Organ Music 

Charles Quef Noël Maconnais 

Percy Whitlock Carol 

Introit 

Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier J S Bach (1685-1750) 

(from Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248) 

Processional Hymn 

We know that Christ is raised and dies no more.  
Embraced by death, he broke its fearful hold,  
and our despair he turned to blazing joy.  
Alleluia! 

We share by water in his saving death.  
Reborn, we share with him an Easter life  
as living members of a living Christ.  
Alleluia! 

The God of splendour clothes the Son with life.  
The spirit's fission shakes the church of God.  
Baptized, we live with God the Three in One.  
Alleluia! 

A new creation comes to life and grows  

as Christ's new body takes on flesh and blood.  
The universe restored and whole will sing:  
Alleluia! 

Text: John Brownlow Geyer b.1932 

Music: Engelberg CH4 635, C.V.Stanford 1852-1924 

Scripture Sentences 

The Preces 

O Lord, open thou our lips 

Richard Ayleward (1626-69) 

Bidding 

Prayer 

Collect 

Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and anointed him with the Holy Spirit, Keep all who are born of water and the Spirit faithful to their calling as your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

First Lesson Acts 8:14-17 

The Choir sings Psalm 29 

Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.  

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.  

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.  

The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.  

He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.  

The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.  

The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.  

The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.  

The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.  

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.  

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. 

Second Lesson Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 

Hymn 

For your gift of God the Spirit,  

with us, in us, always true,  

pledge of life and hope of glory,  

Saviour, we would worship you. 

He who in creation’s dawning  

brooded o’er the pathless deep,  

still across our nature’s darkness  

moves to wake our souls from sleep. 

He it is, the living author,  

wakes to life the sacred word,  

reads with us the Bible story  

and reveals our risen Lord. 

He it is who works within us,  

teaching rebel hearts to pray;  

he whose fervent intercessions  

rise for us both night and day. 

Fill us with your grace and goodness,  

God the Father, Spirit, Son;  

in us, through us, now and always,  

may your perfect will be done. 

Text: Edith Margaret Clarkson  

(1915-2008) 

Music: Laus Deo CH4 139 Richard Redhead 1820-1901 

Sermon The Rev. Dr George J. Whyte 

Anthem 

When Jesus, our Lord (from Christus) 

When Jesus, our Lord, was born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judea; behold, from the east to the city of Jerusalem there came wise men and said:  

Say, where is he born, the king of Judea? For we have seen his star, and are come to adore him.  

There shall a star from Jacob come forth and a Sceptre from Israel rise up and dash in pieces princes and nations.  

How brightly beams the morning star!  
With sudden radiance from afar  
With light and comfort glowing!  
Thy Word, Jesus, inly feeds us,  
Rightly leads us,  
Life bestowing.  
Praise, oh praise such love o’erflowing. 

Music: Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) 

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  

Behold the amazing gift of love  

the Father hath bestowed  

on us, in calling us his own,  

the children of our God. 
 

Concealed as yet this honour lies,  

by this dark world unknown,  

a world that knew not when he came,  

e’en God’s eternal Son. 
 

High is the rank we now possess;  

but higher we shall rise,  

though what we shall hereafter be  

is hid from mortal eyes. 
 

Our souls, we know,   

          when he appears,  

shall bear his image bright;  

for all his glory, full disclosed,  

shall open to our sight. 

A hope so great and so divine  

may trials well endure;  

and purge the soul from sense and sin,  

as Christ himself is pure. 
 

Text: Scottish Paraphrases, 1781, 1 John 3: 1-3 

Tune: Newington, William Jones 1726-1800 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

Praeludium in G BWV 568 J S Bach (1685-1750) 

CCL Licence No 980930 

Streaming Licence 57837 

The service was conducted by The Rev. Dr George J. Whyte