St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
5th Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday 4th February 2024
Organ Music
Charles-Marie Widor Adagio (Symphonie III)
Jehan Alain Berceuse
Introit
We will rejoice in thy salvation
We will rejoice in the salvation,
and triumph in the name of the Lord our God;
the Lord perform all thy petitions.
Thou also shalt light my candle:
The Lord my God shall make my darkness to be light.
Text: Psalm 20: 5 Psalm 18: 28
Music: Bernard Rose 1916-96
Processional Hymn
God, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and, where the gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.
Saviour, who came to bring
on your redeeming wing
healing and sight,
health to the sick in mind,
sight to the inly blind,
now to all humankind
let there be light.
Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving, holy dove,
speed forth your flight;
move o'er the water's face,
bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth's darkest place
let there be light.
Blessed and holy Three,
glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might;
boundless as ocean's tide
rolling in fullest pride,
through the earth far and wide
let there be light.
Text: John Marriott 1780-1825
Tune: Moscow CH4 112 Melody by Felice de Giardini 1716-1796
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
Michael Walsh b.1948
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind: through Jesus Christ our Lord., who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
First Lesson 1 Corinthians 9 16-23
The Choir sings the Psalm 67
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us;
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Second Lesson St Mark 1 29-39
Hymn
O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored
when reached by love that never ends?
From every ailment flesh endures
our bodies clamour to be freed;
yet in our hearts we would confess
that wholeness is our deepest need.
How strong, O Lord, are our desires,
how weak our knowledge of ourselves!
Release in us those healing truths
unconscious pride resists or shelves.
In conflicts that destroy our health
we recognize the world's disease;
our common life declares our ills.
Is there no cure, O Christ, for these?
Grant that we all, made one in faith,
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach the whole of humankind.
Text: Frederick Pratt Green 1903-2000
Music: Angelus CH4 717 Melody by Georg Joseph in Heilige Seelenlust, Breslau 1657
Sermon
Anthem
Bless the Lord, O my soul
Ah, Bless the Lord, O my soul,
who coverest thyself with light as with a garment,
who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain,
who layest the beams of his chambers in the waters,
who maketh the clouds his chariot,
who walketh upon the wings of the wind,
who maketh his angels spirits, his ministers a flaming fire!
Text: Psalm 104 1-4
Music: Jonathan Dove 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
Art thou afraid his power shall fail
when comes thy evil day?
And can an all-creating arm
grow weary or decay?
Supreme in wisdom as in power
the Rock of ages stands;
though him thou canst not see, nor trace
the working of his hands.
He gives the conquest to the weak,
supports the fainting heart;
and courage in the evil hour
his heavenly aids impart.
Mere human power shall fast decay,
and youthful vigour cease;
but they who wait upon the Lord
in strength shall still increase.
They with unwearied feet shall tread
the path of life divine;
with growing ardour onward move,
with growing brightness shine.
On eagles' wings they mount, they soar,
their wings are faith and love,
till, past the cloudy regions here,
they rise to heaven above.
Text: Scottish Paraphrases 1781Isaiah 40 28-end
Music: Abridge (St Stephen ) CH4 190 Melody by Isaac Smith 1734-1805
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
Jean Langlais Dialogue sur les Mixtures
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte