COMMUNION LITURGY OF CAROLS

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2 COMMUNION LITURGY OF CAROLS Since Jesus instituted the Lord s Supper in the Upper Room, Christians of all cultures and languages have remembered his death and resurrection. Some have spoken the liturgy ( service of the people ), while others have sung it to the music of their time. Whether Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, or United Methodist, the text is similar. The music has been changed, sung in choral harmony, and put in the concert stage with full orchestral accompaniment. In recent years the music has been simplified so that the congregation can sing it more easily. The Liturgy of Carols is one of four musical settings I have arranged. It is especially appropriate for Advent, Christmas, or Epiphany. We begin with the response to the opening prayer of confession: O LORD HAVE MERCY (Kyrie). These are the words of the ten lepers who came to Jesus for healing (Luke 17:12-13). It is sung to the tune of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Then follows GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH (Gloria in Excelsis Deo). This is the triumphant song of the angels ushering in the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14). It is sung, very appropriately, to the melody of Angels We Have Heard on High. Before the consecration of the bread and cup, we sing the responsive LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS (Sursum Corda). It is an ancient dialog between the pastor and congregation. This is sung responsively to O Come, All Ye Faithful. 1

3 Then we all sing together HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (Sanctus), as recorded in Isaiah 6:3, and sung to Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. There follows a prayer of consecration and a congregational response Christ is born, Christ is born. Christ has died, Christ has died. Christ has risen from the dead. Christ has risen from the dead. Christ will come again. Christ will come again. This is sung to the tune of Silent Night, Holy Night. After the brief Prayer of Humble Access, we respond with O Lamb of God (Agnus Dei). These are the words of John the Baptist, who points out the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This is sung to the tune of The First Noel. We partake of the Holy Sacrament, offering ourselves in devotion and service to Jesus Christ. THE LORD S PRAYER follows the pastoral prayer. It is set to the music of It Came upon the Midnight Clear. THE BENEDICTION is sung responsively by the pastor and congregation to the tune of O Come, All Ye Faithful. We are dismissed to go out to be the Body and Blood of Christ out in the world. Pastor Norm 2

4 INSERT 1 O LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE) 3

5 INSERT 2 GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH 4

6 INSERT 3 LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS (SURSUM CORDA) 5

7 INSERT 4 THE PREFACE (spoken by liturgist) Thanks and praise to you, Father Almighty. When the time had come, you sent your only Son into the world. And so with the Church on earth, and with the hosts of Heaven, we praise your name with singing: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (SANCTUS) 6

8 INSERT 4a CONSECRATION OF THE BREAD AND CUP: Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit. 7

9 On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said, Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Congregational Response (Tune: Silent Night, Holy Night) Christ is born. Christ is born. Christ has died. Christ has died. Christ has risen from the dead. Christ has risen from the dead. Christ will come again. Christ will come again. PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS (all uniting) We come to your table, Lord, as the wise men came to the Christ Child. We, too, have been told the good news that our Savior was born for us, that he died for us, that he is risen, and that he will come again in glory. May we come and partake in such a way that we will grow in his grace and fellowship forever more. Response: O Lamb of God (found on next page) 8

10 INSERT 5 O LAMB OF GOD (AGNUS DEI) 9

11 INSERT 6 THE LORD S PRAYER 10

12 INSERT 7 THE BENEDICTION 11