St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
24th Sunday after Trinity
Sunday 19th November 2023
Organ Music
Louis-James Lefébure-Wély Élévation
Louis Vierne Méditation
Niels Gade Allegretto
Introit
We wait for thy loving-kindness O God
We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God: in the midst of thy temple.
Alleluia. O God, according to thy Name,
so is thy praise unto the world’s end:
thy right hand is full of righteousness. Alleluia.
O Lord, send us now prosperity. Amen.
Text: Psalms 48 8,9; 118 25
Music: William McKie 1901-1984
Processional Hymn
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
triumph o'er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by thee:
joyless is the day's return,
till thy mercy's beams I see,
till they inward light impart,
glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine;
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, radiancy divine;
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.
Text: Charles Wesley 1707-1788
Music: Skies of Glory CH4 578 (i) Malcolm Williamson 1931-2003
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
Philip Moore b.1943
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Heavenly Lord, you long for the world’s salvation: stir us from apathy, restrain us from excess and revive in us new hope that all creation will one day be healed in Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5 1-11
The Choir sings Psalm 127
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Second Lesson St Matthew 25 14-30
Hymn
Holy wisdom, lamp of learning
Bless the light that reason lends.
Teach us judgement as we kindle
Sparks of thought your Spirit sends.
Sanctify our search for knowledge
And the truth that sets us free.
Come, illumine mind and spirit
Joined in deepest unity.
Vine of truth, in you we flourish;
By your grace we learn and grow.
May the word of Christ among us
Shape our life, your will to know.
Joined to Christ in living, dying,
May we help the Church convey
Witness to the saving gospel,
Bearing fruit of faith today.
Holy God, the hope of nations,
Tune us to your righteous will,
As the symphony of ages
Claims our best, our finest skill.
Shape our search for peace and justice
Through prophetic deed and word.
Christ, conduct us, set our rhythm,
That God’s praise be ever heard.
Text: Ruth C Duck b.1947
Music: In Babilone CH4 604 Dutch Traditional Melody
Sermon
Anthem
The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me.
Text: Psalm 23 1-4
Music: Lennox Berkeley 1903-1989
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
View the present through the promise,
Christ will come again.
Trust despite the deepening darkness,
Christ will come again.
Lift the world above its grieving
through your watching and believing
in the hope past hope's conceiving:
Christ will come again.
Probe the present with the promise,
Christ will come again.
Let your daily actions witness,
Christ will come again.
Let your loving and your giving
and your justice and forgiving
be a sign to all the living:
Christ will come again.
Match the present to the promise,
Christ will come again.
Make this hope your guiding premise,
Christ will come again.
Pattern all your calculating
and the world you are creating
to the advent you are waiting:
Christ will come again.
Text: Thomas H Troeger 1945-2022
Music: Franklin Park CH4 479 Roy Hopp b.1951
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
Dieterich Buxtehude Praeludium in D minor
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte