St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
Epiphany Sunday
Sunday 7th January 2024
Organ Music
Maurice Duruflé Prélude sur l'introït de l’Épiphanie
Olivier Messiaen Les Mages
Introit
Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht
Break out, O beautiful light of morning,
and let the heavens dawn!
You shepherd folk, do not fear
because the angels tell you
that this weak baby boy
shall be our consolation and joy,
subdue Satan and bring peace at last!
Text: Johann Rist 1607-1667
Music: J.S.Bach 1685-1750
Processional Hymn
As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold,
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onwards, beaming bright;
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore be led to thee.
As with joyful steps they sped,
Saviour, to thy lowly bed,
there to bend the knee before
thee, whom heaven and earth adore;
so may we with willing feet
ever seek thy mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
at thy homely cradle bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure, and free from sin's alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.
Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way,
and, when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.
In the heavenly country bright
need they no created light;
thou its light, its joy, its crown,
thou its sun which goes not down;
there for ever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.
Text: William Chatterton Dix 1837-98
Music: Dix CH4 326 Conrad Kochner 1786-1872 adapted by W.H.Monk 1823-89
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
Richard Lloyd 1933-2021
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
God of every nation, by the light of a wondrous star you led the wandering magi to the infant Jesus, revealing to them your salvation for the world. In the miraculous and the mundane, in union with all who have glimpsed the light of your grace, lead us to Christ, that we may offer our worship and serve him with sincerity of heart; for he lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen
First Lesson Ephesians 3 1-12
The Choir sings the Psalm 29
Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Second Lesson St Matthew 2 1-12
Hymn
Wise men, they came to look for wisdom,
finding one wiser than they knew;
rich men, they met with one yet richer-
King of the kings, they knelt to you:
Jesus, our wisdom from above,
wealth and redemption, life and love.
Pilgrims they were, from unknown countries,
searching for one who knows the world;
lost are their names, and strange their journeys,
famed is their zeal to find the child:
Jesus, in you the lost are claimed,
aliens are found, and known, and named.
Magi, they stooped to see your splendour,
led by a star to light supreme;
promised Messiah, Lord eternal,
glory and peace are in your name.
Joy of each day, our Song by night,
shine on our path your holy light.
Guests of their God, they opened treasures,
incense and gold and solemn myrrh;
welcoming one too young to question
how came these gifts, and what they were.
Gift beyond price of gold or gem,
make among us your Bethlehem.
Text: Christopher M Idle b.1938
Tune: Neumark CH4 328 George Neumark 1621-1681 Harmonised John L Bell b. 1949
Sermon
Anthem
Three kings from Persian lands afar
Three Kings from Persian lands afar
to Jordan follow the pointing star:
and this the quest of the travellers three,
where the new-born King of the Jews may be.
Full royal gifts they bear for the King;
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
The star shines out with a steadfast ray;
the kings to Bethlehem make their way,
and there in worship they bend the knee,
as Mary’s child in her lap they see;
their royal gifts they show to the King;
gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.
Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem
the Kings are travelling, travel with them!
The star of mercy, the star of grace,
shall lead thy heart to its resting place.
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring;
offer thy heart to the infant King.
How brightly shines the morning star!
With grace and truth from heaven afar
our Jesse tree now bloweth.
Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line,
for thee, my Bridegroom, King divine,
my soul with love o’erfloweth.
Thy word, Jesu, inly feeds us,
rightly leads us, life bestowing.
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing
Text: Philipp Nicolai 1556-1608 Tr. H.N.Bate
Music: Peter Cornelius 1824-1874
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
Holy Spirit, gift bestower,
breathe into our hearts today.
Flowing water, dove that hovers,
Holy Spirit, guide our way.
Love inspirer, joy releaser,
Spirit, take our fears away.
Reconciler, peace restorer,
move among us while we pray.
Holy Spirit, Christ proclaimer,
wisdom bringer, light our way.
Fire that dances, wind that whispers,
Holy Spirit, come today.
Ease disturber, comfort bearer,
move among us while we pray.
Truth revealer, faith confirmer,
rest within our hearts today.
Text: Catherine Williams b.1965
Music: Hyfrydol CH4 445 Melody by Rowland Hugh Prichard 1811-87
Profession of Faith
The Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The Holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Baptism
Sung blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you:
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Confirmation
Hymn
Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
ye for whom a Corner stone
stands, of God elect and precious,
laid that ye may build thereon;
see that on that sure foundation
ye a living temple raise,
towers that may tell forth salvation,
walls that may re-echo praise.
Living stones, by God appointed
each to an allotted place,
kings and priests, by God anointed,
shall ye not declare his grace?
ye, a royal generation,
tell the tidings of your birth,
tidings of a new creation
to an old and weary earth.
Tell the praise of him who called you
out of darkness into light,
broke the fetters that enthralled you,
gave you freedom, peace and sight:
tell the tale of sins forgiven,
strength renewed and hope restored,
till the earth, in tune with heaven,
praise and magnify the Lord!
Text: Cyril Argentine Alington 1872-1955
Tune: Abbot’s Leigh CH4 642 Cyril Vincent Taylor 1907-1991
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
Gaston Litaize Épiphanie
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Sigrid Marten