Lord,
we beseech thee, give ear to our prayers,
and by thy gracious visitation
lighten the darkness of our hearts
by our Lord Jesus Christ;
who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God,
Give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness,
and put upon us the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which thy Son Jesus Christ
came to visit us in great humility;
that in the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty
to judge both the quick and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who liveth and reigneth with thee
and the Holy Spirit, now and ever.

God our redeemer,
who prepared the blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
Grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God,
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Magnificat

1 My soul proclaims the | greatness • of the | Lord, ■
my spirit rejoices • in | God my | Saviour,

2 who has looked with favour on his | lowly | servant; ■
from this day all gene|rations • will | call me | blessèd;

3 the Almighty has done | great things | for me ■
and | holy | is his | name.

4 God has mercy on | those who | fear him,■
from gene|ration • to | gene|ration.

5 The Lord has shown | strength • with his | arm ■
and scattered the | proud in | their con|ceit,

6 casting down the mighty | from their | thrones ■
and | lifting | up the | lowly.

7 God has filled the hungry with | good | things ■
and sent the | rich a|way | empty.

8 He has come to the aid of his | servant | Israel ■
to re|member • the | promise of | mercy,

9 The promise | made to • our | forebears, ■
to Abraham | and his | children • for | ever.

Heavenly Father,
you have given us a pledge of eternal redemption.
Grant that we may always eagerly celebrate
the saving mystery of the incarnation of your Son.
We ask this through him whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gracious God,
whose eternal Word took flesh among us
when Mary placed her life at the service of your will:
prepare our hearts for his coming again
and keep us steadfast in hope,
that we may be ready for the coming of his kingdom;
for his sake, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

An asterisk (*) before the hymn number indicates that the hymn has been recorded for use in public worship by the Recorded Church Music Committee.

2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16

342 - Sweet is the solemn voice that calls
*73 - The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
*343 - We love the place, O God
144 - Word of justice, alleluia

Canticle: Magnificat

*704 - Mary sang a song, a song of love
*S222 - My soul rejoices in God, my Saviour
*712 - Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
*373 - To God be the glory!
*S227 - With Mary let my soul rejoice

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

*690 - Come, worship God who is worthy of honour
*S43 - God everlasting, wonderful and holy
*374 - When all thy mercies, O my God

Romans 16: 25-27

*636 - May the mind of Christ my Saviour
175 - Of the Father's heart begotten

Luke 1: 26-38

*119 - Come, thou long-expected Jesus
*263 - Crown him with many crowns
462 - For Mary, mother of our Lord
*353 - Give to our God immortal praise
123 - God the Father sends his angel
*125 - Hail to the Lord's anointed
*92 - How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
*94 - In the name of Jesus
*97 - Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
*99 - Jesus, the name high over all
*S82 - Let me tell you about a baby
*133 - Long ago, prophets knew
*704 - Mary sang a song, a song of love
175 - Of the Father's heart begotten
472 - Sing we of the blessèd Mother
*S133 - Sons of the Holy One bright with his splendour
*73 - The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended
*199 - The people that in darkness walked
*117 - To the name of our salvation
*S149 - The virgin Mary had a baby boy
185 - Virgin-born, we bow before thee
477 - We praise you, Lord, today
*S227 - With Mary let my soul rejoice