St. Giles’ Cathedral

Morning Service at 11am

3rd Sunday in Advent

Sunday 17th December 202

Organ Music

Charles Tournemire Immaculata Conceptio Mariae Virginis

Marcel Dupré Magnificat V

Introit

The Lord at first did Adam make

The Lord at first did Adam make Out of the dust and clay, And in his nostrils breathed life, E'en as the Scriptures day. And then in Eden's Paradise He placed him to dwell, That he within it should remain To dress and keep it well.

Text: Traditional, published in Some Ancient Christmas Carols by Davies Gilbert, 1822

Music: Traditional arr. Peter Backhouse b.1954

Processional Hymn

Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,

the Saviour promised long;

let every heart exult with joy,

and every voice be song.

He comes the prisoners to release,

in Satan's bondage held;

the gates of brass before him burst,

the iron fetters yield.

He comes the broken heart to bind,

the bleeding souls to cure,

and with the treasures of his grace

to enrich the humble poor.

The sacred year has now revolved,

accepted of the Lord,

when heaven’s high promise is fulfilled,

and Israel is restored

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

thy welcome shall proclaim,

and heaven's eternal arches ring

with thy most honoured name.

Text: Scottish Paraphrases 1781

Tune: Crediton CH4 277 Melody from Clark’s A Second Set of Psalm Tunes

Scripture Sentences

The Preces

O Lord open thou our lips

Alan Ridout 1934-1996

Bidding

Prayer

Collect

Eternal God, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son. Grant us the wisdom to see your purpose and openness to hear your will, that we too may prepare the way for Christ who is coming in mercy and in power to establish his realm of peace and justice; through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer, who lives with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

First Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5 16-24

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 John 1 6-8, 19-28

Hymn

O send thy light forth and thy truth;

let them be guides to me,

And bring me to thine holy hill,

ev'n where thy dwellings be.

Then will I to God's altar go,

to God my chiefest joy:

Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise

my harp I will employ.

Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

what should discourage thee?

And why with vexing thoughts art thou

disquieted in me?

Still trust in God; for him to praise

good cause I yet shall have:

He of my count'nance is the health,

my God that doth me save.

Text: Psalm 43 3-5

Music: Martyrs Melody from Scottish Psalter 1615

Sermon

Anthem

Lift up your heads, O ye gates

Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors : and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory?

It is the Lord strong and mighty, ev’n the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Text: Psalm 24

Music: Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625

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

Christ is coming! let creation

from her groans and travail cease;

let the glorious proclamation

hope restore and faith increase:

Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

Come, thou blessèd Prince of Peace.

Earth can now but tell the story

of your bitter cross and pain;

she shall yet behold your glory,

Lord, when you return to reign:

Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

‘Come, Lord Jesus, come again!’

Long your exiles have been pining,

far from you, and rest, and home;

but, in heavenly glory shining,

soon their loving Lord shall come:

Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

Haste the joyous jubilee.

With that blessèd hope before us,

Harps be played and songs be sung;

let the mighty advent chorus

onward roll from tongue to tongue:

‘Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!’

Text: J.R.Macduff 1818-95

Tune: Neander CH4 475 Melody from Neander’s Alpha und Omega 1680

Benediction

Organ Voluntary

Nikolaus Bruhns Praeludium in E minor

CCL Licence No 980930

Streaming Licence 57837

The service was conducted by The Rev Sigrid Marten