Published on
November 4, 2020
Five services of lessons and carols that sing about how we wait patiently for God, the healer of our every ill.

Advent 1

Prelude: "O come, O Come, Emmanuel" 

Music: Arr. Dennis Lovinfosse © 1976 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Greeting: 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Welcome

Opening Song: "Healer of Our Every Ill" Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text and Music: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Psalm Prayer from Psalm 25:4-5

Make us to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths.
Lead us in your truth, and teach us,
for you are the God of our salvation;
for you we wait all day long. 

Song: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Franciscan Processional
Music: Traditional; arr. Julian Wachner and A. Douglas Biggs © 2015 E.C. Schirmer Music Company
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9

Song: “Dios es nuestro amparo / God Will Be Our Refuge” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Psalm 46; tr. Mary Louise Bringle © 2011 GIA Publications, Inc.
Music: traditional; arr. Alfredo Colman
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Song: “Creator of the Stars of Night” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Latin hymn, 9th century; tr. John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: 9th century Sarum plainsong, Mode IV; arr. Kenneth Lowenberg © 2008 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-12

Song: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Charles Wesley, 1744
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1831; arr. John Ferguson © 1995 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Acclamation from the Contemporary Testimony [1, 24, 57, 58]

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!
God remembered his promise to reconcile the world to himself;
he has come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised and all people will stand before his judgment.
We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment 
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.
He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests. God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Song: “And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Revelation 21:4
Music: Eleanor Daley © 1993 Hinshaw Music Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Prayer

Covenant God, 
you heard your people yearning for a Savior.
Thank you for sending your Son so long ago.
As we absorb again the promise that Christ will come again, 
that death and suffering will end and every tear will be wiped away, 
teach us to pray: Come, Lord Jesus, come.
As you fulfilled Israel’s hopes so long ago, 
So we long for all these promises to be fulfilled. Amen.

Song: “Come to Me” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Adapted from Matthew 11:25, 28-29, 2 Corinthians 6:18, 1 John 3:1
Music: Dan Forrest © 2018 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; 
and may your spirit and soul body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen.

Postlude: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: arr. Gerald Near © Auerole Editions
Used by permission. 

 

Advent 2

Prelude: "O come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: Arr. Dennis Lovinfosse © 1976 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Greeting: 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Welcome

Opening Song: "Healer of Our Every Ill" Campus Choir

Text and Music: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Psalm Prayer from Psalm 43:3-5

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

Song: “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: St. 1-2, German, 15th century; tr. Theodore Baker (1851-1934); St. 3, Friedrich Layritz (1808-1859); tr. Harriet Reynolds Krauth Spaeth (1845-1925)
Music: Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1599; arr. Howard Helvey © 2015 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

Song: “Jesucristo, esperanza del mundo / Jesus Christ, Hope of the World” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Silvio Meincke © 1982; tr. Pablo D. Sosa © 1988 GIA Publications, Inc.
Music: João Carlos Gottinari and Edmundo Reinhardt © 1982; arr. Greg Scheer © 1994 Abingdon Press, admin. Music Services
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Song: “Lift Thine Eyes” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text and Music: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy; from Elijah, 1846

Acclamation from the Contemporary Testimony [1, 24, 57, 58]

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!
God remembered his promise to reconcile the world to himself;
he has come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised and all people will stand before his judgment.
We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment 
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.
He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests. God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Song: “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Philipp Nicolai (1556 – 1608); tr. from Lutheran Book of Worship © 1978 Concordia Publishing House
Music: Philipp Nicolai (1556 – 1608); arr. Donald Busarow © 1988 Concordia Publishing House
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

 Prayer

God of Israel, with expectant hearts 
we your people await Christ’s coming.  
As once he came in humility, 
so now may he come in glory, 
that he may make all things perfect 
in your everlasting kingdom.  
For he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

 Song: “Do Not Be Afraid” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Gerard Markland © Kevin Mayhew, Ltd.
Music: Philip W. J. Stopford © 2015 Birnamwood Publications, a division of MorningStar Music Publishers
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

 Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; 
and may your spirit and soul body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen.

Postlude: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: arr. Gerald Near © Auerole Editions
Used by permission. 

 

Advent 3

Prelude: "O come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: Arr. Dennis Lovinfosse © 1976 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Greeting: 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Welcome

Opening Song: "Healer of Our Every Ill" Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text and Music: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Psalm Prayer from Psalm 25:4-5

Make us to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths.
Lead us in your truth, and teach us,
for you are the God of our salvation;
for you we wait all day long. 

Song: “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Latin, ca. 6th century; Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, alt.
Music: J. Leavitt’s Christian Lyre, 1831; attr. A. Mozart

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7

Song: “Alegre luz / O Gladsome Light” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Phos Hilaron, Greek, ca. 200; English tr. composite; Spanish tr. Carlos Colón © 2019 GIA Publications, Inc.
Music: Carlos Colón © 2019 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-9

Song: “Suscepit Israel” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: from the Bible; adapt. Don Craig
Music: From Magnificat in D; Johann Sebastian Bach © 1987 Plymouth Music Co., Inc.
Used by permission.

Acclamation from the Contemporary Testimony [1, 24, 57, 58]

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!
God remembered his promise to reconcile the world to himself;
he has come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised and all people will stand before his judgment.
We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment 
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.
He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests. God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Song: “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Johann G. Olearius (1611-1684); tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), alt.
Music: Psalm 42; Claude Goudimel (1514-172); arr. Howard Helvey © 2015 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Prayer

O promised Christ:
We live in a world full of violence. Our peace depends on your coming.
We are a sinful people. Our pardon depends on your coming.
We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping promises; 
our only hope of doing God’s will is that you should come and help us do it.
Lord Christ, Word made flesh, our world waits 
for your peace, for your pardon, and for your grace.
Even so: come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Song: “You Do Not Walk Alone” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: traditional Irish blessing
Music: Elaine Hagenberg © 2019 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; 
and may your spirit and soul body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen.

Postlude: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: arr. Gerald Near © Auerole Editions
Used by permission. 

 

Advent 4

Prelude: "O come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: Arr. Dennis Lovinfosse © 1976 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Greeting: 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Welcome

Opening Song: "Healer of Our Every Ill" Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text and Music: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Psalm Prayer from Psalm 43:3-5

O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

Song: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Charles Wesley, 1747
Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1831; arr. John Ferguson © 1995 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:18-25

Song: “Restáuranos, oh Dios / Restore Us, O God” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Psalm 80; Burt Burleson; sts. adapt. by Martin Tel; tr. Carlos Colón © 2010 GIA Publications, Inc.
Music: Carlos Colón © 2010 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 25:1-10

Song: “Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: St. Francis of Assisi
Music: David N. Childs © 2001 Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Acclamation from the Contemporary Testimony [1, 24, 57, 58]

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!
God remembered his promise to reconcile the world to himself;
he has come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised and all people will stand before his judgment.
We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment 
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.
He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests. God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Song: “Joy to the World” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: Attributed to George F. Handel; arr. Alice Parker © 1993 Hal Leonard Corporation
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Prayer

Gracious God, your vision of peace and wholeness
comes to us in sweeping revelations
and in tiny signs of hope.
Kindle our hearts that we might be a hopeful people.
Keep us from growing weary of waiting,
so that we do not miss the glory of your appearing.
Even so, come quickly, O God.  Amen.

Song: “Shalom” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: John 14:27
Music: Dan Forrest © 2020 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; 
and may your spirit and soul body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen.

Postlude: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: arr. Gerald Near © Auerole Editions
Used by permission. 

 

Christmas Eve

Prelude: "O come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: Arr. Dennis Lovinfosse © 1976 Augsburg Fortress
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Greeting: 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Welcome

Opening Song: "Healer of Our Every Ill" Women's Chorale

Text and Music: Marty Haugen © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Psalm Prayer from Psalm 25:4-5

Make us to know your ways, O Lord;
teach us your paths.
Lead us in your truth, and teach us,
for you are the God of our salvation;
for you we wait all day long. 

Song: “Pengyou, Ting!” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Anonymous Chinese
Music: Traditional Chinese melody; arr. Carolyn Jennings © 1994 Earthsongs
Used by permission.

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-16

Song: “Noche anunciada / Night Long-Awaited” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Félix Luna ©; tr. Adam M.L. Tice © 2019 Félix Luna
Music: Ariel Ramírez ©; arr. Carlos Colón © 2019 Ariel Ramírez
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Song: “Silent Night” Women's Chorale (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Joseph Mohr; tr. John Freeman Young
Music: Franz Grüber; arr. Dan Forrest © 2019, 2020 Beckenhorst Press, Inc.
Used by permission. CCLI #400063.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 72

Song: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Philip Brooks
Music: Lewis Redner; arr. Stephen Paulus © 1998 Paulus Publications
Used by permission.

Acclamation from the Contemporary Testimony [1, 24, 57, 58]

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: Our world belongs to God!
God remembered his promise to reconcile the world to himself;
he has come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh.
He is the long-awaited Savior, fully human and fully divine,
conceived by the Spirit of God and born of the virgin Mary.
We long for that day when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised and all people will stand before his judgment.
We face that day without fear, for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment 
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.
He will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish
who made us a kingdom and priests. God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish. Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.

Song: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Campus Choir (Listen on YouTube)

Text: Charles Wesley
Music: Felix Mendelssohn; arr. Richard Proulx © 1995 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Prayer

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth
of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully
receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Song: “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Capella (Listen on YouTube)

Text: attr. John F. Wade, 1743; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1841
Music: attr. John F. Wade, 1743; desc. David Willcocks © 1961 Oxford University Press
All rights reserved. OneLicense.net A-703303.

Blessing: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; 
and may your spirit and soul body be kept sound
and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Amen.

Postlude: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

Music: arr. Gerald Near © Auerole Editions
Used by permission. 

Safety:

We are grateful for the Calvin University Safe Return Team and their work on health and safety protocols on campus in collaboration with local public health authorities. In addition to physical distancing and the use of masks or singing shields, our process included increasing the rate of ventilation in the space, limiting the time of recording sessions, and recording the wind and brass instruments separately.

Participants:

Pearl Shangkuan, Director of Choral Activities

Aaron Polet, Campus Choir Assistant Conductor

Norma de Waal Malefyt, organ

Dan Forrest, Cynthia Haas, and Linda Hoisington, piano

Emily Sall and Joel Yan, violin

Hayeong Kang, cello

Greg Scheer, bass

Leah Paasche, flute

Alexander Miller, oboe

Jonathan Karnes, trumpet

Greta Wodny, harp

Luke DeVries, tambourine and finger cymbal

Planning Team:

Norma de Waal Malefyt, Aaron Polet, Pearl Shangkuan, Rebecca Snippe, and John Witvliet

Technology:

We are grateful to Matchframe Creative for recording these services, Forrest Wakeman for audio recording, and Betsy Steele Halstead for the graphics.