christmas Day

Lesson IX

• Lesson: Saint Luke 1:26-38 – The Annunciation of the Lord
• Anthem: The Angel Gabriel (Basque carol, arranged by Robert Edward Smith)
  sung by combined adult choirs
• Orison: from Book of Divine Worship – Solemnity of the Annunciation

Closing

• Anthem: The Virgin Is with Child (Randall DeBruyn)
  sung by all choirs, accompanied by harpsichord, organ and violin
• Blessing & Dismissal: by The Rev. Alfred Obiudu, Pastor of Saint Leo Church
• Organ Recessional: Processional on Ellacombe (anonymous)

Leaders

• Host Pastor:
  The Rev. Alfred Obiudu (Saint Leo Church, Inwood WV)
• Readers:
  The Rev. Mr. James Munuhe (Saint James Church, Charles Town WV)
  The Rev. Mr. Marcus Pressl (Saint Joseph Church, Martinsburg WV)
  The Rev. Mr. Brian Crim (Saint Leo Church, Inwood WV)
• Choir Directors / Accompanists:
  Gary Penkala (Saint James Church, Charles Town WV)
  Craig Kesner (Saint Joseph Church, Martinsburg WV)
  Brian Kaltenbaugh (Saint Leo Church, Inwood WV)
• Instrumentalists:
  Julianna Perkowski (violin)
  Alyssa Powers & Lara Boné (handbells)

Article written 19 December 2016