Readings (Click the links to see the readings)

Isaiah 54:1-10 | Psalm 30:1-5 | Luke 7:24-30

That Holy Thing
George MacDonald

They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes and lift them high;
Thou cam'st, a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.

O Son of Man, to right my lot
Naught but Thy presence can avail;
Yet on the road Thy wheels are not,
Nor on the sea Thy sail!

My how or when Thou wilt not heed,
But come down Thine own secret stair,
That Thou may'st answer all my need—
Yea, every bygone prayer.

Prayer

Blessèd are you, Sovereign God, our light and our salvation,
to you be glory and praise for ever!
In the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
To dispel the darkness of our night,
you sent forth your Son, the first-born of all creation.
He is our Christ, the light of the world,
and him we acclaim, as all creation sings to you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessèd be God for ever!
— Celebrating common prayer.

Creation "In the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands."

Genesis Frontispiece, from the St John's Bible, Donald Jackson with contributions from Chris Tomlin

There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue
Anon. medieval (c.1420) English carol
Sung by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers
Introduced by actor Simon Russell Beale