Art: ”O Emmanuel” by SunYoung Kim

Art: ”O Emmanuel” by SunYoung Kim

Published on
November 2, 2026

Since at least the eighth century, Christians have prepared to celebrate the birth of Christ by singing the O Antiphons. These seven songs, or antiphons, function as prayers asking for the Savior to come soon. Each employs a different name for the Messiah found in the Old Testament. In modern times, the O Antiphons are most commonly sung as the seven verses of the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” The seven O Antiphons and their names for the Messiah guide this Lessons and Carols service.

Livestream of the 3:00 p.m. (EST) service on Dec. 6, 2026: 

 

Livestream of the 6:00 p.m. (EST) service on Dec. 6, 2026:

 

Come, O Emmanuel

Prelude

O Antiphon Preludes by Nico Muhly 

O Clavis David (“O Key of David”) 

O Oriens (“O Morning Start”) 

O Rex Gentium (“O King of Nations”) 

O Emmanuel (“O Emmanuel”) 

Music: Nico Muhly © 2010 St. Rose Music Publishing and Chester Music Limited 

Rorate Caeli by Melissa Dunphy 

Music: Melissa Dunphy © 2022 Stainer & Bell Ltd 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.  

Prelude on Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel by Adolphus Hailstork  

Music: Adolphus Hailstork © 2003 Concordia Publishing House 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.  

Procession

O Come, O Come Emmanuel arr. Larry Visser 

Text: Latin, 9th c., trans. composite, P.D. 

Music: French processional, 15th c., arr. Lary Visser © 2026 GIA Publications. 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Greeting and Bidding Prayer 

Pastor: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come,  
and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,  
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,  
the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 
—Revelation 1:4–5, NRSVUE 

All: To him who loves us  
and freed us from our sins by his blood,  
and made us a kingdom,  
priests serving his God and Father,  
to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
—Revelation 1: 5–6, NRSVUE 

Pastor: Beloved in Christ, in this season of Advent, we prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. We have gathered to hear, in readings from the holy scriptures, how the prophets of Israel and the apostles of Jesus foretold that God would visit and redeem his waiting people. We rejoice, in carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. We encourage each other in Christian hope so needed in a world filled with sorrow and despair. 

We unite our hearts to pray for the world which God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death; and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may be freed from all evil and fear, and may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. These prayers we humbly offer as we meditate on the readings from holy scripture, including the prayer we say together now using the words that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us. 

All: Our Father in heaven,  
hallowed be thy name.  
May your kingdom come.  
May your will be done  
on earth as it is in heaven.  
Give us today our daily bread.  
And forgive us our debts,  
as we also have forgiven our debtors.  
And do not bring us to the time of trial,  
but rescue us from the evil one. 
For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.  
Amen. 

First Lesson: O Wisdom...

Scripture: Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17, 3:1-7 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God! 

O Wisdom of our God Most High,  

guiding creation with power and love: 

come to teach us the path of knowledge!

“The Perfect Wisdom of Our God” by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend, arr. Mary McDonald   

Text: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend © 2011 Thankyou Music. 

Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, arr. Mary McDonald © 2011 Thankyou Music. 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

“Now the Heavens Start to Whisper” arr. Nicholas Palmer 

Words: Text: Mary Louise Bringle © 2006 GIA Publications. 

Music: Music: Welsh trad., arr. Nicholas Palmer © 2008 GIA Publications.  
Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Second Lesson: O Adonai... 

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-2, 7-8a 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God! 

O Leader of the House of Israel, 

giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai: 

come to rescue us with your mighty power! 

“Go Down, Moses” arr. B.E. Boykin 

Text: African American spiritual, P.D. 

Music: African American spiritual, arr. B.E. Boykin © 2014 Klavia Press. 

Used by permission. 

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”                                      

Text: Charles Wesley, 1744, P.D. 

Music: Christian F. Witt, 1715; adapt. Henry J. Gauntlett, 1861, P.D. 

Third Lesson: O Root of Jesse... 

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-3, 6-9 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God! 

O Root of Jesse’s stem, 

sign of God’s love for all his people: 

come to save us without delay! 

“Lo, How A Rose” by Michael Praetorius 

Text: German, 15th c.; trans. composite, P.D. 
Music: German, harm. Michael Praetorius, 1609, P.D. 

“Hark, the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes”              
Text: Philip Doddridge, 1735, P.D. 

Music: Thomas Haweis, 1792, adapt. Samuel Webbe, 1808, P.D.; descant Craig S. Lang © 1953 G. Schirmer. 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Fourth Lesson: O Key of David... 

Scripture: Luke 2:1-14 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God! 

O Key of David, 

opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom: 

come and free the prisoners of darkness! 

“Bogoród̃itse D̃évo” by Sergei Rachmaninov 
Text: Russian Orthodox trad., P.D. 
Music: Sergei Rachmaninov, 1915, P.D. 

“Once in Royal David’s City”
Text: Cecil F. Alexander, 1848, P.D. 
Music: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849, P.D. 

Fifth Lesson: O Bright and Morning Star... 

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1a, 2, 6-7 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 

All: Thanks be to God! 

O Radiant Dawn, 

splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: 

come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. 

“Let There Be Light” by Craig Courtney 

Text: Susan Bentall Boersma © 2013 Beckenhorst Press. 

Music: Craig Courtney © 2013 Beckenhorst Press. 
Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

“Walk in the Light” arr. Andre Thomas 

Text: Chor. George D. Elderkin, 1890; Vers. Charles Wesley, 1739, P.D. 

Music: George D. Elderkin, 1890; arr. André Thomas © 2005 Choristers Guild 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Sixth Lesson: O King of Nations... 

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 
All: Thanks be to God! 

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: 

come and save us, whom you formed from the dust! 

“Light Dawns on a Weary World” arr. Mack Wilberg 

Text: Mary Louise Bringle © 2002 GIA Publications. 

Music: Mack Wilberg © 2017 Oxford University Press. 
Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”  

Text: James Montgomery, 1822, P.D. 
Music: German; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904, P.D. 

Seventh Lesson: O Come Emmanuel... 

Scripture: John 1:1-5, 14, 18 

Leader: The word of the Lord. 

All: Thanks be to God! 

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law: 

come to save us, Lord our God! 

“I Wonder as I Wander” arr. Kyle Pederson 

Text: trad. Appalachian, adapt. John Jacob Niles and Kyle Pederson © 2025 G. Schirmer. 

Music: John Jacob Niles, arr. Kyle Pederson © 2025 G. Schirmer. 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

“Joy to the World”  

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719, alt. P.D. 
Music: Lowell Mason, 1848, P.D.; desc. David Cherwien © 2020 Birnamwood Publications. 

Used by permission and under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Prayer for the World 

Pastor: God of grace and glory,  
in this world so filled with despair, we cling to your promise:  
surely Christ is coming soon.  
As we wait for this glorious appearing,  
we pray for the world that you so love:  
we long for your Holy Spirit to bring healing, justice,  
and peace that surpasses understanding  
to every place of suffering and hopelessness,  
including those we name now in our hearts. . . . [silence] 

As this Advent season continues to unfold,  
challenge and strengthen us to be people of eager expectation  
and ministers of your peace.  
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Charge and Blessing 

Pastor: But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

All: To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 
—2 Peter 3:8–9, 13–15, 18, NRSVUE 

Pastor: May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and 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. 
—1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, NRSVUE 

All: Alleluia! Amen. 

Recession:

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”  

Text: attr. John F. Wade, 1743, P.D.; tr. Frederick Oakeley, 1841, and others, P.D. 

Music: John F. Wade, 1743, P.D.; desc. David Willcocks © 1961 Oxford University Press. 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Postlude:  

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Eurydice V. Osterman  

Music: Eurydice V. Osterman © 2024 GIA Publications 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved. 

Fantasy on “God Rest Ye Merry” by William Thomas Best 

Music: William Thomas Best (1826-1897), P.D. 

Recessional on “Antioch”  by Dan Forrest, arr. Douglas E. Wagner 

Music: Dan Forrest, arr. Douglas E. Wagner © 2022 Lorenz Publishing Company 

Used by permission under OneLicense.net A-703303. All rights reserved.