Epiphany Carol Service
Service will be livestreamed and available on our YouTube site from 6.25pm Sunday 5th January at https://www.youtube.com/live/IwzpyrSx0BM
INTROIT: The wise men and the star (Oliver Tarney b.1984)
Sovereign scholars, weary of waiting, startled by starlight that kindles the sky. Eager for answers, destiny drives them, watching with wonder they follow the star. Passing by palaces, greedy and golden, threading the byways of winter and cold, come to a doorway, low built and lamplit, Eagerly enter under the star. Source of all starlight, simply they see him, laid in a manger and haloed with hay. Bright in his beauty, shrouded with shadows. Steady the star shines, follow the star. Lucy Quinault b.1969
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING PRAYER
THE BIDDING PRAYER
HYMN
As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold,
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led to thee.
As with joyful steps they sped,
To that lowly manger-bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek thy mercy-seat.
As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and 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.
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
Alleluyas to our King.
READING: Matt 2:1-11
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the
star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
HYMN
Hail, thou Source of every blessing,
Sovereign Father of mankind!
Gentiles now, thy grace possessing,
In thy courts admission find.
Once far off, but now invited,
We approach thy sacred throne;
In thy covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to eastern sages,
See the star of mercy shine,
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.
Hail, thou universal Saviour!
Gentiles now their offerings bring,
In thy temple seek thy favour,
Jesu Christ, our Lord and King.
READING: Matt 2:12-23
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
"A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."
ANTHEM: The Coventry Carol (Kenneth Leighton 1929-1988)
Lully, Lulla, Thou Little Tiny Child, By By, Lully Lullay, Thou Little Tiny Child, By By, Lully Lullay.
O Sisters Too, How May We Do For To Preserve This Day This Poor Youngling, For Whom We Do Sing, By By, Lully Lullay?
Herod, The King, In His Raging, Charged He Hath This Day His Men Of Might, In His Own Sight,
All Young Children To Slay.
That Woe Is Me, Poor Child For Thee! And Ever Morn And Day, For Thy Parting Nor Say Nor Sing By By, Lully Lullay!
READING: Isaiah 60:1-11
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 5Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house. Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?
For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.
Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession.
ANTHEM: Nunc Dimittis in F (George Dyson 1883-1964)
Lord now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace; according to Thy word For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples To be a light to lighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
HYMN
From the eastern mountains
Pressing on they come,
Wise men in their wisdom,
To his humble home;
Stirred in deep devotion,
Hasting from afar,
Ever journeying onward,
Guided by a star.
Thou who in a manger
Once hast lowly lain,
Who dost now in glory
O'er all kingdoms reign,
Gather in the peoples,
Who in lands afar
Ne'er have seen the brightness
Of thy guiding Star.
Gather in the outcasts,
All who've gone astray,
Throw thy radiance o'er them,
Guide them on their way;
Those who never knew thee,
Those who've wandered far,
Lead them by the brightness
Of thy guiding Star.
Until every nation,
Whether bond or free,
'Neath thy star-lit banner,
Jesu, follows thee,
O'er the distant mountains
To that heavenly home
Where nor sin nor sorrow
Evermore shall come.
READING: Ephesians. 3:1-9
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been
revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make
everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;
ANTHEM: The three kings From a Chorale by Peter Cornelius (1824-74) further arr. Ivor Atkins (1869-1953)
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. Offer thy heart!
How brightly shines the morning star! With grace and truth from heav’n 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.
PRAYERS
HYMN
We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Refrain
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Refrain
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light
Refrain
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshiping God on high.
Refrain
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia!, Alleluia!,
Earth to heaven replies.
Refrain
BLESSING
VOLUNTARY