THE Christmas story is familiar, but every year we marvel to hear it again. At Providence, we celebrate the season with a Service of Lessons and Carols. This program, adapted from a tradition that began in 1880, features each grade reciting Scripture that points to our promised Redeemer and celebrating in song the mystery of our Savior’s birth. Our vision document states that the study of music, “draws us beyond the transience and decay of our fallen world into a longing for the eternal. Furthermore, to behold, hear, and participate in such beauty requires community” At this year’s Lessons and Carols, our students shared words and melodies with our school community, some dating as far back as the 7th century, and all of which pull us from humanity’s fall into sin to the hope of a born, crucified, and resurrected Christ.
The first recitation by our Kindergarten class sets the stage for the Scripture recitations by grades 1-12. They tell the whole Christmas story, finishing with “This is how the Christmas story begins but Jesus grew up to die for our sins.” As the recitations and carols continue, we grieve as we hear Genesis 3 and the fall into sin, we hopefully anticipate hearing the story of Jesus’ birth again in the words of Luke 2, and we delight that “we have seen his glory” as we hear in John 1. We shout, “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” and sing, “O Come, Let Us Adore Him” but the story does not end here. Isaiah 11 reminds us that a more glorious day is yet to come with the words, “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.” Following this, the 5th and 6th grade students performed the newest hymn on the program, ending with the words, “Come open heaven’s door.” While we anxiously await a restored Eden, we sing together, “He has opened heaven’s door” in the second stanza of “Good Christian Men, Rejoice”
Yes, the Christmas story is familiar but it is so much more. In a world filled with grief, fear, and chaos, these words speak hope: “Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice! Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ has come to save!” When each class learned this stanza, I shared that these are my favorite words of this year’s program. While there are many carols we enjoy, such as “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World,” these words bring comfort. This is the true story of Christmas: we do not stay at the manger long, but see the cross, the resurrection, and the promise of salvation.
On behalf of the entire faculty and staff at Providence, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our Providence family and friends!
This year’s Lessons and Carols program is available to watch and enjoy HERE
Mrs. Christa Reiter has been teaching at Providence since August 2014. She directs Dulcis Cantus and the Upper School Choir and teaches music for Kindergarten-Sixth Grade. She and her husband, Craig, live in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, along with their young sons, Samuel and Andrew. The family worships at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.