St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 9.30am

2nd Sunday in Advent

Sunday 10th December 2023

Organ Music

J.S.Bach Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 645

Alec Rowley Fantasia on Veni Emmanuel

Introit

People look east

People, look east. The time is near Of the crowning of the year. Make your house fair as you are able, Trim the hearth and set the table. People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way.

Text: Eleanor Farjeon 1881-1965

Music: Besançon melody

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

Invitation

Confession

Almighty God, long-suffering and of great goodness: I confess with my whole heart my neglect and forgetfulness of your commandments, my wrong doing, thinking and speaking; the hurts I have done to others; and the good I have left undone. O God, forgive me, for I have sinned against you; and raise me to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Kyrie Eleison sung by the Choir

Kyrie Eleison

Christe Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Missa Aeterna Christi munera Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Declaration of forgiveness

Gloria patri sung by the choir (Tone iii)

First Lesson Isaiah 40 1-11

Metrical Psalm

Lord, thine heart in love hath yearned on thy lost and fallen land;

Israel's race is homeward turned, thou hast freed thy captive band:

Thou hast borne thy people's sin, covered all their deeds of ill; all thy wrath is gathered in, and thy burning anger still.

Wilt thou not in mercy turn? Turn, and be our life again, that thy people's heart may burn with the gladness of thy reign.

Show us now thy tender love; thy salvation, Lord, impart; I the voice divine would prove, listening in my silent heart:

Listening what the Lord will say- 'Peace' to all that own his will: to his saints that love his way, 'Peace', and 'turn no more to ill'.

Text: Scottish Psalter 1929

Music: Aus der Tiefe (Heinlein) Melody from Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch 1676-7

The Gospel St Mark 1 1-8

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 Aeterna Christi munera Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

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: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina c1525-1594

Prayer

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

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Sigfrid Karg-Elert Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

CCL Licence No 980930

Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte