Advent Lessons & Carols
Sunday, November 30 at 4 p.m.
To begin the season of Advent—the church’s time of reflection, preparation, and anticipation for Christ’s coming—plan to attend this year’s service of Advent Lessons and Carols. Building on the tradition of Incarnation’s Festival of Christmas Lessons and Carols, scriptural readings foretelling the mystical Advent prophesies alternate with Advent carols and hymns. Parish Advent Night immediately follows the service.
Carol: Matin Responsory—Giovanni Palestrina
Hymn: Come thou, Redeemer of the earth
Motet: Hosanna to the Son—Orlando Gibbons
Carol: Adam lay y bounden—Boris Ord
Hymn: Comfort, comfort ye my people
Carol: A spotless rose—Herbert Howells
Carol: O thou the central orb
Carol: I sing of a maiden—Lennox Berkeley
Hymn: Lo! He comes with clouds descending
A Festival of Christmas Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 14 at 5 p.m.
Sunday, December 21 at 5 p.m.
From the first radio broadcast from King’s College, Cambridge, services of Lessons and Carols have captivated listeners across the world for over one hundred years to mark the Christmas season. This year, 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of Church of the Incarnation’s Festival of Christmas Lessons and Carols tradition, and we welcome you to this year’s festive celebration of music as we anticipate the birth of Christ.
Hymn: Once in Royal David’s City
Carol: This is the truth sent from above—Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Christopher Robinson
Carol: Adam lay y bounden—Peter Warlock
Carol: All wisdom cometh from the Lord—Philip Moore
Hymn: Unto us a boy is born
Carol: Lo how a rose—Michael Praetorius
Carol: Joys seven—arr. Stephen Cleobury
Carol: The best of rooms—Randall Thompson
Hymn: While Shepherds watched their flocks
Carol: Bethlehem Down—Peter Warlock, arr. David Hill
Carol: God is with us—John Tavener
Hymn: O come, all ye faithful
Hymn: Hark! The herald angels sing
