St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 11am

The Festival of St Andrew the Apostle Patron of Scotland

1st Sunday in Advent

3rd December 2023

The service is attended by the Order of the Thistle and these representatives:

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland

The Robert Burns World Federation

The Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland

St Andrew’s First Aid

The Girls’ Brigade Scotland

The Boys’ Brigade Scotland

Girlguiding Edinburgh

Edinburgh Napier University

Queen Margaret University

The University of Edinburgh

The Order of St John Scotland

The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland

The Grand Lodge of Scotland

War Widows’ Association of Great Britain

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Royal British Legion Scotland

Governor of Edinburgh Castle

Air Officer Scotland

General Officer Scotland

Navy Regional Commander for S&NI

The Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland

The Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet

The Faculty of Advocates

The Senators of the College of Justice

The Incorporation of Candlemakers
The Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers
The Incorporation of Cordiners
The Incorporation of Baxters
The Incorporation of Hammermen

The Incorporation and Royal College of Surgeons
Deacon Convener of Trades

Lord Dean of Guild

The City of Edinburgh Council

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh

The Scottish Parliament

Organ Music

John Ireland Alla Marcia

C.V.Stanford Benedictus (Sonata Britannica)

Alec Rowley Meditation on Conditor alme

The procession of the Order of the Thistle will move to the Sanctuary

The Choir will sing Psalm 122

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.

For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

Welcome and Bidding

Hymn

Jesus calls us: o'er the tumult

of our life's wild restless sea

day by day his voice is sounding,

saying, 'Christian, follow me;'

As, of old, Saint Andrew heard it

by the Galilean lake,

turned from home and toil and  kindred,

leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship

of the vain world's golden store,

from each idol that would keep us,

saying, 'Christian, love me more.'

In our joys and in our sorrows,

days of toil and hours of ease,

still he calls, in cares and pleasures,

'Christian, love me more than these.'

Jesus calls us! by your mercy,

Saviour, make us hear your call,

give our hearts to your obedience,

serve and love you best of all.

Text: Cecil Frances Alexander 1818-95 (altered)

Music: St Andrew  CH4 509 Edward Henry Thorne 1834-1916

All remain standing for the Call to Prayer

Prayer

Collect

Almighty God, you gave such grace to your apostle Saint Andrew that he readily obeyed the calling of your Son Jesus Christ and followed him without delay, bringing his brother with him. Grant us the same spirit of cheerful obedience, that we may give ourselves willingly to share in the witness of your Church to the whole world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson               Isaiah 49  1-7

Read by Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich OBE VR
The Governor of Edinburgh Castle 

Second Lesson           Philippians 2  12-18

Read by David McGill, Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament 

The Choir sings Jubilate Deo

O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands :

serve the Lord with gladness,

and come before his presence with a song.

Be ye sure that the Lord he is God :

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise :

be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.

For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting :

and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

Text: Psalm 100

Music:  William Walton 1902-1983

Third Lesson St John 1  35-42

Read by Lord Smith of Kelvin, KT, CH
The Order of the Thistle

Hymn

Sing of Andrew, John's disciple,
led by faith through ways untrod,
till the Baptist cried at Jordan,
'There behold the Lamb of God.'
Stirred by hearing this new teacher,
Andrew, freed from doubt and fear,
ran to tell his brother Simon,
'God's Anointed One is here!'

Sing of Andrew, called by Jesus
from the shores of Galilee,
leaving boats and nets and kindred,
trusting in that 'Follow me.'
When a lad's small meal fed thousands,
when inquiring Greeks found care,
when the Spirit came in blessing,
Andrew faithfully was there.

Sing of Andrew, bold apostle,
sent to make the gospel known,
faithful to his Lord's example,
called to make a cross his own.
So may we who prize his memory
honour Christ in our own day,
bearing witness to our neighbours,
living what we sing and pray.

Text: Carl P Daw Jr. b.1944

Music: Hyfrydol CH4 445 Melody by Rowland Hugh Prichard 1811-87

Sermon

Anthem

The heavens are telling

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
the wonder of his work displays the firmament.
To-day that is coming, speaks it the day,
the night that is gone, to following night.
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
the wonder of his work displays the firmament.
In all the lands resounds the word,
never unperceived, ever understood.
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
the wonder of his work displays the firmament.

Text: Psalm 19  1

Music: Franz Joseph Haydn 1732-1809

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

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
Christ, the Lamb, for sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
join to sing the glad refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.

Those deep wounds of cross and passion
still his glorious body bears;
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
See! the day of God appears.

Yea, amen, let all adore you,
high on your eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for your own:
oh, come quickly, oh, come quickly, oh, come quickly
Alleluia! come, Lord, come!

Text: Charles Wesley 1707-88 Based on a hymn by John Cennick 1718-1755

Music: Helmsley CH4 477 Melody from John Wesley Select Hymns 1765

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Louis Vierne Final (Symphonie II)

CCL Licence No 980930

Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte

The preacher was The Very Rev Prof David Fergusson Dean of the Thistle