St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 9.30am

3rd Sunday in Advent

Sunday 17th December 2023

Organ Music

Samuel Scheidt Magnificat Primi toni

Nico Muhly O Emmanuel

Introit

O send out thy light and thy truth

O send out thy light and thy truth that they may lead me and bring unto thy holy hill and to thy dwelling

Text: Psalm 43 3

Music: George Thalben-Ball 1896-1987

Processional Hymn

Behold, the mountain of the Lord

in latter days shall rise,

on mountain-tops, above the hills,

and draw the wondering eyes.

To this the joyful nations round,

all tribes and tongues, shall flow;

up to the hill of God, they'll say,

and to his house, we'll go.

The beam that shines from Zion's hill

shall lighten every land;

the King who reigns in Salem's towers

shall all the world command.

Among the nations he shall judge;

his judgements truth shall guide;

his sceptre shall protect the just,

and quell the sinner's pride.

No strife shall rage, nor hostile feuds

disturb those peaceful years;

to ploughshares men shall beat their swords,

to pruning-hooks their spears.

No longer hosts, encountering hosts,

shall crowds of slain deplore;

they hang the trumpet in the hall,

and study war no more.

Come then, O house of Jacob! come

to worship at his shrine;

and, walking in the light of God,

with holy beauties shine.

Text: Scottish Paraphrases 1781 From Isaiah 2 2-5

Music: Glasgow CH4 715 Melody from Moore’s Psalm-Singer’s Pocket Companion 1756

Invitation

Confession

Eternal God, in this season of Advent we are reminded of your promises in Christ Jesus, your anointed One. Broken and distraught by war, our world yearns desperately for peace and healing. Gently remind us to steady our eyes on you with patience and trust until your glory is fully revealed among us through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kyrie Eleison sung by the Choir

Kyrie Eleison

Christe Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Missa O quam gloriosum Tomás Luis da Victoria

Declaration of forgiveness

Gloria patri sung by the choir (Tone ii)

First Lesson Isaiah 61 1-4, 8-11

Metrical Psalm

I waited for the Lord my God,

and patiently did bear;

at length to me he did incline,

my voice and cry to hear.

He took me from a fearful pit

and from the miry clay,

and on a rock he set my feet,

establishing my way.

He put a new song in my mouth,

our God to magnify:

many shall see it, and shall fear,

and on the Lord rely.

O blessèd are all they whose trust

upon the Lord relies,

respecting not the proud, nor such

as turn aside to lies.

Text: Psalm 40 1-4 Scottish Psalter 1929

Tune: Ballerma CH4 30 François Hyppolyte Barthélémon (1741-1808) Adapted by Robert Simpson (1790-1832)

The Gospel St John 1 6-8, 19-20

The Sermon

The Apostles’ 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.

The Offering

The Intercessions

Gloria in Excelsis sung by the choir

Glory be to God on high, and in earth peace, goodwill towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Missa O quam gloriosum Tomás Luis da Victoria

Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you

And also with you

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give our thanks and praise

Prayer

Sanctus

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God of Hosts,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Glory be to you, O Lord Most High.

Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord:

Hosanna in the highest.

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.

Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world,

Have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world,

Have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world,

Grant us your peace.

Holy Communion

During Communion the Choir sings

Thou shalt know him when he comes

Thou shalt know Him when he comes not by any din of drums,

Nor his manners nor his airs, nor by anything he wears.

Thou shalt know him when he comes, not by his crown or by his gown, But his coming known shall be by the holy harmony which his coming makes in thee.

Thou shalt know him when he comes. Amen.

Music: Mark Sirrett b.1952

Prayer

Hymn

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry

announces that the Lord is nigh;

awake and hearken, for he brings

glad tidings of the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every heart from sin;

make straight the way for God within,

prepare we in our hearts a home

where such a mighty Guest may come.

For you art our salvation, Lord,

our refuge, and our great reward;

without your grace we waste away

like flowers that wither and decay.

Stretch out your hand, to heal our sore,

and make us rise to fall no more;

once more upon your people shine,

and fill the world with love divine.

All praise to you, eternal Son,

whose advent has our freedom won,

whom with the Father we adore,

and Holy Spirit, evermore.

Text: Charles Coffin 1676-1749 Tr. John Chandler 1806-76 and others

Tune: Winchester New (Crasselius) CH4 334 Adapted from a melody in Musikalisches Hand-Buch Hamburg 1690

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Edward Bairstow Prelude in C

CCL Licence No 980930

Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Sam Nwokoro