Christmas Musicals for Church
Issue link: https://read.jwpepper.com/i/1130245
2 THE THRILL OF HOPE – SATB FOREWORD For God's people, the promise of a Messiah brought hope: hope of a Savior who would redeem and restore. This promise was a thread that ran through every gen- eration, giving them hope that their darkness would turn to light, their slavery to freedom, and their sadness to joy. Holding onto this thread like a lifeline, they hoped that they would live long enough to see God's promise come to pass. This Christmas, come together as a common voice of praise in the retelling of God's plan for our redemption. From the loss of hope in the Garden of Eden, trace God's promise of new hope from Abraham through the royal line of David to an ordinary girl named Mary. Sing of hope restored by the birth of a Baby and hear it announced to shep- herds in a midnight visit by angels. Take a star-guided trek with kings across foreign soil and, like them, find that Hope is alive today. This season, at a time when a weary world longs for peace and light, let us celebrate and share the thrill of hope that is ours through Christ! PERFORMANCE NOTES The Festival of Lessons and Carols dates back to the 19th century. The service uses scripture lessons to tell the story of redemption from the "fall" in the Garden of Eden, and the promise of a Messiah, to the fulfillment of that promise in the birth of Jesus. Participation in the program historically included clergy, choir, and congrega- tion, bringing the church together as one community of worship. Perhaps the most widely known version of this service today is the one presented annually by King's College at Cambridge. We have given the traditional format a fresh twist, as part of an "ancient/modern" concept. A creative mix of the old and new brings this historic legacy into the mod- ern church by combining traditional carols with the very best of today's contem- porary seasonal songs. To make the work even more approachable, we have also updated the scripture lessons with new language. The blend of familiar carols and gently contemporary songs provides the opportunity to bring both traditional and transitional bodies of worship together for a combined Christmas service. Feel free to adapt this work into any format that makes it more useful for you. Many options are available: