Organ Music 

Edward Bairstow Prelude on Veni Emmanuel 

Max Reger Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten 

Jeanne Demessieux Rorate coeli 

Introit 

A tender shoot 

A tender shoot has started up from a root of grace, 
as ancient seers imparted from Jesse’s holy race: 
it blooms without a blight, 
blooms in the cold bleak winter, 
turning our darkness into light. 

Text: William Bartholomew 1793-1867 

Music: Otto Goldschmidt 1829-1907 

Processional Hymn 

Hail to the Lord's Anointed, 

great David's greater Son! 

Hail, in the time appointed, 

his reign on earth begun! 

He comes to break oppression, 

to set the captive free, 

to take away transgression, 

and rule in equity. 

He comes, with succour speedy, 

to those who suffer wrong; 

to help the poor and needy, 

and bid the weak be strong; 

to give them songs for sighing, 

their darkness turn to light, 

whose souls, condemned and dying, 

were precious in his sight. 

He shall come down like showers 

upon the fruitful earth; 

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, 

spring in his path to birth. 

Before him, on the mountains, 

shall peace the herald go; 

and righteousness, in fountains, 

from hill to valley flow. 

For him shall prayer unceasing 

and daily vows ascend, 

his kingdom still increasing, 

a kingdom without end. 

The mountain dews shall nourish 

a seed, in weakness sown, 

whose fruit shall spread and flourish 

and shake like Lebanon. 

O'er every foe victorious, 

he on his throne shall rest; 

from age to age more glorious, 

all-blessing and all-blest. 

The tide of time shall never 

his covenant remove; 

his name shall stand for ever, 

his changeless name of Love. 

Text: James Montgomery 1771-1854 from Psalm 72 

Tune: Crüger CH3 267 Melody in Crüger’s Gesangbuch Adapted by W.H.Monk 1823-1889 

Scripture Sentences 

The Preces 

O Lord open thou our lips 

Thomas Morley 1557-1602 

Bidding 

Prayer 

Collect 

Almighty God, you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah. Inspire the ministers and stewards of your Word, that turning our hearts to you, we may stand with confidence before your glory when Christ shall come again to be our judge; Who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. 

First Lesson Isaiah 40  1-11 

The Choir sings PSALM 80  1-2, 9-19 

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. 

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. 

Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 

The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 

She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. 

Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? 

The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. 

Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 

And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. 

So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. 

Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 

Second Lesson St Luke 1  5-19 

Hymn 

Comfort, comfort now my people, 
speak of peace so says your God. 
Comfort those who sit in darkness, 
burdened by a heavy load. 
To Jerusalem proclaim: 
God shall take away your shame. 
Now get ready to recover; 

guilt and suffering are over. 
 

Hear the herald’s proclamation 
in the desert far and near, 
calling all to true repentance, 
telling that the Lord is near. 
Oh, that warning cry obey! 
For your God prepare a way. 
Let the valleys rise to greet him 
and the hills bow down to meet him. 
 

Straighten out what has been crookèd, 
make the roughest places plain. 
Let your hearts be true and humble, 
live as fits God’s holy reign. 
Soon the glory of the Lord 
shall on earth be shed abroad. 
All the world shall surely see it, 
God is ready to decree it. 
 

Text: Johannes Olearius 1611-84 Tr. Catherine Winkworth 1827-78 Revised John L Bell b.1949 

Music: Genevan 42 CH4 274 Melody by Louis Bourgeois c1510-61 

Sermon 

Anthem 

Rorate coeli desuper 

Drop down ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: Let the earth open and bring forth a Saviour. 
Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Music: William Byrd c1540-1623 

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  

Hark, a thrilling voice is sounding; 
'Christ is nigh,' it seems to say; 
'cast away the dreams of darkness, 
O ye children of the day.' 
 

Wakened by the solemn warning, 
let the earth-bound soul arise; 
Christ, her sun, all ill dispelling, 
shines upon the morning skies. 
 

Lo, the Lamb, so long expected, 
comes with pardon down from heaven; 
let us haste, with tears of sorrow, 
one and all to be forgiven; 
 

That, when next he comes with glory, 
and the world is wrapped in fear, 
with his mercy he may shield us, 
and with words of love draw near. 
 

Honour, glory, might, and blessing 
to the Father and the Son, 
with the everlasting Spirit 
while eternal ages run. 
 

Text: From the Latin Tr. Edward Caswall 1814-1878 

Music: Merton W.H.Monk 1823-1889 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

J.S.Bach Fugue in D minor BWV 539 

CCL Licence No 980930 

Streaming Licence 57837 

The service was conducted by The Rev. Dr Sam Nwokoro