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 18th October 2026
HYMN
Angel voices ever singing
round Thy throne of light,
angel harps, forever ringing,
rest not day nor night;
thousands only live to bless Thee
and confess thee Lord of might.
Thou who art beyond the farthest
mortal eye can scan,
can it be that Thou regardest
songs of sinful man?
Can we know that Thou art near us
and wilt hear us? Yea, we can.
Yea, we know That love rejoices
o'er each work of Thine;
Thou didst ears and hands and voices
for Thy praise design;
craftsman's art and music's measure
for Thy pleasure all combine.
Honour, glory, might, and merit
Thine shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
blessed Trinity:
of the best that Thou hast given
earth and heaven render Thee.
Words: Francis Pott (1832 -1909)
Tune: Edwin George Monk (1819 – 1900)
A reading from Luke 1 : 1 - 4
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
A reading from Acts 27: 7 - 9
Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.
And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
ANTHEM
God of hope and Lord of healing, we come to you in prayer;
in our living, in our dying, you promise to be there.
For the weak we ask your courage, and your patience for the strong;
stay with those whose pain is sharpest and those enduring long:
and provide for all the weary your precious gift of sleep;
with the glad let us be joyful, and weep with those who weep.
By the grace of your forgiveness, by virtue of your word,
by the sacrament which brings us the comfort of our Lord;
by the life he freely gave us, and the cross to which he came,
by the glory of his kingdom, the power of his name:
come to meet your praying people, be with us as we kneel;
come to help us, God our Saviour, for you alone can heal.
Words:- Christopher Idle (b. 1938)
Music:- Margaret Rizza (1929 – 2026)
A reading from 2 Timothy 4 : 6 – 8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
ST. LUKE PRAYER AND BLESSING
HYMN
Saint Luke, beloved physician,
with honour now recall,
who served his Master's mission,
who ministered to Paul;
whose skill to distant ages
bequeathed a gift unpriced,
a gospel in whose pages
we see the face of Christ.
He tells for us the stories
of Jesus here on earth,
the unsung pains and glories
that marked the church's birth;
the Spirit's power in preaching,
the contrite sinner freed,
the grace and mercy reaching
our deepest human need.
For all who work our healing
we lift our hearts in prayer,
the love of God revealing
in science, skill and care:
his gifts be still imparted
to those who make us whole,
like Luke the tender-hearted,
physician of the soul.
Words : Timothy Dudley Smith (1926 - 2024)
Tune: William Harold Ferguson (1872 – 1950)
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