Epiphany Carol Service
The joyful Christmas season continues throughout the weeks of Epiphany. The three key stories which help us reflect deeply on the mystery of the 'Word made flesh,' are the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Christ and the miracle at Cana. Each in they own way are epiphany moments where the glory of God in Jesus is revealed, taking us from the babe in the manger to the man of Galilee and ultimately therefore points us to what lies ahead in the way of the cross.
The festive season returns full circle to the nativity scene at the beginning of February on the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) when Mary and Joseph present their child in the temple and we hear the words of Simeon that Jesus is both ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles’ and ‘the glory of God’s people Israel.’ The glory of God made manifest in a vulnerable child is the deep truth of the Christmas and Epiphany season;
'The incarnation is not an aberration, a temporary laying aside
of omnipotence. It is the way God is. It is the self-constraint in
which he has wrapped himself, so that his sharing of our world
comes not from interventionist power, but from
self-effacing yet passionate love.' *
In this service through music and words we shall meditate on the three great stories of Epiphany and on the theme of the mission of the church.
* from The Glory in our Midst by Michael Perham, SPCK 2005
Our organist this evening is Simon Headley who is both our principal organist and interim choral conductor.
The music is sung by the combined adult and youth choirs of All Saints. Both choirs are open to new people joining either for regular Sunday services or to sing on special season occasions such as this evening. No auditions or previous experience required. You will find a supportive environment and excellent tuition. Our Youth Choir work through an awards scheme run by the Royal School of Church Music. To find out more, speak to Simon after the service or contact him on:
The sonnets are written by Malcolm Guite, priest, poet and songwriter and are taken from his book Sounding the Seasons.
You are invited to stand, if you feel able, for the congregational hymns, the words for which are in the red hymn book.
Organ Chorale Prelude ‘Nun freut euch, lieben Chisten gmein’ – J.S. Bach
Introit Ich steh’ an deiner Krippen hier – J.S. Bach
Translation:
I stand before Thy manger fair,
My Jesus, Life from heaven!
I come, and unto Thee I bear
What Thou to me hast given.
Receive it, for ’tis mind and soul,
Heart, spirit, strength—receive it all,
And deign to let it please Thee.
An informal welcome is given by the Rector, Revd Wendy Dalrymple
Collect for the season of Epiphany
Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Hymn 96 Brightest and Best
The King of the world is revealed to the Magi
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute;
the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.
All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall do him service.
Psalm 72.10-11
Anthem Bethlehem Down – P. Warlock
Bible Reading Matthew 2:1-12
Hymn 105 We three kings of orient are
Verses 2,3 & 4 will sung by the choir
Sonnet
It might have been just someone else’s story,
Some chosen people get a special king.
We leave them to their own peculiar glory,
We don’t belong, it doesn’t mean a thing.
But when these three arrive they bring us with them,
Gentiles like us, their wisdom might be ours;
A steady step that finds an inner rhythm,
A pilgrim’s eye that sees beyond the stars.
They did not know his name but still they sought him,
They came from otherwhere but still they found;
In temples they found those who sold and bought him,
But in the filthy stable, hallowed ground.
Their courage gives our questing hearts a voice
To seek, to find, to worship, to rejoice.
Silence is kept
Collect
O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
The Christ is revealed in the waters of baptism
A voice from heaven said,
‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Matthew 3.17
Anthem O, for a closer walk with God – C.V. Stanford
Bible Reading Matthew 3:3 to end
Hymn 108 When Jesus came to Jordan
Sonnet
Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Sprit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings
‘You are belovèd, you are my delight!’
In that quick light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river
To die and rise and live and love forever.
Silence is kept
Collect
Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit:
grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
The new creation is revealed in water made wine
I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying,
‘Behold, the dwelling of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them and they shall be his peoples, and God himself will be with them.
Revelation 21.2-3
Anthem Let all mortal flesh – arr. Cleobury
Bible Reading John 2:1-11
Hymn 102 Jesus, come! For we invite you
Sonnet
Here’s an epiphany to have and hold,
A truth that you can taste upon the tongue,
No distant shrines and canopies of gold
Or ladders to be clambered rung by rung,
But here and now, amidst your daily living,
Where you can taste and touch and feel and see,
The spring of love, the fount of all forgiving,
Flows when you need it, rich, abundant, free.
Better than waters of some outer weeping,
That leave you still with all your hidden sin,
Here is a vintage richer for the keeping
That works its transformation from within.
Silence is kept
Collect
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
The Mission of the Church
Declare his glory among the nations and his wonders among all peoples.
Psalm 96.3
Anthem How beautiful upon the mountains – J. Stainer
Bible Reading Luke 10:1-9
Prayers of Intercession
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.
God of our salvation,
hope of all the ends of the earth,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the world may know Jesus Christ
as the Prince of Peace,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the Church may be one in serving
and proclaiming the gospel,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That we may be bold to speak the word of God
while you stretch out your hand to save,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the Church may be generous in giving,
faithful in serving, bold in proclaiming,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the Church may welcome and support
all whom God calls to faith,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That all who suffer for the gospel
may know the comfort and glory of Christ,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
That the day may come when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
we pray:
Your kingdom come.
Almighty God,
by your Holy Spirit you have made us one
with your saints in heaven and on earth:
grant that in our earthly pilgrimage
we may ever be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer,
and know ourselves surrounded by their witness
to your power and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Uniting our prayers with all the saints we pray as Jesus taught us, each in the language that is closest to our hearts:
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.
Hymn 795 ‘The Kingdom is upon you’
Blessing
May God the Father,
who led the wise men by the shining of a star
to find the Christ, the Light from light,
lead you also in your pilgrimage to find the Lord.
Amen.
May God the Son,
who turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana,
transform your lives and make glad your hearts.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit,
who came upon the beloved Son
at his baptism in the river Jordan,
pour out his gifts on you
who have come to the waters of new birth.
Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among you and remain with you always
Amen
Organ Voluntary
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BuxWV 223– D. Buxtehude
Thank you for joining us this evening. You can hear our choirs sing every second and fourth Sunday of the month at our morning Holy Communion service at 10.45am and monthly on Sunday afternoons, see below:
Sunday 29th January 4pm Choral Evensong for Candlemas
Sunday 19th February 4pm Choral Evensong
Sunday 19th March 4pm Choral Evensong for Mothering Sunday
Sunday 9th April 4pm Easter Sunday Festive Choral Evensong
If you are able to make a gift this evening to support the ongoing costs of maintaining this historic place of worship and help us continue to invest in the music tradition of this church you can do so using the card machines at the back of church, leave a cash donation in the offertory plates or use the QR code.
Any gift is gratefully received.