I was in need of shortened Lessons and Carols for small group worship. Not finding anything on the internet that met my needs, I assembled this service. It has the prayers and readings, and links to YouTubes with singalong style songs and lyrics. Maybe it will help others.
For the song, go to the link - it will have about a dozen songs on it. After the song title is the timestamp of the song. The link should take you right to it.
A SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS
--WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
CAROL: ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY:
https://youtu.be/t-BcLKW1rQ0?t=3466 - Karaoke: 19 Once in Royal David's City 57:46
THE BIDDING PRAYER
Beloved in Christ, let it be our care and delight this Christmas
to prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the angels:
in heart and mind let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass,
and with the shepherds and Magi adore the Child lying in Mary’s arms.
Let us read and hear in Holy Scripture the loving purposes of God
from the first days of creation to the glorious redemption brought us by this Holy Child;
and let us be glad with our carols of praise:
But first, let us pray for the
needs of the whole world;
for peace and goodwill over all the earth;
for unity within the Church Jesus came to build,
within the nations of the world, our country, and our neighborhoods.
And let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless,
the cold, the hungry, and the oppressed;
the sick in body and in mind and those that mourn;
the lonely and the unloved;
the aged and the little children;
and all who do not know the loving-kindness of our God.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us,
on another shore and in a greater light,
that multitude which no one can number,
whose hope was in the God who came among us,
and with whom we for evermore are one.
And let us pray in words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen.
May God bless us with grace:
Christ give us the joys of everlasting life:
and may the God of heaven bring us one day to the company of saints and angels.
Amen.
VENI, VENI EMMANUEL (O COME, O COME EMMANUEL)
https://youtu.be/vrK-fKtNQyY - 7am choir: 1) O Come, O Come Emmanuel (00:03)
LESSON 1: GENESIS 3.8-15 (The Fall)
8 They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ 10He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ 11 He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ 12 The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ 14 The LORD God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
https://youtu.be/t-BcLKW1rQ0?t=4533 – Karaoke: 25 What Child is This? 1:15:33
LESSON 2: GENESIS 22.15-18 (The Promise of Abraham)
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.’
CAROL: ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
https://youtu.be/vrK-fKtNQyY?t=1200 - 7am choir: 7) Angels We Have Heard On High (20:00)
LESSON 3: ISAIAH 9.2, 6-7 (The Prophecy of the Messiah’s Birth)
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. … 6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
CAROL: JOY TO THE WORLD
https://youtu.be/vrK-fKtNQyY?t=1533 - 7am choir: 9) Joy To The World (25:33)
LESSON 6: LUKE 2.1-7 (Luke Tells of the Birth of Jesus)
1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
AWAY IN A MANGER
https://youtu.be/t-BcLKW1rQ0?t=321 - Karaoke: 3 Away in a Manger 5:21
LESSON 7: LUKE 2.8-16 (The Shepherds Go to the Manger)
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
STILLE NACHT (SILENT NIGHT)
https://youtu.be/t-BcLKW1rQ0 - Karaoke: 1 Silent Night 0:00
PRAYER AND BLESSING
O God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of you only Child, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence see him, when he comes again; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
Amen.
May he who by his Incarnation gathered into one, things earthly and heavenly, grant you the fullness of inward peace and goodwill; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.
CAROL: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
https://youtu.be/vrK-fKtNQyY?t=1314 - 7am choir: 8) O Come All Ye Faithful (21:54)
