St. Giles’ Cathedral
Morning Service at 11am
3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Sunday 21st January 2024
Organ Music
Gaston Litaize Reges Tharsis
Jean Bouvard Noël Vosgien
Introit
Almighty and everlasting God
Almighty and everlasting God,
mercifully look upon our infirmities,
and in all our dangers and necessities
stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Text: Collect for the Third Sunday after Epiphany
Music: Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625
Processional Hymn
Lord of all being, throned afar,
thy glory flames from sun and star;
centre and soul of every sphere,
yet to each loving heart how near!
Sun of our life, thy quickening ray
sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, thy softened light
cheers the long watches of the night.
Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn,
our noontide is thy gracious dawn,
our rainbow arch thy mercy's sign;
all, save the clouds of sin, are thine.
Lord of all life, below, above,
whose light is truth, whose warmth is love,
before thy ever-blazing throne
we ask no lustre of our own.
Grant us thy truth to make us free
and kindling hearts that burn for thee,
till all thy living altars claim
one holy light, one heavenly flame.
Text: Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)
Music: Ombersley CH4 125 William Henry Gladstone 1840-1891
Scripture Sentences
The Preces
O Lord open thou our lips
John Sanders 1933-2003
Bidding
Prayer
Collect
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
First Lesson 1 Corinthians 7 29-31
The Choir sings the Psalm 113
Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
Second Lesson St Mark 1 14-20
Hymn
Spirit of God, in all that's true I know you;
yours is the light that shines through thoughts and words.
Forgive my mind, slow as it is to read you,
my mouth so slow to speak the truth you are.
Spirit of God, in beauty I behold you;
yours is the loveliness of all that's fair.
Forgive my heart, slow as it is to love you,
my soul so slow to wonder at your grace.
Spirit of God, in all that's good I meet you;
yours is the rightness in each deed of love.
Forgive my will, slow as it is to serve you,
my feet so slow to go, my hands to do.
Spirit of God, in Jesus Christ you find me;
in Him you enter through the door of faith.
From deep within me take possession of me -
my will, my heart, my mind all matched to his.
Text: Reginald Thomas Brooks 1918-1985
Music: Intercessor CH4 494 C.H.H.Parry 1848-1918
Sermon
Anthem
When Jesus our Lord
When Jesus our Lord was born in Bethlehem,
In the land of Judea, behold, from the east
to the city of Jerusalem there came wise men and said:
‘Say, where is he born the King of Judea?
For we have seen his star and are come to adore him.’
There shall a star from Jacob come forth, and a sceptre
From Israel rise up, and dash in pieces Princes and Nations.
As bright the star of morning gleams,
so Jesus sheddeth glorious beams
of light and consolation.
Thy word, O Lord, radiance darting,
truth imparting give salvation,
thine be praise and adoration.
Text: St Matthew 2 1-2; Numbers 24 17
Music: Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847
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
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation,
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise!
Text: Charles Wesley 1707-88
Tune: Blaenwern CH4 468 William Penfro Rowlands 1860-1937
Benediction
Organ Voluntary
Felix Mendelssohn Sonata III Op 65 (1st movement)
CCL Licence No 980930
Streaming Licence 57837
The service was conducted by The Rev Dr George J Whyte