The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a liturgical format for a service of worship, which celebrates the birth of Jesus, and it is traditionally observed in many congregations at Christmas. It became famous with the international broadcast from King's College in Cambridge, England. The original format was based on a worship service designed for Christmas Eve in the year 1880, in Truro, England, developed by Edward White Benson, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. Since then, it has been adapted and used by other churches all over the world. It is probably more common in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran traditions.

This weekend, we are creatively focusing the Festival of Lessons and Carols for the season of Advent, rather than Christmas. We will involve a large variety of musical groups and choirs from our congregation in all of our worship services, including children, youth and adults, handbells, flutes and other musicians. Because of the nature of this special service there will be no sermon and no sacrament. You will simply share in the reading of God's Word and the beautiful music of Advent. You will also join with our choirs in raising up your voices in song as we sing together the hymns and songs of Advent.

DECEMBER L.I.G.H.T. WORSHIP

This weekend is our monthly L.I.G.H.T. worship service at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 14th. This will be an Advent service as well. Pastor Reents will be providing the message and meditative reflection. There will be Holy Communion.

"Prepare the royal highway; the King of Kings is near! Let ev'ry hill and valley a level road appear! Then greet the King of glory, foretold in sacred story. Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God's Word." (Evangelical Lutheran Worship No.264 vs. 1)

Alive in Christ,