| The Liturgical Customary of the Church of the Advent,
Boston
Christmas Lessons and Carols
PREPARATION
The Upper tier of candles is lit.
The Crystal cross is carried in the procession.
The book with the Bidding Prayer and lessons is placed on the lectern
in the Choir.
The seven hanging lamps and the silver sanctuary lamp are lit (the
Sacrament will remain at the High Altar).
Servers include an MC, crucifer, and two acolytes. Clergy are vested
in cassock, surplice, and tippet and academic hood, or cope.
Six ushers are needed to greet people and assist with the collection.
Readers are normally chosen from congregation, choir, and clergy.
The officiant reads the final lesson.
ENTRANCE
The crucifer and acolytes lead the choir in from the processional
door in the north transept. Choirmaster leads choir. Soloist
begins hymn in procession. ACrA lead the choir up the main aisle
to the choir. AA stop at bottom of altar steps and split slightly.
Cr goes to stall, puts up cross, and faces east. Choir members
and assisting clergy file into their pews and face east. MC goes
to foot of altar steps and cues ALL to genuflect. MC and AA then
go to their usual places at the credence. Officiant stops in
choir, genuflects on MC’s cue, and goes to lectern to begin
the service.
BIDDING PRAYER AND INVITATORY MOTET
Officiant says Bidding Prayer and leads congregation in the Lord's
Prayer, then goes to rector's stall. ALL remain standing
for the invitatory motet, then sit.
THE LESSONS
First reader goes to lectern and reads first lesson. The readers
precede each lesson by reading the introduction provided, and conclude
by saying "Thanks be to God." Music follows each lesson,
either sung by choir, or by choir and congregation as indicated
in the program.
THE FINAL LESSON
The officiant reads the last lesson, for which all stand. Following
this lesson, there is an organ voluntary, during which the ushers
take up the collection. The officiant takes the book from the
lectern and goes to the sedilia. Off goes to the altar toward
the end of
the voluntary, and turns to face the people for the Versicle
and Response, then faces the altar for the collect. Off turns
to people
for the Blessing.
THE EXIT PROCESSION
The last hymn begins immediately after the blessing. Off comes
straight down altar steps and is joined by MC. AA go to join
CR in center of choir floor. Choir and choir clergy face east.
At
last chord of playthrough, MC cues ALL to genuflect (except
ACrA), and ACrA lead ALL out of chancel to back of church as
after Mass.
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