The Gathering

We gather in darkness and in silence, in anticipation of the light which is coming into the world.  The sound of the bell signals the start of the service.  If it is comfortable for you to do so, please stand.

Introduction

In the name of God, who has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and made a place for us in the kingdom of his beloved Son, we welcome you: grace to you and peace.

As we meet to celebrate anew the coming of God’s kingdom, we hear revealed the mystery of God’s loving purpose for us – how, when we were far off, he met us in his Son and brought us home, and how he humbled himself to take our human nature, that we might share his divine glory.

Let us then so celebrate this coming with our carols and hymns of praise, that our lives may be charged with his life; that we may bear witness to his glory and so bring light to those who sit in darkness. So first we pray for those among whom the Christ was born: the poor and helpless, the aged and young children; the cold, the hungry and the homeless; the victims of poverty, injustice and oppression, the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved; those in despair or in the shadow of death.

Then, as we hear again the message of peace on earth and goodwill among all his people, we pray for the leaders of the nations, that all may be inspired to work together for the establishment of justice, freedom and peace the world over.

And that we may bear true witness to this hope in a divided world, we pray for the peace and unity of Christ’s Body, the Church universal, that the whole earth may live to praise his name.

Finally, as we rejoice with the saints in heaven and on earth, we remember all who have gone before us with the sign of faith, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we offer up our prayers for the coming of his kingdom, in the words he himself has taught us, saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on 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.
Amen.

And may the Lord when he comes find us watching and waiting, now and at all times.

Amen.

Silence is kept.

Collect

Let us pray.

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Hymn

Hills of the North, rejoice,
echoing songs arise,
hail with united voice
him who made earth and skies:
he comes in righteousness and love,
he brings salvation from above.

Isles of the Southern seas,
sing to the listening earth,
carry on ev’ry breeze,
hope of a world’s new birth:
in Christ shall all be made anew,
his word is sure, his promise true.

Lands of the East, arise,
he is your brightest morn,
greet him with joyous eyes,
praise shall his path adorn:
the God whom we have longed to know
in Christ draws near, and calls you now.

Shores of the utmost West,
lands of the setting sun,
welcome the heav’nly guest
in whom the dawn has come:
he brings a never-ending light
who triumphed o’er our darkest night.

Shout, as you journey on,
songs be in ev’ry mouth;
lo, from the North they come,
from East and West and South:
in Jesus all shall find their rest,
in him the sons of earth be blest.

Words: from the New English Hymnal
based on Charles Edward Oakley (1832-1865)
Music: Martin Shaw (1875-1958)
Hymn Tune: LITTLE CORNARD

Please sit.

First Reading: Zechariah 9.9-10

A reading from the prophecy of Zechariah.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem; and the battle-bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations.

Anthem: Creator of the stars of night

Creator of the stars of night,
thy people’s everlasting light,
O Jesu, Saviour of us all,
regard thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving at the bitter cry
of all creation doomed to die,
didst come to save a ruined race
with healing gifts of heav’nly grace.

Thou camest, Bridegroom of the bride,
as drew the world to evening-tide,
proceeding from a virgin shrine,
the Son of Man, yet Lord divine.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
whose advent sets thy people free,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Spirit blest, for evermore. Amen.

Words: 7th century Latin
translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: Plainsong melody

Second Reading: Jeremiah 23.5-6

A reading from the prophecy of Jeremiah.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Hymn

Please stand.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save,
and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel. 

O come, thou key of David, come
and open wide our heav’nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of might,
who to the tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient time didst give the Law,
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel 
shall come to thee, O Israel.

Words: from the ‘Great O Antiphons’ (12th century)
translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: adapted by Thomas Helmore (1811-1890) from a French Missal
arranged by Colin Hand (1929-2015)
Hymn Tune: VENI EMMANUEL

Please sit.

Third Reading: Isaiah 9.2 & 6-7

A reading from the prophecy of Isaiah:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined. […]
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Hymn: Christ be our light

Please stand.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness,
longing for truth, we turn to you,
make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. 
Christ, be our light! 
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled,
longing for hope, many despair,
your word alone has power to save us,
make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. 
Christ, be our light! 
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Longing for food, many are hungry,
longing for water, many still thirst,
make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. 
Christ, be our light! 
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless,
longing for warmth, many are cold,
make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. 
Christ, be our light! 
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong,
let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. 
Christ, be our light! 
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Words & Music: Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)

Please sit.

Fourth Reading: Isaiah 7.10-15

A reading from the prophecy of Isaiah:

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Anthem: Gabriel’s Message

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,  
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame:
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary.
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!

‘For known a blessèd Mother thou shalt be;
all generations laud and honour thee:
thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
‘To me be as it pleaseth God!’ she said.
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.’
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!

Of her Emmanuel, the Christ, was born,
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn;
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!

Words: Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
Music: Basque traditional melody
arranged by Edgar Pettman (1866-1943)

Fourth Reading: Romans 12.1,2;13.(8)11-14

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Anthem: People, look East

People, look East, the time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad, though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there:
give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch, though night is dim
one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce to man and beast
he who cometh from the East,
set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Words: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)
Music: Besançon melody arranged by Malcolm Archer (b. 1952)

Please remain seated

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn: On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Please stand.

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 ev’ry breast from sin;
make straight the way for God within;
prepare we in our hearts a home,
Where such a mighty guest may come.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward;
without thy grace we fade away,
like flow’rs that wither and decay.

To heal the sick stretch out thine hand,
and bid the fallen sinner stand;
shine forth and let thy light restore
earth’s own true loveliness once more.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee
whose advent doth thy people free,
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost for evermore.

Words: Charles Coffin (1676-1749)
translated by John Chandler (1806-1876) alt.
Music: from ‘Musikalisches Handbuch’ (1690)
Hymn Tune: WINCHESTER NEW

Please sit.

Final Reading: John 1.19-31

A reading from the Gospel according to John.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”’, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptising if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’  John answered them, ‘I baptise with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptising. The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’

Hymn

Please extinguish your candles, if you have not already done so, before standing to sing.

A collection, our financial offering in support of the work of the Church both at St. Mary’s and across our diocese, is taken.

You can place cash or giving envelopes in the collection plates as they are passed around. If you would prefer, or if you miss the plate, you can also give by tapping your contactless card or device on the giving kiosk by the door as you leave, or on our donations page.

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand, thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ appears, on earth to reign.

Ev’ry eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty;
we who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.

Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, amen! Let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the pow’r and glory,
claim the kingdom for thine own.
O come quickly, O come quickly, O come quickly!
Alleluia! Come, Lord, come!

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788),
John Cennick (1718-1755) and Martin Madan (1726-1790)
Music: from John Wesley’s ‘Select Hymns with Tunes Annext’ (1765)
Hymn Tune: HELMSLEY

Conclusion

The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light.
Come, O Lord, comfort the soul of your servant.

Even so, Lord, come.

O Lord Jesus Christ, come

at evening time, with light,

and in the morning, with your glory,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

He who receives our prayers says:
Surely I come quickly.
I am the root and offspring of David,
I am the bright and morning star.

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.