St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 11am

4th Sunday in Advent

Sunday 24th December 2023

Organ Music

Edward Bairstow Prelude on Veni Emmanuel

Sigfrid Karg-Elert Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder

Introit

The Angel Gabriel

The angel Gabriel from heaven came, his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame: 'From God, all hail,' the angel said to Mary, 'most highly favoured lady!' Gloria!

Text: S Baring-Gould 1834-1924 from St Luke 1 26

Music: Basque carol arr. David Willcocks

Processional Hymn

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;

tender to me the promise of his word;

in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!

Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;

his mercy sure, from age to age the same;

his holy Name, the Lord, the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!

Powers and dominions lay their glory by.

Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,

the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!

Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord

to children's children and for evermore!

Text: Timothy Dudley-Smith b.1926 From Luke 1 46-55

Tune: Woodlands CH4 286 Walter Greatorex 1877-1949

Scripture Sentences

The Preces

O Lord open thou our lips

Humphrey Clucas b.1941

Bidding

Prayer

Collect

Heavenly Father, you chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour. Fill us with your grace, that in all things we may embrace your will, and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Lesson Romans 16 25-27

The Choir sings the Magnificat

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations.

He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

Second Lesson St Luke 1 26-38

Hymn

One day an angel here on this earth spoke of God's presence coming to birth. Mary was listening; humbly her heart sang at the Word God chose to impart.

Mary gave birth in Bethlehem's cave, blessed by the child God chose her to have. Love was the reason God had become close to his mother, far from her home.

Out in the fields a heavenly throng broke through the dark with resonant song. Shepherds, who saw God's glory by night, sped on their way to worship the Light.

Jesus, your Spirit, shining with care, speaks to the world you treasure and share. Come with the human touch of your birth; find in our hearts your home on this earth.

Text: Alison M. Robertson b.1940

Music: Step-Wise CH4 299 Alison M Robertson

Sermon

Anthem

Over the hills did Mary go

Over the hills did Mary go

In haste to greet Elizabeth

Whose babe within her womb did leap

Inspired then by the Holy Ghost

She named her mother of the Lord.

Then Mary with joy thus did sing:

My soul doth magnify,

My spirit in God rejoiceth

He is my Lord so fear thou Him;

He will always be merciful.

So shall we then remain at home?

Let us likewise go o’er the hills

There let us all as one receive

The greeting of the Holy Ghost

The will our hearts uplifted be

Our mouth shall thus faithfully sing:

My soul doth magnify,

My spirit in God rejoiceth

He is my Lord so fear thou Him;

He will always be merciful.

Music: Johannes Eccard 1553-1611

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

It came upon the midnight clear,

that glorious song of old,

from angels bending near the earth

to touch their harps of gold:

'Peace on the earth, good will to men

from heaven's all-gracious King!'

The world in solemn stillness lay

to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,

with peaceful wings unfurled;

and still their heavenly music floats

o'er all the weary world:

above its sad and lowly plains

they bend on hovering wing;

and ever o'er its Babel-sounds

the blessed angels sing.

But with the woes of sin and strife

the world has suffered long;

beneath the angels’ hymn have rolled

two thousand years of wrong;

and warring humankind hears not

the love-song which they bring:

oh, hush the noise and still the strife,

and hear the angels sing.

For lo, the days are hastening on,

by prophet-bards foretold,

when, with the ever-rolling years,

still dawns the Age of Gold;

when peace shall over all the earth

its ancient splendours fling,

and the whole world give back the song

which now the angels sing.

Text: Edmund Hamilton Sears 1810-76

Tune: Noel CH4 303 Traditional adapted by Arthur Sullivan 1842-1900

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

J.S.Bach Fugue on the Magnificat BWV 533

CCL Licence No 980930

Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Douglas A O Nicol