St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
Ascension Sunday
12th May 2024
Organ Music
Olivier Messiaen Prière du Christ montant vers son Père
Introit
Coelos ascendit hodie
Today into the heavens has ascended
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, Alleluia!
He sits at the Father's right hand,
and rules heaven and earth, Alleluia!
Now have been fulfilled all of
Father David's songs,
Now God is with God, Alleluia!
He sits upon the royal throne of God,
in this his greatest triumph, Alleluia!
Let us bless the Lord:
Let the Holy Trinity be praised,
let us give thanks to the Lord,
Alleluia! Amen.
Music: C.V.Stanford 1852-1924
Processional Hymn
Christ triumphant ever reigning,
Saviour, Master, King!
Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,
hear us as we sing:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name.
Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
power and majesty concealing
by your humble birth:
Suffering servant, scorned, ill-treated,
victim crucified!
death is through the cross defeated,
sinners justified:
Priestly king, enthroned for ever
high in heaven above!
sin and death and hell shall never
stifle hymns of love:
So, our hearts and voices raising
through the ages long,
ceaselessly upon you gazing,
this shall be our song:
Text: Michael Saward 1932-2015
Music: Guiting Power CH4 436 John Barnard b.1948
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
John Sanders 1933-2003
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph, fill your Church on earth with power and compassion, that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace, to the glory of God the Father.
First Lesson 1 Corinthians 13 1-13
The Choir sings PSALM 1
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Second Lesson St Luke 24 44-53
Hymn
As a fire is meant for burning
with a bright and warming flame,
so the church is meant for mission,
giving glory to God's name.
Not to preach our creeds or customs,
but to build a bridge of care,
we join hands across the nations,
finding neighbours ev'rywhere.
We are learners; we are teachers;
we are pilgrims on the way.
We are seekers; we are givers;
we are vessels made of clay.
By our gentle, loving actions,
we would show that Christ is light.
In a humble, list'ning Spirit,
we would live to God's delight.
As a green bud in the springtime
is a sign of life renewed,
so may we be signs of oneness
'mid earth's peoples, many hued.
As a rainbow lights the heavens
when a storm is past and gone,
may our lives reflect the radiance
of God's new and glorious dawn.
Text: Ruth C. Duck b.1947
Music: Beach Spring CH4 252 American Traditional
Sermon
Anthem
God is gone up
God is gone up with a triumphant shout:
The Lord with sounding Trumpets' melodies:
Sing Praise, sing Praise, sing Praise, sing Praises out,
Unto our King sing praise seraphicwise!
Lift up your Heads, ye lasting Doors, they sing,
And let the King of Glory enter in.
Methinks I see Heaven's sparkling courtiers fly,
In flakes of Glory down him to attend,
And hear Heart-cramping notes of Melody
Surround his Chariot as it did ascend;
Mixing their Music, making ev'ry string
More to enravish as they this tune sing.
Text: Edward Taylor 1646-1749
Music: Gerald Finzi 1901-1956
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
The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor's brow.
The highest place that heaven affords
is his, is his by right:
the King of kings, and Lord of lords,
and heaven's eternal light.
The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love
and grants his Name to know:
To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is given;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heaven.
They suffer with their Lord below;
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the mystery of his love.
The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people's hope, his people's wealth,
their everlasting theme.
Text: Thomas Kelly 1769-1854
Music: St Magnus CH4 438 Melody and bass probably by Jeremiah Clarke
c1673-1707
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
J.S.Bach Prelude in G major BWV 541
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr Anne T Logan