The tradition of Lessons & Carols was established in England on Christmas Eve, 1918, in the chapel of King’s College, Cambridge. The nine lessons, although not exactly the same each year, narrate to Christians throughout the world the story of our salvation from Genesis to the birth of Christ. This year, the service follows our Advent theme as we hear in the Bidding invitation: Beloved in Christ, be it this Advent time our care and delight to prepare the way of the Lord, prepare ourselves to hear again the message of the Angels, and prepare ourselves in heart and mind to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, and the Babe lying in a manger. Therefore, let us make this church glad with our carols of praise!
In the busyness of the holidays, it is easy to skip ahead to Christmas and find ourselves ill-prepared to receive Christ when he comes. Our Advent theme – Prepare the Way of the Lord – reminds us to set aside time to light the Advent candles and prepare ourselves for the birth of our Savior. Long ago the prophet Isaiah cried out to God’s people, inviting them to “make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (40:3). Generations later, John the Baptist would use those same words to prepare us for the birth of the Messiah.
image: Advent 2025. Dan Cantu. Used with permission.