Organ Music

George Dyson Variations on Love of the Father
Eugène Reuchsel La chartreuse de Montrieux au crépuscule

Introit

When I consider thy heavens

O Lord our Lord
How excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Who has set thy glory above the heavens.
When I consider the heavens
the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained.

Text: Psalm 8
Music: Stuart Murray-Mitchell

Processional Hymn

Father eternal, ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, by whom all things are made,
through the thick darkness covering every nation,
light to our blindness, come now to our aid:
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

Races and peoples, still we stand divided,
and, sharing not our griefs, no joy can share
by wars and tumults love is mocked, derided;
his conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear.

Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
nation by nation still goes unforgiven,
in wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven:

Lust of possession causes desolations;
meekness is honoured nowhere on the earth.
Led by no star, the rulers of the nations
still fail to bring us to the blissful birth:

How shall we love you, holy hidden Being,
if we love not the world which you have made?
Oh, give us purer love, for better seeing
your Word made flesh and in a manger laid:

Text: Laurence Houseman 1865-1959
Music: Old 124th CH4 261 Melody from French-Genevan Psalter 1551

Scripture Sentences

The Preces

O Lord open thou our lips

Andrew Carvel b.1989

Bidding

Prayer

Collect

Ever-present God, you never leave us. Help us to stay with you when we are tempted to flee, and keep us seeking after that which is true, that all may know that you are the Lord, our God, a tenacious presence in whatever our reality. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

First Lesson    Philippians 4 1-9

The Choir Sings Psalm 138

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Second Lesson    St Matthew 22 1-14

Hymn

Look upon us, blessèd Lord,
take our wandering thoughts and guide us:
we have come to hear your word:
with your teaching now provide us,
that, from earth's distractions turning,
we your message may be learning.

For your Spirit's radiance bright
we, assembled here, are hoping:
when we live without your light,
in the dark our souls are groping:
in word, deed, and thought direct us:
only you, Lord, can correct us.

Brightness of the Father's face,
Light of Light, from God proceeding,
make us ready in this place:
ear and heart await your leading.
In our study, prayers, and praising,
may our souls find their upraising.

Text: Tobias Clausnitzer 16-19-1684 Tr. R.A.S.Macalister 1870-1950
Tune: Liebster Jesu CH4 601 Melody by J.R.Ahle 1625-73

The Sermon

The Anthem

Lo! God is here!

Lo! God is here! let us adore.
O how amiable are thy dwellings: thou Lord of hosts!
Lo! God is here! let us adore.
and own how dreadful is this place!
My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord:
My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
Let all within us feel his power.
And silent bow,
Bow before his face.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
They will always be praising thee.
Who know his power, his grace who prove,
serve him with awe,
His rev’rence love.
Lo, God is here!
Him day and night
The united choirs of angels sing;
To him, enthron’d above all height,
Heav’ns host their noblest praises bring.
Disdain not, Lord, our meaner song,
Who praise thee with a stammering tongue.
Being of all beings!
May our praise thy courts with grateful fragrance fill.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer:
Hearken, O God of Jacob.
Still may we stand before thy face,
Still hear and do thy sov’reign will;
Behold, O God our defender:
And look upon the face of thine Anointed.
To thee may all our thoughts arise,
Ceaseless, accepted sacrifice.
O how amiable are thy dwellings: thou Lord of hosts!

Text: John Wesley (1739) from the German of G Tersteegen (1729) and Psalm 84 1,2,4,5,8,9,10
Music: Philip Moore b.1943

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

For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us forward into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned:
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span.

You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.

Text: Fred Kaan 1929-2009
Music: Triumph CH4 706 H.J.Gauntlett 1805-1876

Benediction

Organ Voluntary
Felix Mendelssohn Allegro con brio (Sonata IV in B flat)