Choral Eucharist for Advent 4 will be livestreamed and available online at Holy Trinity’s YouTube site from 10.55am Sunday
https://www.youtube.com/live/30VR3TB84bo
THE ADVENT PROSE (From Isaiah 64)
Refrain
Drop down ye heavens from above:
and let skies pour down righteousness.
Verse sung by cantor only
Be not wroth, very sore O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever.
The Holy Cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation,
our holy and beautiful house, wherefore our forefathers praised thee.
REFRAIN
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen;
that ye may know me and believe me:
I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour:
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.
REFRAIN
Comfort ye, Comfort ye, my people, my Salvation shall not tarry.
I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions.
Fear not, for I will save thee; for I am the Lord thy God,
the Holy one of Israel, thy redeemer.
REFRAIN
Introit Hymn NEH 21 A great and mighty wonder (Es ist ein Ros' Entsprungen) (omit verse 3)
1 A great and mighty wonder,
A full and holy cure!
The Virgin bears the Infant
With virgin-honour pure.
Chorus
Repeat the hymn again!
'To God on high be glory,
And peace on earth to men!'
2 The Word becomes incarnate
And yet remains on high!
And Cherubim sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.
Chorus
4 Since all he comes to ransom,
By all be he adored,
The Infant born in Bethl'em,
The Saviour and the Lord.
Chorus
5 And idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield his sceptre,
Our Lord and God for ay.
Chorus
APPROACH TO GOD
To you O Lord, I lift up my soul
my God I trust in you.
Show me your ways, O Lord
and teach me your paths.
We wait upon your loving kindness O Lord
in the midst of your Temple.
Be strong and do not fear,
for God will come to save us.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'
Let us turn from sin and turn to the Lord, confessing our sins in
penitence and faith.
Silence
CONFESSION
God and Father of all:
We prepare our hearts for the coming of your Son,
And we confess our sins, of thought, word and deed:
In what we have done and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive our sins, cleanse our hearts,
and keep us faithful for the coming of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE ABSOLUTION
Almighty God, who sent your only-begotten Son to reconcile the world to Yourself;
lift our hearts from the darkness of sin,
have mercy upon us, pardon and forgive us,
and raise us to new life, in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
COLLECT(S)
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING Isaiah 7:10-16
A reading from the Prophet 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. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
At the end:
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
GRADUAL HYMN NEH 161 For Mary, Mother of the Lord (Kilmarnock) (omit vv. 4 & 5)
1 For Mary, mother of our Lord,
God's holy name be praised,
who first the Son of God adored,
as on her child she gazed.
2 Brave, holy Virgin, she believed,
though hard the task assigned,
and by the Holy Ghost conceived
the Saviour of mankind.
3 The busy world had got no space
or time for God on earth;
a cattle manger was the place
where Mary gave him birth.
6 Hail, Mary, you are full of grace,
above all women blest;
and blest your Son, whom your embrace
in birth and death confessed.
GOSPEL Matthew 1:18-25
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
When the Gospel is announced:
Glory to Christ our Saviour.
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
At the end:
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.
SERMON
Anthem after Sermon: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell (Anon, 16th century)
Nowell, nowell, nowell this is the salutacion of th’ aungell Gabriell. Tydynges
trew ther be cum new, sent frome the trinite be Gabriel to Nazaret, cite off Galile.
A clene mayden and pure virgyn, thorow hyre humilite, hath concyvid the
person secunde in deyte. Nowell, nowell, nowell … “Hayle, virgyne celestiall,
the mekest that ever was, hayle temple off deitie and myrrour off all grace,
hayle virgyne puer, I the ensure, within full lytyl space thou shalt receyve and
him conceyve that shal bryng gret solace.” Nowell, nowell, nowell … Sodenly
she abashid truly, but not all thyng dysmaid, with mynd dyscret and spyryt
mek to the aungell she said, “with what maner shuld I chyld bere the wiche
ever a maid haue lyvid chast al my lyf past and never man asaid.” Nowell,
nowell, nowell … Then ageyne to hire certeyn, answered the aungell, “O lady
dere be off good chere, and dred the never a dell, thou shalt conceyve in thi
body, mayden, very God hymself, in whos byrth heven and erth shal joy,
called Emmanuel.” Nowell, nowell, nowell …
Nowell, nowell, nowell, this is the salutation of the angel Gabriel. Tidings true have
come of late, sent from the trinity, by Gabriel to Nazareth, city of Galilee. A clean
maiden and pure virgin through her humility has conceived the person second in deity.
Nowell, nowell, nowell … ‘Hail virgin celestial, the meekest that ever was, hail
temple of deity and mirror of all grace, hail virgin pure, I you ensure, within a short
time you shall receive and conceive that which shall bring great solace.’
Nowell, nowell, nowell … Suddenly she abashed truly, but not at all dismayed, with mind discreet
and spirit meek, to the angel she said, ‘how should I a child bear, who, ever a maid,
have lived chaste all my life past and never a man assayed.’ Nowell, nowell, nowell …
Then again, to assure her, the angel answered: ‘O lady precious, be of good cheer, and
dread not one thing, you shall conceive in your body, maiden, the very God himself, in
whose birth heaven and earth shall rejoice, called Emmanuel.’ Nowell, nowell, nowell
CREED
We believe in One God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Trinity in Unity.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son:
Though he was divine
he made himself nothing
Taking the form of a slave.
He was born in human likeness
He humbled himself
and became obedient even to death on a cross.
God has raised him on high
and given him the name that is above all names;
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow
and every tongue proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
PEACE
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN NEH 185 Sing we of the blessèd Mother (Abbot's Leigh)
Sing we of the blessèd Mother
who received the angel's word,
and obedient to his summons
bore in love the infant Lord;
sing we of the joys of Mary
at whose breast that child was fed
who is Son of God eternal
and the everlasting Bread.
Sing we, too, of Mary's sorrows,
of the sword that pierced her through,
when beneath the cross of Jesus
she his weight of suffering knew,
looked upon her Son and Saviour
reigning high on Calvary's tree,
saw the price of man's redemption
paid to set the sinner free.
Sing again the joys of Mary
when she saw the risen Lord,
and in prayer with Christ's apostles,
waited on his promised word:
from on high the blazing glory
of the Spirit's presence came,
heavenly breath of God's own being,
manifest through wind and flame.
Sing the chiefest joy of Mary
when on earth her work was done,
and the Lord of all creation
brought her to his heavenly home:
Virgin Mother, Mary blessèd,
raised on high and crowned with grace,
may your Son, the world's redeemer,
grant us all to see his face.
THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT
PRAYERS OF OFFERING
Even as this broken bread was once scattered over the hills as wheat,
and when gathered together, became one mass,
so let your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom,
for Yours is the Glory and the Power through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
THE SURSUM CORDA
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Worship and praise belong to you, God our maker.
Out of nothing, you called all worlds to be,
and still you draw the universe to its fulfilment.
Dawn and evening celebrate your glory
till time shall be no more.
In Christ your Son
the life of heaven and earth were joined,
sealing the promise of a new creation,
given, yet still to come.
Taught by your Spirit,
we who bear your threefold likeness
look for the City of Peace
in whose light we are transfigured
and the earth transformed.
As children of your redeeming purpose
who await the coming of your Son,
we offer you our praise,
with angels and archangels
and the whole company of heaven
singing the hymn of your unending glory:
SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
God of power and might,
Heav'n and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
CONSECRATION PRAYER
Glory and thanksgiving be to you,
most loving Father.
In Jesus you showed us yourself.
Our hope is built on him,
the first, the last, the living one.
Obedient, even to accepting death,
He opened the gate of glory
and calls us now to share the life of heaven.
Before he was given up to suffering and death,
alight with the vision
of a feast that heralded a kingdom yet to come,
at supper with his disciples
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread,
and gave it to them, saying:
‘Take, eat. This is my Body:
it is broken for you.’
After supper, he took the cup,
he offered you thanks,
and gave it to them saying:
‘Drink this, all of you.
This is my Blood of the new covenant;
it is poured out for you, and for all,
that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.’
We now obey your Son’s command.
We recall his blessed passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension;
and we look for the coming of his Kingdom.
Made one with him,
we offer you these gifts and with them ourselves,
a single, holy, living sacrifice.
Hear us, most merciful God,
and send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and this wine,
that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,
they may be the Body and Blood of your Son,
and we may be kindled with the fire of your love
and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.
Help us,
who are baptised into the fellowship of Christ’s Body,
to live and work to your praise and glory;
may we grow together in unity and love
until at last, in your new creation,
we enter into our heritage,
in the company of the Virgin Mary,
the apostles and prophets,
and of all our brothers and sisters living and departed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be to you,
Lord of all ages, world without end. Amen.
THE FRACTION
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
LORD’S PRAYER
As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us,
we are bold to say;
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.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
Grant us, grant us peace.
PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS
We do not presume to come to this holy sacrament, merciful Lord,
because we are strong, but because we are weak;
not because of our goodness,
but because we need mercy and help.
We come in weakness, and frailty, and humility.
We come because we love the Lord a little,
and seek to love him more.
We come to take, and eat, in remembrance of you.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN NEH 27 How brightly shines the morning star (Wie Schön Leuchtet)
How brightly shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The Light in Judah shining.
Thou David's son of Jacob's race,
The Bridegroom, and the King of grace,
For thee our hearts are pining!
Lowly, holy,
Great and glorious, thou victorious
Prince of graces
Filling all the heavenly places!
Though circled by the hosts on high,
He deigns to cast a pitying eye
Upon his helpless creatures;
The whole creation's Head and Lord,
By highest seraphim adored,
Assumed our very nature.
Jesu, grant us,
Through thy merit, to inherit
Thy salvation;
Hear, O hear our supplication.
Rejoice, ye heav’ns; thou earth, reply;
With praise, ye sinners, fill the sky,
For this his incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth thy power,
Ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
Till all know thy salvation.
Amen, Amen!
Alleluya, Alleluya!
Praise be given
Evermore by earth and heaven.
THANKSGIVING AND SENDING OUT
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious.
And his mercy endures for ever.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
God, for whom we wait,
we thank you for feeding us with the Body and Blood
of your Son Jesus Christ
who, at his first advent,
came to seek and save that which was lost:
grant that, on the last day,
he may be found in us,
and we in him; through the
same, Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING this or some other may be used
Now may Christ the Sun of Righteousness
shine upon us,
and scatter all darkness from before our path;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with us and remain with us always. Amen
DISMISSAL
Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.
FINAL HYMN NEH 186 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Woodlands)
1 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
2 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name, the Lord, the Mighty One.
3 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
4 Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and for evermore!
Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024) from Luke 1 vs46-55
© administered by Oxford University Press in Europe (including UK and Ireland) and Africa,
Used By Permission. CCLI Licence No. 121191
Voluntary Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 645) (Bach)