Advent Service of Lessons and Carols
for December 3, 2023 thru December 24, 2023

Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone Music Director: Travis Oaks

In the late 1800's, English cathedrals and churches developed a service of worship for the Advent/Christmas season that presented the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus in Nine short Bible readings alternating with the singing of appropriate hymns and carols. This format of "Nine Lessons and Carols" for telling the story of Jesus' coming (Advent) into our world grew in popularity and has become a standard for many denominations over the past 140 years. The UMC Book of Worship includes a Christmas Eve Service in this format and the UMC Discipleship Ministries (UDM) has provided services in this format for Advent and Christmas Eve.

This service of "Seven Lessons" adapts the UDM "Advent Service of Lessons and Carols" to the style of Bethel's online services.

We hope you will find it to be a welcome addition to your celebration of this Advent Season.
A Few Instructions
Each part of this online service consists of an audio file and, for most, a Link to a pdf file of "projection slides". Click on the symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the "Bethel Advent Lessons and Carols" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to the "slides". It is best to stop the playing of one Audio segment and close its tab or window before starting another.
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This service provides 9 opportunities for singing a carol/hymn, with one song for each Lesson. It includes all 15 of the songs suggested in the UDM "Advent Service of Lessons and Carols", leaving the choice of songs up to you. All of them come from our Methodist Hymnal. The songs marked with an asterisk * provide one set of 9 distinct "Carols" to use for the service. Of course, you may choose any one or multiple songs to sing between the lessons.
Take your time. We will wait for you.



Please let us know of any problems you have with or suggestions about this site by sending an email to "bumctlh@gmail.com". If you have any prayer concerns you would like included in next week's service you may contact Pastor Ralph Wrightstone directly at: 850-591-9785