St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 9.30am

1st Sunday after Christmas

Sunday 31st December 2023

Organ Music

Herbert Sumsion Prelude on The Holly and the Ivy

Sigfrid Karg-Elert Noël

Introit

Psallite unigenito

Sing your psalms to Christ,
the only begotten Son of God,
sing your psalms to the Redeemer.

A small Child lies in the manger.
All the blessed angels serve Him and sing to Him.

Music: Michael Praetorius 1571-1621

Processional Hymn

Of the Father's love begotten

ere the worlds began to be,

he is Alpha and Omega,

he the source, the ending he,

of the things that are, that have been,

and that future years shall see,

evermore and evermore.

O that birth for ever blessèd!

when the Virgin, full of grace,

by the Spirit’s power conceiving,

bore the Saviour of our race,

and the Babe, the world's Redeemer,

first revealed his sacred face,

evermore and evermore.

This is he whom seers and sages

sang of old with one accord;

whom the voices of the prophets

promised in their faithful word;

now he shines, the long-expected:

let creation praise its Lord,

evermore and evermore.

All the heights of heaven, adore him;

angel-hosts, his praises sing;

powers, dominions, bow before him,

and extol our God and King:

let no tongue on earth be silent,

every voice in concert ring,

evermore and evermore.

Christ, to thee, with God the Father,

and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,

hymn and chant and high thanksgiving

and unwearied praises be.

honour, glory, and dominion,

and eternal victory,

evermore and evermore.

Text: Prudentius 348-c.413 Tr. J.M.Neale 1818-66 and H.W.Baker 1821-77

Tune: Corde natus CH4 319 Piae Cantiones 1582

Invitation

Confession

Merciful God, we confess that we have not lived as your faithful children. We have kept silence in the midst of prejudice and hatred. We have been idle in the face of violence and injustice. We have not been a light to the nations, and our lives have not revealed your glory. Forgive us, merciful God, repair the ugliness of our sin and restore in us your beautiful grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Kyrie Eleison sung by the Choir

Kyrie Eleison

Christe Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Missa brevis Grayston Ives

Declaration of forgiveness

Gloria patri sung by the choir (Ridout)

First Lesson                  Galatians 4  4-7

Metrical Psalm

The Lord of heaven confess;
on high his glory raise.
Him let all angels bless,
him all his armies praise.
Him glorify
sun, moon, and stars;
ye higher spheres,
and cloudy sky.

From God your beings are,
him therefore famous make;
you all created were,
when he the word but spake.
And from that place,
where fixed you be
by his decree,
you cannot pass.

Oh, let God's name be praised
above both earth and sky;
for he his saints hath raised,
and set their horn on high;
even those that be
of Israel's race,
near to his grace.
The Lord praise ye.

Text: George Wither 1588-1667 From Psalm 148

Tune: St John CH4 104 Perhaps by W.H.Havergal 1793-1870

The Gospel St Luke 2  22-40

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 brevis Grayston Ives

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

In the bleak midwinter

In the bleak mid-winter,

frosty wind made moan,

earth stood hard as iron,

water like a stone;

snow had fallen, snow on snow,

snow on snow,

in the bleak mid-winter,

long ago.

Music: Harold Darke 1888-1976

Prayer

Hymn

Child in the manger, infant of Mary;

outcast and stranger, Lord of all!

Child who inherits all our transgressions,

all our demerits on him fall.

Once the most holy child of salvation

gently and lowly lived below;

now, as our glorious mighty Redeemer,

see him victorious o'er each foe.

Prophets foretold him, infant of wonder;

angels behold him on his throne;

worthy our Saviour of all their praises;

happy for ever are his own.

Text: Mary Macdonald 1817-c1890

Music: Bunessan CH4 314 Gaelic Melody

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Nicolas Séjan Noël Suisse

CCL Licence No 980930

  Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Sigrid Marten