St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
Transfiguration of our Lord
Sunday 18th February 2024
Organ Music
J.S.Bach Adagio e dolce (Sonata III) BWV 527
Louis Vierne Rêverie
Introit
Let thy merciful ears O Lord
Let thy merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of thy humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions,
make them to ask such things as shall please thee;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Music: Thomas Mudd c1560-c1632
Processional Hymn
Forty days and forty nights
thou wast fasting in the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled.
Sunbeams scorching day by day;
chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
prowling beasts about thy way;
stones thy pillow, earth thy bed.
Shall not we thy sorrows share,
learn thy discipline of will,
and, like thee by fast and prayer,
wrestle with the powers of ill?
And if Satan, vexing sore,
flesh and spirit shall assail?
thou, his vanquisher before,
wilt not suffer us to fail.
Watching, praying, struggling thus;
victory ours at last shall be;
angels minster to us
as they ministered to thee.
Text: George Smyttan 1822-70 and Francis Pott 1832-1909 (altered)
Tune: Aus der Tiefe (Heinlein) CH4 337
Melody from Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch 1676-7
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
Richard Ayleward 1626-1669
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin. Give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Lesson St Mark 1 9-15
The Choir sings the Psalm 25 1-10
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Second Lesson 1 Peter 3 18-22
Hymn
I bind my heart this tide
to the Galilean's side,
to the wounds of Calvary,
to the Christ who died for me.
I bind my soul this day
to the neighbour far away,
and the stranger near at hand,
in this town, and in this land.
I bind my heart and soul
to the God, the Lord of all,
to the God, the poor one's friend,
and the Christ whom he did send.
I bind myself to peace,
to make strife and envy cease.
My God, fasten sure the cord
of my service to the Lord!
Text: Lauchlan McLean Watt 1867-1957
Music: Union CH4 508 J.Randall Zercher b.1940
Sermon
Anthem
Turn Thee unto me, O Lord
Turn Thee unto me, O Lord: O Lord, have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and in misery.
The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles.
Look upon my adversity: and forgive me all my sin.
O keep my soul and deliver me: let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in Thee.
Text: Psalm 25 15-17, 19
Music: William Boyce 1711-1779
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
Jesus, tempted in the desert,
lonely, hungry, filled with dread:
'Use your power', the tempter tells him;
'turn these barren rocks to bread!'
'Not alone by bread', he answers,
'can the human heart be filled.
Only by the Word that calls us
is our deepest hunger stilled!'
Jesus, tempted at the temple,
high above its ancient wall:
'Throw yourself from lofty turret;
angels wait to break your fall!'
Jesus shuns such empty marvels,
feats that fickle crowds request:
'God, whose grace protects, preserves us,
we must never vainly test'.
Jesus, tempted on the mountain
by the lure of vast domain:
'Fall before me! Be my servant!
Glory, fame, you're sure to gain!'
Jesus sees the dazzling vision,
turns his eyes another way:
'God alone deserves our homage!
God alone will I obey'.
When we face temptation's power,
lonely, struggling, filled with dread,
Christ, who knew the tempter's hour,
come and be our living bread.
By your grace, protect, preserve us
lest we fall, your trust betray.
Yours, above all other voices,
be the Word we hear, obey.
Text: Herman G Stuempfle, Jr. 1923-2007
Music: Ebenezer CH4 338 Thomas John Williams 1869-1944
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
J.S.Bach Fugue in A minor BWV 543
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr Anne T Logan