Services at St Giles’
As we are now in a national lockdown and with a NHS emergency in London there will be no services in church for the time being, but we will be broadcasting a service at 10am on Sundays via our YouTube page here
Carol Services held in church on 2, 9 and 14 December, the Eucharist on Christmas Day and on Sundays the 3 and 10 January are available via our YouTube link
Sunday 17 January Epiphany 2
Music and readings
Organ Prelude SS Wesley Andante in C
Hymn 278 (choir) Alleluia, sing to Jesus!
First reading: 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10
The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there your hand shall lead me,
your right hand hold me fast.
10 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me
and the light around me turn to night,’
11 Even darkness is no darkness with you;
the night is as clear as the day;
darkness and light to you are both alike.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now
And shall be for ever. Amen.
Choir: Goss These are they which follow the Lamb
The Gospel: John 1: 43 – 51
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’
Sermon
Offertory Hymn 305 (choir) I come with joy, a child of God
Eucharistic Prayer
Choir: Wesley Lead me, Lord
Post Communion Prayer
Blessing
Organ Postlude: Mendelssohn Fugue from Sonata 2
Please click here if you would like to make a donation
The Sunday Club continues to meet at 10.00 via Zoom. Please contact Dave Archer for further details. davidjarcher@hotmail.co.uk
Join the Virtual Coffee morning at 11am. Click here
Sunday 24 January Readings
1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10 Revelation 5: 1 – 10 John 1: 43 – end
Weekday Services
08.30 Morning Prayer (Monday-Thursday) in the Chancel.
18-25 January - Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Thursday 21 January at 12.45pm
Ecumenical Service from Wesley’s Chapel - Click here to join
Praying together
13.00 -13.30 Private Prayer and Reflection on the first Thursday of the month
Thursday 7 January Private Prayer and Reflection from 13.00-13.30
We continue our monthly private prayer, and you are invited to join others in church on 7 January. You may find the Janaury prayer sheet below helpful - please bring a copy with you to church. If you are not able to join us, we hope you will continue to pray with us wherever you are.
Our text for January, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so everyone who believes in him wil not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3 v16
Let us pray for the church and the world and thank God for his goodness.
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the fellowship of the church, that supports and helps us to put our faith into practice.
Strengthen us, Lord, in your service, that we, may be an encouragement to others and hold fast to all that is good.
Loving Father, we remember and pray for the children and young people in their daily learning with schools and colleges closed because of the new national lockdown and rapid spread of the new variant Covid 19 virus. We pray for all teachers and lecturers now having to teach online that they may continue to inspire their pupils, remembering those from poorer families who are not able to participate and the effect on their futures. We pray for parents working from home and home teaching their children.
We pray for a world where humanity and love for others so often fails. We pray for those in government in every nation. We pray that those who lead and take on great responsibilities may genuinely serve their people, searching continually for policies and strategies which will be for the good of all, especially for the weakest and most vulnerable, including the unemployed, the homeless, refugees and the poor. We pray for the people of America at this time of difficult transition to a new President and for us in the UK as we face the world from outside the EU.
We pray for all who work in the NHS and other front-line services, for the success of the scientists who have developed the vaccines and for those who are part of the vaccination teams to administer them in a safe, swift, and ordered way.
We pray for those who are sick, especially those suffering from the long-term effects of the Covid 19 virus. We remember those who are lonely and depressed and pray that we may be good listeners to family members, friends, and neighbours to bring help and support to them. We remember those known to us who are in special need of our prayers at this time.
We praise and thank you for giving us so much to enjoy in the world. Open our eyes to see the beauty around us in Winter and give thanks for the different seasons. Help us to safeguard your world so that our children and future generations will benefit from all you have created.
We remember before you those who have died and those whose anniversaries fall at this time, give strength to those who are left to grieve and help us to share in each other’s sorrow. May the souls of the faithful departed, through your mercy, rest in peace and rise in glory.
Merciful Father accept our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
We finish by saying the Lord’s Prayer.
Lectionary for the Sundays after Epiphany including, the Presentation in the Temple (Candlemas)
17 January Epiphany 2
1 Samuel 3: 1 – 10, Revelation 5: 1 – 10, John 1: 43 – end
24 January Epiphany 3
Genesis 14: 17 – 20, Revelation 19: 6 – 10, John 2: 1 – 11
31 January Epiphany 4 Candlemas
Malachi 3: 1 – 5, Hebrews 2: 14 – end, Luke 2: 22 – 40
Our Liturgy
We use Common Worship for all services except on the first Sunday of the month when the 1662 Communion Service is used.
Baptisms
For many centuries parents who counted themselves members of the Christian Church have brought their children to be baptised. When a child is baptised (or Christened, both words mean the same) he or she is welcomed into the household of God and made a member of the church. It is the start of a journey.
The people who were baptised in the time of Jesus were adults. In the earliest days of the church only adults were baptised and this is still the custom in
some Christian traditions. As time passed, parents asked if their children could also be baptised and this custom was established. Children were baptised on the understanding that their parents would
bring them up in the faith of Christ. The church baptises babies and young children aware that the parents and Godparents will not always be fully involved in the life of the church but on the
understanding that they take seriously the opening of the life of the child to the touch of God. In the baptism service parents and Godparents promise to bring up the child to follow Jesus, and to
show him or her the right way to live by their own example. The child receives the love and shared faith of the whole people of God.
Baptisms here take place during the Parish Eucharist at 10.00.
A prayer for your child
God of love, May this child grow to love, to worship and serve you And bring life and joy to the world. Amen
Christingle and Mothering Sunday Services
We especially welcome parents, Godparents and children to the Christingle service on Advent Sunday at 16.00 and to the Mothering Sunday service in the Spring as part of the Parish Eucharist at 10.00.
Weddings
We like weddings at St Giles' and are very glad when couples want to get married here. A wedding is one of life's great moments, a time
of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. The most important part of your wedding will be the service held in church. Planning for this should be one of the happiest times in
your life together. Whether the ceremony you want is quiet and simple, or elaborate with glorious flowers and music and the bells ringing out, at the heart of the service the bride and bridegroom
face each other, make their promises and receive God's blessing.
Your wedding matters to us, your celebration takes place in the life of this church. You and your family and friends become part of the ancient tradition of prayer and
worship that has taken place in St Giles' over hundreds of years day by day and week by week. As you prepare for your wedding day we will be holding you in our prayers.
We like to get to know you before your wedding, and we invite you to come the main Sunday service at 10.00. There is coffee after the service and this gives us the opportunity to meet you and for you to speak with the Director of Music and to hear the choir and the organ.
"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing,but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,endures all things". 1 Corinthians 13. 4-7
For details of who can marry in St Giles and for planning your wedding click on the button below and scroll downs to Weddings at St Giles'
"Welcome Back Sunday Service"
Each year we hold a "Welcome Back Service" on the second Sunday in May as part of the 10.00 Parish Eucharist, when we invite those who have been married or have worshipped here and moved away. We give thanks for faithful relationships and marriage, we sing many of the hymns chosen for weddings and the organ music at the end is one of the famous recessional pieces.This is a popular service and all are welcome. There is also an opportunity after the service to show your photos and enjoy a glass of wine or fruit juice.
Funerals
Parish funerals take place either in St Giles' or at a crematorium.
Practical arrangements are made by the undertaker who will manage all fees. A church service needs to be arranged in consultation with the Rector.
Practising Christians may wish for the funeral to be conducted in the context of the Eucharist, or to be a service of hymns, readings and prayers
Families should be aware that it takes an hour to get to the nearest cremaorium.We can advise you on the different arrangements you can make when a church service is followed by a private committal at the crematorium.
Music is arranged by the Director of Music.There is a professional choir of four voices.
We are happy for receptions after the service to be held at the back of the church.
All Souls' Service
A very popular service, the Commemoration of All Souls is held here on the Sunday nearest 2 November at 16.00.There is music and readings, prayers and the lighting of candles by members of the congregation; the names of the dead are read out and silence kept. People find it very moving and beautiful and make a point of coming back each year.
Memorial Services
Generally a memorial service takes place several weeks after the funeral. Sometimes a memorial service is referred to as a service of thanksgiving. Usually the deceased had a connection either with the church or this part of London.
The Rector and Director of Music are involved in the planning of the service.
The Columbarium
The Columbarium is known as 'one of London's secret gardens.' It lies to the east of the church down a flight of stairs. There are some niches on an outside wall and others are in a covered area enclosed by a gate. We have many requests for the placing of ashes here, but because of the limited space, only the ashes of those who were worshipping members of the congregation or who lived within the parish at time of death are placed there.
"I am the resurrection and the life," says the Lord."Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11.25,26