Organ Music 

Charles Tournemire Immaculata Conceptio Mariae Virginis 

Marcel Dupré Magnificat V 

Introit 

Jesus Christ the apple tree 

The tree of life my soul hath seen, 
Laden with fruit and always green: 
The trees of nature fruitless be 
Compared with Christ the apple tree. 

His beauty doth all things excel: 
By faith I know, but ne'er can tell 
The glory which I now can see 
In Jesus Christ the apple tree. 

This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, 
It keeps my dying faith alive; 
Which makes my soul in haste to be 
With Jesus Christ the apple tree. 

Text: Divine Hymns or Spiritual Songs, compiled by Joshua Smith, New Hampshire, 1784 

Music: Elizabeth Poston 1905-1987 

Processional Hymn 

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry 

announces that the Lord is nigh; 

awake and hearken, for he brings 

glad tidings of the King of kings! 

Then cleansed be every heart from sin; 

make straight the way for God within, 

prepare we in our hearts a home 

where such a mighty Guest may come. 

For you art our salvation, Lord, 

our refuge, and our great reward; 

without your grace we waste away 

like flowers that wither and decay. 

Stretch out your hand, to heal our sore, 

and make us rise to fall no more; 

once more upon your people shine, 

and fill the world with love divine. 

All praise to you, eternal Son, 

whose advent has our freedom won, 

whom with the Father we adore, 

and Holy Spirit, evermore. 

Text: Charles Coffin 1676-1749 Tr. John Chandler 1806-76 and others 

Tune: Winchester New (Crasselius) CH4 334 Adapted from a melody in  Musikalisches Hand-Buch Hamburg 1690 

Scripture Sentences 

The Preces 

O Lord open thou our lips 

Alan Ridout 1934-1996 

Bidding 

Prayer 

Collect 

God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

First Lesson Isaiah 12  2-6 

The Choir sings the BENEDICTUS 

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited, and redeemed his people; 

And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his servant David; 

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy Prophets: which have been since the world began; 

That we should be saved from our enemies: and from the hands of all that hate us; 

To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers: and to remember his holy Covenant; 

To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham: that he would give us; 

That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies: might serve him without fear; 

In holiness and righteousness before him: all the days of our life. 

And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people: for the remission of their sins, 

Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us; 

To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace. 

Second Lesson St Luke 3  7-18 

Hymn 

God of hosts, you chose a vine 
meant to bear the finest wine, 
set it in a promised land, 
nurtured by your careful hand: 
 

Like a cedar, it grew strong- 
deep its roots, its tendrils long; 
yet, in envy those around 
stripped its branches to the ground. 
 

Desolate, to God we cry: 
'Spare us from the enemy!' 
God of hosts, turn back again, 
all such wickedness restrain: 
 

Turn us too, for we have failed, 
faithfulness has not prevailed; 
visit, Lord, and heal your vine, 
on its fruit let glory shine! 

Text: From Psalm 80 David Mowbray b.1938 

Tune: St Bees CH3 51  J.B.Dykes 1823-1876 

Sermon 

Anthem 

Virga Jesse floruit 

The rod of Jesse hath blossomed: 
a Virgin hath brought forth God and man: 
God hath restored peace, 
reconciling in Himself the lowest with the highest. 
Alleluia. 

Music: Anton Bruckner 1824-1896 

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 voice of God goes out to all the world: 
his glory speaks across the universe. 
The Great King's herald cries from star to star; 
with pow'r with justice, he will walk his way.  
 

The Lord has said: Receive my messenger, 
my promise to the world, my pledge made flesh, 
a lamp to every nation, light from light: 
with pow'r with justice, he will walk his way.  
 

The broken reed he will not trample down, 
nor set his heel upon the dying flame. 
He binds the wounds, and health is in his hand: 
with pow'r with justice, he will walk his way.  
 

Anointed with the Spirit and with power, 
he comes to crown with comfort all the weak, 
to show the face of justice to the poor: 
with pow'r with justice, he will walk his way. 

His touch will bless the eyes that darkness held, 
the lame shall run, the halting tongue shall sing, 
and prisoners laugh in light and liberty: 
with pow'r with justice, he will walk his way. 
 

Text: Luke Connaughton 1917-1979 

Music: Woodlands CH4 622 Walter Greatorex 1877-1949 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

Max Reger Fugue on Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme 

CCL Licence No 980930 

Streaming Licence 57837 

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