ORDER OF SERVICE

for the Second Sunday before Advent

WELCOME  by David

HYMN  Click and join in or listen: 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise​

FIRST READING

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Judith reads 1 Thessalonians 5: 1 – 11

TALK  David talks about Maximilian Kolbe, a dedicated priest who was one of the 20th century's martyrs, and explains why this person has been an inspiration to him.

HYMN  Click and join in or listen: 

Ye servants of the Lord​

1  Ye servants of the Lord,
      each for your master wait,
    observant of his heavenly word,
      and watchful at his gate.

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2  Let all your lamps be bright,
      and trim the golden flame;
    gird up your loins as in his sight,
      for aweful is his name.

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3  Watch! 'tis your Lord's command,
      and while we speak, he's near;
    mark the first signal of his hand,
      and ready all appear.

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4  O happy servant he
      in such a posture found!
    he shall his Lord with rapture see,
      and be with honour crowned.

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5  Christ shall the banquet spread
      with his own royal hand,
    and raise that faithful servant's head
      amid the angelic band.

Philip Doddridge ( 1702-1751)

GOSPEL READING 

Malcolm Harvey reads Matthew 25: 14 - 30

SERMON  Preached by Hilary Swift

The parable of the talents

PRAYERS  Led by Wendy Round

Let us join with Liz, saying THE LORD'S PRAYER:

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  Click and join in or listen: 

Soldiers of Christ arise

1  Soldiers of Christ, arise,
      And put your armour on,
    Strong in the strength which God supplies,
      Through His eternal Son;
    Strong in the Lord of Hosts,
      And in His mighty pow’r,
    Who in the strength of Jesus trusts
      Is more than conqueror.

2  Stand then in His great might,
      With all His strength endued;
    But take, to arm you for the fight,
      The panoply of God,
    That, having all things done,
      And all your conflicts past,
    Ye may o’ercome through Christ alone,
      And stand entire at last.

3  Leave no unguarded place,
      No weakness of the soul,
    Take every virtue, every grace,
      And fortify the whole.
    Indissolubly joined,

      To battle all proceed;
    But arm yourselves with all the mind

      That was in Christ, your Head.

4  From strength to strength go on;
      Wrestle, and fight, and pray;
    Tread all the powers of darkness down,
      And win the well-fought day:
    Still let the Spirit cry
      In all His soldiers, “Come!”
    Till Christ the Lord descend from high,
      And take the conquerors home.

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John Wesley (1707-1788)

BLESSING given by David

ORGAN VOLUNTARY  

James Stanton plays the Allegro
from a concerto by Thomas Arne

COLLECTION If you would like to make a donation to St Mary's Church, please click here to make a secure credit card payment.

Heart-felt thanks to all who are supporting the work of the church.

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PLEASE NOTE that the link below now takes you to a new, secure online donation platform for churches, Give a Little, which is financially supported by the Church of England.

Background illustration:
Parable of the Talents

An etching by Jan Luyken (1649-1712) in the Bowyer Bible, Bolton Museum