Organ Music 

Gaston Litaize Reges Tharsis 

Jean Bouvard Noël Vosgien 

Introit 

O nata lux 

O Light born of Light, Jesus, redeemer of the world, 
mercifully deign to accept the praises and prayers of your suppliants. 
O you who once deigned to be hidden in flesh on behalf of the lost, 
grant us to be made members of your blessed body. 

Text: Anonymous 

Music: Thomas Tallis c1505-1585 

Processional Hymn 

As with gladness men of old 

did the guiding star behold, 

as with joy they hailed its light, 

leading onwards, beaming bright; 

so, most gracious Lord, may we 

evermore be led to thee. 

As with joyful steps they sped, 

Saviour, to thy lowly bed, 

there to bend the knee before 

thee, whom heaven and earth adore; 

so may we with willing feet 

ever seek thy mercy-seat. 

As they offered gifts most rare 

at thy homely cradle bare, 

so may we with holy joy, 

pure, and free from sin's alloy, 

all our costliest treasures bring, 

Christ, to thee, our heavenly King. 

Holy Jesus, every day 

keep us in the narrow way, 

and, when earthly things are past, 

bring our ransomed souls at last 

where they need no star to guide, 

where no clouds thy glory hide. 

In the heavenly country bright 

need they no created light; 

thou its light, its joy, its crown, 

thou its sun which goes not down; 

there for ever may we sing 

Alleluias to our King. 

Text: William Chatterton Dix 1837-98 

Music: Dix CH4 326 Conrad Kochner 1786-1872 adapted by W.H.Monk 1823-89 

Scripture Sentences 

The Preces 

O Lord open thou our lips 

Richard Lloyd 1933-2021 

Bidding 

Prayer 

Collect 

Heavenly Father, you chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace, to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour. Fill us with your grace, that in all things we may embrace your will, and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reign with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

First Lesson Ephesians 3  1-12 

The Choir sings Psalm 97 

The Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof: yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof. 

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his seat. 

There shall go a fire before him: and burn up his enemies on every side. 

His lightnings gave shine unto the world: the earth saw it, and was afraid. 

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 

The heavens have declared his righteousness: and all the people have seen his glory. 

Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship him, all ye gods. 

Sion heard of it, and rejoiced: and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgements, O Lord. 

For thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 

O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing which is evil: the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly. 

There is sprung up a light for the righteous: and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted. 

Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous: and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness. 

Second Lesson St Matthew 2  1-12 

Hymn 

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,  

and with fear and trembling stand; 

ponder nothing earthly-minded,  

for with blessing in his hand, 

Christ our God to earth descending,  

comes our homage to demand. 

King of kings, yet born of Mary,  

as of old on earth he stood, 

Lord of lords, we now receive him 

in the body and the blood, 

as he gives to all the faithful 

his own self for heavenly food. 

Rank on rank the host of heaven  

streams before him on the way, 

as the Light of light descending  

from the realms of endless day, 

conquers all the powers of darkness, 

drives the gloom of hell away. 

At his feet the six-winged Seraph;  

cherubim with sleepless eye 

veil their faces to the Presence,  

as with ceaseless voice they cry, 

‘Alleluia, alleluia,  

Alleluia, Lord most high.’ 

Text: Liturgy of St James Tr. Gerard Moultrie 1829-85 

Music: Picardy CH4 666 French Carol Melody 

Sermon 

Anthem 

Three kings from Persian lands afar  

Three Kings from Persian lands afar  

to Jordan follow the pointing star: 
and this the quest of the travellers three, 
where the new-born King of the Jews may be. 
Full royal gifts they bear for the King; 
Gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. 
 
The star shines out with a steadfast ray; 
the kings to Bethlehem make their way, 
and there in worship they bend the knee, 
as Mary’s child in her lap they see; 
their royal gifts they show to the King; 
gold, incense, myrrh are their offering. 
Thou child of man, lo, to Bethlehem 
the Kings are travelling, travel with them! 
The star of mercy, the star of grace, 
shall lead thy heart to its resting place. 
Gold, incense, myrrh thou canst not bring; 
offer thy heart to the infant King. 

How brightly shines the morning star! 
With grace and truth from heaven afar 
our Jesse tree now bloweth. 
Of Jacob’s stem and David’s line, 
for thee, my Bridegroom, King divine, 
my soul with love o’erfloweth. 
Thy word, Jesu, inly feeds us, 
rightly leads us, life bestowing. 
Praise, O praise such love o’erflowing 

Text: Philipp Nicolai 1556-1608 Tr. H.N.Bate 

Music: Peter Cornelius 1824-1874 

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  

Wise men, they came to look for wisdom, 
finding one wiser than they knew; 
rich men, they met with one yet richer- 
King of the kings, they knelt to you: 
Jesus, our wisdom from above, 
wealth and redemption, life and love. 
 

Pilgrims they were, from unknown countries, 
searching for one who knows the world; 
lost are their names, and strange their journeys, 
famed is their zeal to find the child: 
Jesus, in you the lost are claimed, 
aliens are found, and known, and named. 
 

Magi, they stooped to see your splendour, 
led by a star to light supreme; 
promised Messiah, Lord eternal, 
glory and peace are in your name. 
Joy of each day, our Song by night, 
shine on our path your holy light. 
 

Guests of their God, they opened treasures, 
incense and gold and solemn myrrh; 
welcoming one too young to question 
how came these gifts, and what they were. 
Gift beyond price of gold or gem, 
make among us your Bethlehem. 
 

Text: Christopher M Idle b.1938 

Tune: Neumark CH4 328 George Neumark 1621-1681 Harmonised John L Bell b. 1949 

Benediction 

Organ Voluntary 

Jean Langlais Chant de Joie (Neuf Pièces) 

CCL Licence No 980930 

Streaming Licence 57837 

The service was conducted by The Rev. Dr Sam Nwokoro