Principal Service

Lord,
we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers,
and by thy gracious visitation
lighten the darkness of our hearts
by our Lord Jesus Christ;
who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God,
Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,
and put upon us the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which thy Son Jesus Christ
came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty
to judge both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

God our redeemer,
who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
Grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

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 and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Magnificat

1My soul proclaims the | greatness • of the | Lord, ■
my spirit rejoices • in | God my | Saviour,

2who has looked with favour on his | lowly | servant; ■
from this day all gene|rations • will | call me | blessèd;

3the Almighty has done | great things | for me ■
and | holy | is his | name.

4God has mercy on | those who | fear him,■
from gene|ration • to | gene|ration.

5The Lord has shown | strength • with his | arm ■
and scattered the | proud in | their con|ceit,

6casting down the mighty | from their | thrones ■
and | lifting | up the | lowly.

7God has filled the hungry with | good | things ■
and sent the | rich a|way | empty.

8He has come to the aid of his | servant | Israel ■
to re|member • the | promise of | mercy,

9The promise | made to • our | forebears, ■
to Abraham | and his | children • for | ever.

Heavenly Father,
you have given us a pledge of eternal redemption.
Grant that we may always eagerly celebrate
the saving mystery of the incarnation of your Son.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God,
you baptise us with your Spirit:
as we wait in joyful expectation
for the coming again of your Son
purify us so that we may be gathered
as wheat and not as chaff.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

An asterisk (*) before the hymn number indicates that the hymn has been recorded for use in public worship by the Recorded Church Music Committee.

Micah 5: 2–5a

*194 – Earth has many a noble city
*158 – God rest you merry, gentlemen
*160 – Hark! the herald–angels sing
*431 – Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
171 – O Bethl’hem is a small place
*174 – O little town of Bethlehem
*179 – See amid the winter’s snow
*S123 – See him lying on a bed of straw
*197 – Songs of thankfulness and praise
*198 – The first Nowell the angel did say

Canticle: Magnificat

*704 – Mary sang a song, a song of love
*S222 – My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour
*712 – Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
*373 – To God be the glory!
*S227 – With Mary let my soul rejoice

Psalm 80: 1–8

*695 – God of mercy, God of grace
*614 – Great Shepherd of thy people, hear

Hebrews 10: 5–10

*400 – And now, O Father, mindful of the love
*431 – Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour

Luke 1: 39–45 (46–55)

*119 – Come, thou long–expected Jesus
462 – For Mary, mother of our Lord
470 – Let God’s people join in worship
*S82 – Let me tell you about a baby
*704 – Mary sang a song, a song of love
*636 – May the mind of Christ my Saviour
*S222 – My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour
*135 – O come, O come, Emmanuel
175 – Of the Father’s heart begotten
472 – Sing we of the blessèd Mother
*712 – Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
139 – The angel Gabriel from heaven came
140 – The Lord will come and not be slow
185 – Virgin–born, we bow before thee
186 – What Adam’s disobedience cost
*S227 – With Mary let my soul rejoice
*476 – Ye watchers and ye holy ones