Advent and Christmas services - 2008
Advent Midweek Class
John the Baptist
Please look here for complete details of this three week course on John the Baptist led by Maria Tjeltveit on Thursday evenings (Dec. 4, 11, 18) from 7:30 to 9:00.
An Advent Service of Lessons and
Carols
Sunday, December 7, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
We will again prepare for the coming of the Christ-child, this season of Advent, with the singing of our annual Advent Service of Lessons and Carols on the afternoon of December 7th at 4 o'clock. The Congregation and Choir will join in singing the hymns and carols of the season interspersed with familiar scriptural passages of prophecy and revelation, three from the Old Testament and three from the New Testament as well as choral and organ music by Leo Sowerby, Sir Charles Wood, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Paul Manz. This service was first introduced many years ago in England at King's College, Cambridge, and has since become famous and cherished throughout the Christian world. Sung in the late afternoon in our beautiful candle-lit nave and sanctuary, the Advent Carol Service has long been a favorite tradition at Mediator and in the community. A reception in the Commons Room will follow the service.
Advent Quiet Day
Between Two Worlds
Saturday, December 13, 2008
a Quiet Day led
by Tim Bingham
at The Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Allentown, PA
The program will begin with Morning Prayer at 9:00 a.m. in the chapel. At 9:30, the group will remain in the chapel.
Tim's retreat is based on a book of Advent devotions entitled Between Two Worlds written by Tim's daughter, Kate Bingham Moorehouse (Cowley Publications, 2003). [Kate is an Episcopal priest and is rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas.] "Between Two Worlds" suggests that the religious aspirant is caught between the work-a-day world, on the one hand, and the divine world of God and Christ on the other hand. This Quiet Day will explore different links between the two worlds.
The program should be finished by 12:30 p.m. Tim and his wife Susan joined Mediator three years ago. Tim recently completed a program in spiritual direction with the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
A Brass Quartet, Organ and Timpani provide special holiday music and accompany the singing of the traditional carols of Christmas by the congregation in this Festival Family Eucharist. In place of the sermon, the Chancel Opera "And Christ Came into the World" will be offered. Libretto by Michele Miller Sigg, music by Susan Hulsman Bingham and with traditional carols. This tiny chancel opera consists of short Christmas scenes told by animals who magically speak on Christmas Eve. Since the music program is under construction and therefore quite a mystery to all of us, let us just say that the presentation will be a fun surprise for all, involving mostly the younger children of the parish.
Wednesday, December 24, 10:40 p.m.
Carol Singing
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 11:00 p.m.
A candle-lit nave and sanctuary and choral and organ music are distinctive features of this Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist which concludes after midnight with the singing of the carol "Silent night, holy night..."
Thursday, December 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m.
The Christmas Day Eucharist is elaborated with organ music by D'Aquin, Brahms and J. S. Bach, carols sung by the congregation.
1st Sunday of Christmas, December 28, 2008
8:00
a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II
2nd Sunday of Christmas, January 4, 2009
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Rite I
9:00 a.m. Christian Education - All Ages
10:15 a.m. Christmas Lessons and Carols
Christmas
Festival of Lessons and Carols
Sunday, January 4, 2009, 10:15 a.m.
This service was first introduced many years ago at Truro Cathedral in England and then later, at King's College Cambridge. Since then, it has been sung there annually on Christmas Eve and through recordings and broadcasts, it has become famous and cherished throughout the Christian world. Traditionally, the lessons are read in a defined order by members of the congregation holding various positions and ending with the rector or bishop. Special arrangements of appropriate hymns, carols and anthems by the choir highlight the enfolding Christmas story.