Organ Music
J.S.Bach Canzona BWV 588
Sigfrid Karg-Elert Saluto angelico

Introit

Blessed is the man

Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor stood in the way of sinners: and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord:
and in his law will he exercise himself day and night

Text: Psalm 1: 1-2
Music: Noel de Jongh b.1930

Processional Hymn

Great God of every shining constellation
that wheels in splendour through the midnight sky;
grant us your Spirit's true illumination
to read the secrets of your work on high.

You, Lord, have made the atom's hidden forces;
your laws its mighty energies fulfil;
teach us, to whom you give such rich resources,
in all we use, to serve your holy will.

True life, awaking life in cell and tissue,
from flower to bird, from beast to humankind;
help us to trace, from birth to final issue,
the sure unfolding purpose of your mind.

You, Lord, have stamped your image on your creatures,
And, though we mar that image, love us still;
lift up our eyes to Christ, that in his features
we may discern the beauty of your will.

Lord of creation, shaping and renewing,
at work in nature and humanity;
help us to tread, with grace our souls enduing,
the road to life and immortality.

Text: Albert Frederick Bayly 1901-1984
Music: Highwood CH4 246 R.R.Terry 1865-1938

Scripture Sentences

The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips

John Reading 1685-1764

Bidding

Prayer

Collect

Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us your gift of faith, that forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to what is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Lesson     Exodus 33 12-23

The Choir sings Psalm 99

The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.

Second Lesson       St Matthew 22 15-22

Hymn

Bring many names, beautiful and good,
celebrate, in parable and story,
holiness in glory,
living, loving God.
Hail and Hosanna!
bring many names!

Strong mother God, working night and day,
planning all the wonders of creation,
setting each equation,
genius at play:
Hail and Hosanna,
strong mother God!

Warm father God, hugging every child,
feeling all the strains of human living,
caring and forgiving
till we're reconciled:
Hail and Hosanna,
warm father God!

Old, aching God, grey with endless care,
calmly piercing evil's new disguises,
glad of good surprises,
wiser than despair:
Hail and Hosanna,
old, aching God!

Young, growing God, eager, on the move,
saying no to falsehood and unkindness,
crying out for justice,
giving all you have:
Hail and Hosanna,
young, growing God!

Great, living God, never fully known,
joyful darkness far beyond our seeing,
closer yet than breathing,
everlasting home:
Hail and Hosanna,
great, living God!

Text: Brian Wren b.1936
Tune: Westchase CH4 124 Carlton (Sam) Raymond Young 1926-2023

The Sermon

The Anthem

Wenn ein starker gewappneter

When a strong armed man guards his palace
His property will remain in peace
But any kingdom that is divided amongst itself
Will be laid waste
and one house will fall upon another...
When a strong armed man guards his palace
His property will remain in peace

Text: St Luke 11 22, 17b
Music: Johannes Brahms 1933-1897

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

O God, we bear the imprint of your face:
the colours of our skin are your design,
and what we have of beauty in our race
as man or woman, you alone define,
who stretched a living fabric on our frame
and gave to each a language and a name.

Where we are torn and pulled apart by hate
because our race, our skin is not the same,
while we are judged unequal by the state
and victims made because we own our name,
humanity reduced to little worth,
dishonoured is your living face on earth.

O God, we share the image of your Son
whose flesh and blood are ours, whatever skin,
in his humanity we find our own,
and in his family our proper kin:
Christ is the brother we still crucify,
his love the language we must learn, or die.

Text: Shirley Elena Murray 1931-2020
Music: Song 1 CH4 254 Melody and most of the bass by Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Eugène Gigout Toccata