St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
3rd Sunday in Lent
Sunday 3rd March 2024
Organ Music
Henri Mulet Chapelle des morts
Jeanne Demessieux Attende Domine
Introit
Christus factus est
Christ became obedient for us unto death,
even to the death, death on the cross.
Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him a name
which is above all names
Text: Philippians 2:8-9
Music: Felice Anerio c1560-1614
Processional Hymn
My song is love unknown,
my Saviour's love to me,
love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
Oh, who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?
He came from his blest throne,
salvation to bestow;
but people scorned, and none the longed-for Christ would know.
But O, my Friend, my Friend indeed,
who at my need his life did spend!
Sometimes they strew his way,
and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then 'Crucify!' is all their breath,
and for his death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! yet they at these
themselves displease, and 'gainst him rise.
They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord done away;
a murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suffering goes,
that he his foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb but what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heaven was his home;
but mine the tomb wherein he lay.
Here might I stay and sing:
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine!
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
Text: Samuel Crossman c.1624-83
Music: Love unknown CH4 399 John Ireland 1879-1962
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
Kenneth Leighton 1929-1988
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Almighty God, you give the water of eternal life through Jesus Christ your Son. May we always thirst for you, the spring of life and source of goodness; Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Lesson Exodus 20 1-17
The Choir sings the Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Second Lesson 1 Corinthians 1 18-25
Hymn
Just as I am, without one plea
but that your blood was shed for me,
and that you call us, ‘Come to me’,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, you will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve:
because your promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am – your love unknown
has broken every barrier down –
now to be yours, and yours alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Text: Charlotte Elliott 1789-1871
Tune: Saffron Walden CH4 553 Arthur Henry Brown 1830-1926
Sermon
Anthem
Except the Lord build the house
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, the children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are the children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Text: Psalm 127
Music: James MacMillan b.1959
The Offering
Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.
Hymn
In the cross of Christ I glory:
towering o'er the wrecks of time,
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me,
hopes deceive and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me;
lo! it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds more lustre to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.
In the cross of Christ I glory:
towering o'er the wrecks of time,
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
Text: John Bowring 1792-1872
Music: Stuttgart CH4 397 Adapted from melody in Witt’s Psalmodia Sacra, Gotha 1715
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
J.S.Bach Wir glauben all an einen Gott BWV 680
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Sam Nwokoro