Hymn

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.

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.

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.

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!

Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926) based on Luke 1.46-55 (Magnificat, The Song of Mary)

Readings:

2 Samuel 7:1-11

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

Psalm 89: 1-8

1  My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord:

   with my mouth will I proclaim your faithfulness

      throughout all generations.

2  I will declare that your love is established for ever;

   you have set your faithfulness as firm as the heavens.

3  For you said: ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

   I have sworn an oath to David my servant:

4  ‘ “Your seed will I establish for ever

   and build up your throne for all generations.” ’

5  The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,

   and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones;

6  For who among the clouds can be compared to the Lord?

   Who is like the Lord among the host of heaven?

7  A God feared in the council of the holy ones,

   great and terrible above all those round about him.

8  Who is like you, Lord God of hosts?

   Mighty Lord, your faithfulness is all around you.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Benedictus

Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,

who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.

Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,

to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.

Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,

that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.

And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,

that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.

In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,

our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.

God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.

Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.

To God the Father, fount of grace, through his beloved Son,

with God their Spirit, bond of love, be glory ever One.

Words:  Ruth Duck

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Eternal God,

as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,

so we wait for his coming in glory;

bring us through the birth pangs of this present age

to see, with her, our great salvation

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hymn

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 victory o'er the grave:

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:

O come, thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery:

O come, O come, thou Lord of Might,
who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
in ancient times didst give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe:

Words: John Mason Neale (1818–1866) translated from Latin Advent Antiphons