United Benefice of St.Mary, Higham Ferrers, and St. John, Chelveston
The United Benefice of St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers with St John the Baptist, Chelveston-cum-Caldecott
Sunday 16th November
Second Sunday before Advent
The church clock of St Peter’s Church, Irthlingborough introduces our Meeting Point service
HYMN
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose Word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
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See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t’ assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
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Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus they march, their pillar leading,
light by night, and shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.
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Saviour, if of Zion’s city,
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name;
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion’s children know.
words: John Newton (published 1779)
music: Austrian Hymn
A reading from Luke’s Gospel
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."
They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!' and, `The time is near!' Do not go after them.
"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls." Luke 21:5-19
The fall of the temple
Christ the Redeemer
Corcovado Mountain
Brazil
ANTHEM – IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE WALK IN DARKNESS
In a world where people walk in darkness,
let us turn our faces to the light,
to the light of God revealed in Jesus,
to the daystar scattering our night.
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For the light is stronger than the darkness
and the day will overcome the night,
though the shadows linger all around us,
let us turn our faces to the light.
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In a world where suffering of the helpless
casts a shadow all along the way,
let us bear the cross of Christ with gladness
and proclaim the dawning of the day.
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Let us light a candle in the darkness,
in the face of death, a sign of life;
as a sign of hope where all seems hopeless,
as a sign of peace in place of strife.
Words: Robert Willis (b.1947)
Music: Richard Shephard (b.1949)
MEDITATION ON CHRIST’S WARNINGS OF FUTURE EVENTS
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BLESSING
HYMN
Come and see the shining hope that Christ's apostle saw;
On the earth, confusion but in heaven an open door,
Where the living creatures praise the Lamb for evermore:
Love has the victory for ever!
Amen, he comes! to bring his own reward!
Love has the victory for ever!
All the gifts you send us Lord are faithful good and true
Holiness and righteousness are shows in all you do
Who can see you greatest gift and fail to worship you?
Love has the victory for ever!
Amen, he comes! to bring his own reward!
Love has the victory for ever!
Power and salvation all belong to God on high!
So the mighty multitudes of heaven make their cry
Singing hallelujah, where the echoes never die;
Love has the victory for ever!
Amen, he comes! to bring his own reward!
Love has the victory for ever!
Words: Chrisopher Idle (b. 1938)
Music: Henry Clay Work
Material used in this service is copyright of its respective rights owners. Music and hymn words are reproduced under ONE LICENSE number A-633137, Church Copyright License 2148907 and Music Reproduction License 2216255. Material in this order of service is taken from Common Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006 and is used here with permission. www.commonworship.com.
images by permission of www.christart.com