St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 9.30am
5th Sunday in Lent
Sunday 17th March 2024
Organ Music
Herbert Howells Prelude De profundis
Introit
Fear not, I am the first and the last
Fear not, I am the first and the last:
I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and behold I am alive for evermore
Text: Revelation 1 17-18
Music: Gwilym Beechey 1938-2015
Processional Hymn
'Lift up your hearts': I hear the summons calling
forth from the heavenly altar where he stands-
our great High Priest, the Father's love revealing,
in priestly act, with pleading outspread hands.
'Lift up your hearts': with hearts' to heaven soaring
the church exulting makes her glad reply-
'We lift them up unto the Lord', adoring;
our God and thine, through thee, we glorify.
'Lift up your hearts': alas, O Lord, I cannot
lift up aright my burdened heart to thee;
thou knowest, Lord, the cares that weigh upon it,
the chains that bind it struggling to be free.
O Love divine! thy promise comes to cheer me,
O Voice of pity! blessing and thrice blest-
'Come unto me, ye laden hearts and weary;
take up my yoke, and learn: I pledge you rest'.
I dare not waver by such grace invited,
I yield my heart, dear Lord: I close the strife.
Lift thou my heart until, with thine united,
I taste anew the joy of endless life.
Text: John MacLeod 1840-98
Music: Highwood CH4 246 R.R.Terry 1865-1938
Invitation
Confession
Holy God, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our fellow men and women, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have belittled your love, and betrayed your trust. We are sorry, we are ashamed, we repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past, and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light.
Kyrie Eleison sung by the Choir
Kyrie Eleison
Christe Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
Mass for Four Voices William Byrd
Declaration of forgiveness
Gloria patri sung by the choir (Tonus Peregrinus)
First Lesson Hebrews 5 5-10
Metrical Psalm
O God be gracious to me in your love,
and in your mercy pardon my misdeed;
wash me from guilt and cleanse me from my sin,
for well I know the evil I have done.
Against you, Lord, you only have I sinned,
and what to you is hateful have I done;
I own your righteousness in charging me,
I know you to be just should you condemn.
Take hyssop, sprinkle me and make me clean,
wash me and make me whiter than the snow;
fill me with gladness and rejoicing, Lord,
and let my broken frame know joy once more.
Turn now your face, Lord God, from my misdeeds,
and blot out all the sins that sully me;
create a clean and contrite heart in me,
renew my soul in faithfulness and love.
Drive me not from your presence, gracious Lord,
nor keep your Holy Spirit far from me;
restore my soul with your salvation’s joy,
And with a willing spirit strengthen me.
Text: Psalm 51 1-12 Ian Robertson Pitt-Watson 1923-1995
Music: Ellers CH4 221 E.J.Hopkins 1818-1901
The Gospel St John 12 20-33
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.
Mass for Four Voices William Byrd
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
Agnus Dei
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.
Music: William Byrd c1540-1623
Prayer
Hymn
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve you to the end;
be now and always near me,
my master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle
if you are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if you will be my guide.
O let me feel you near me:
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me, and within;
but, Jesus, draw still nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear you speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
true guardian of my soul.
O Jesus, you have promised
to all who follow you,
that where you are in glory
your servant shall be too;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve you to the end:
now give me grace to follow,
my master and my Friend.
Text: John Ernest Bode 1816-74
Music: Thornbury CH4 644 (i) Basil Harwood 1859-1949
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
Herbert Howells Psalm Prelude Set 2 No 1
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte