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ORDER OF SERVICE

Advent Compline

Advent Sunday

29 November 2020 at 6.00pm

ALL HALLOWS BY THE TOWER

BYWARD STREET, LONDON EC3R 5BJ

Shining Christ’s light on Tower Hill since AD 675

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WELCOME

We each light a candle in our own homes, a sign of the light we long for in Christ’s

coming that we await in this Advent season.

POEM

Advent Calendar - Rowan Williams

He will come like last leaf fall.

One night when the November wind

Has flayed the trees to bone, and earth

Wakes choking on the mould,

The soft shroud’s folding.

He will come like frost.

One morning when the shrinking earth

Opens on mist, to find itself

Arrested in the net

Of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come in the dark.

One evening when the bursting red

December sun draws up the sheet

And penny masks its eye to yield

The star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come,

Will come like crying in the night,

Like blood, like breaking,

As the earth writhes to toss him free.

He will come like child

HYMN

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.

Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

light for the world to see.

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Christ be our light!

Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.

Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has pow'r to save us.

Make us your living voice.

Christ be our light! ...

Longing for food, many are hungry.

Longing for water, many still thirst.

Make us your bread, broken for others,

shared until all are fed.

Christ be our light! ...

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.

Longing for warmth, many are cold.

Make us your building, sheltering others,

walls made of living stones.

Christ be our light! …

Many the gifts, many the people,

many the hearts that yearn to belong.

Let us be servants to one another,

making your kingdom come.

Christ be our light! … Bernadette Farrell (born 1957)

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

All Amen.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All who made heaven and earth.

A period of silence for reflection on the past day follows.

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All Most merciful God,

we confess to you,

before the whole company of heaven and one another,

that we have sinned in thought, word and deed

and in what we have failed to do.

Forgive us our sins, heal us by your Spirit

and raise us to new life in Christ.

Amen.

O God, make speed to save us

All O Lord, make haste to help us

All 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.

MUSIC

Within our darkest night - Taizé Community

“Within our darkest night you kindle a fire that never dies away.”

THE WORD OF GOD

Psalm 24

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,

the world, and those who live in it;

All for he has founded it on the seas,

and established it on the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

All Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,

who do not lift up their souls to what is false,

and do not swear deceitfully.

They will receive blessing from the Lord,

and vindication from the God of their salvation.

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All Such is the company of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

All Who is the King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O gates!

and be lifted up, O ancient doors!

that the King of glory may come in.

All Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

All Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Scripture Reading

Mark 13.35-37

Therefore, keep awake - for you do not know when the master of the

house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at

dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what

I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

We hold a time of silence.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

All Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

All I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

All Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

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Keep me as the apple of your eye.

All Hide me under the shadow of your wings.

THE NUNC DIMITTIS (The Song of Simeon)

All Come, O Lord, and visit us in peace:

that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

All 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.

Come, O Lord, and visit us in peace:

that we may rejoice before you with a perfect heart.

POEM

from East Coker (Four Quartets) - T S Eliot

I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope

For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,

For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith

But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.

Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:

So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.

Whisper of running streams, and winter lightning.

The wild thyme unseen and the wild strawberry,

The laughter in the garden, echoed ecstasy

Not lost, but requiring, pointing to the agony

Of death and birth.

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THE PRAYERS

We put into the Chat the prayers we have at this time, the people and places

and situations that are longing for light and hope.

Response to the prayers:

Come, Lord Jesus with your light and peace.

All Come, Lord Jesus, Come

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and 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 lives and reigns with you, in the

unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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.

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THE CONCLUSION

In peace we will lie down and sleep;

All for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,

All for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning,

All so do we look for you, O Christ.

May God bless us, that in us may be found love and humility,

obedience and thanksgiving, discipline, gentleness and peace. Amen.

HYMN

O come, O come Emmanuel,

redeem thy captive Israel,

that into exile drear is gone,

far from the face of God’s dear son.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou branch of Jesse, draw

the quarry from the lion's claw;

from the dread caverns of the grave,

from nether hell, thy people save.

Rejoice! Rejoice! ...

O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright.

Pour on our souls thy healing light;

dispel the long night's lingering gloom,

and pierce the shadows of the tomb.

Rejoice! Rejoice! …

O Come, thou Lord of David’s Key.

The royal door fling wide and free;

safeguard for us the heavenward road,

and bar the way to death's abode.

Rejoice! Rejoice! ...

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O come, O come, Adonai,

who in thy glorious majesty

from that high mountain clothed in awe,

gavest thy folk the elder Law.

Rejoice! Rejoice! ... Latin 13th century, translated by T. A. Lacey (1853-1931)

© Oxford University Press

ORGAN MEDITATION

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

(Come, now, Saviour of the Gentiles)

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)

As we listen to the final organ meditation

we commit to God the journey of Advent.

As we await the coming of Christ,

who is God in flesh,

we ask for strength to witness to the light of his love in the world.

Come Lord Jesus Come!

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Notices

TALES FOR A WINTER’S EVENING - Tuesday 1 December, 6.30-8pm

Join us for a relaxed evening where we can share some of our favourite short stories, poems, monologues and songs, with time to catch up with each other as

well. Contributions warmly invited - do please get in touch with sophia@ahbtt.org.uk if you’d like to read or sing something. Alternatively bring a glass of something and

come just to listen and chat - all welcome. Join us on Zoom HERE. Meeting ID: 852 8501 2511 Passcode: 186281 Dial in: 0203 901 7895

PLANNING A GREEN CHRISTMAS - Sunday 6 December, 12.30-1pm

How can we celebrate Christmas without it costing the Earth? A short, fun session with ideas for eco-friendly gift wrap and decorations, re-usable Advent calendars,

alternatives to shop-bought presents, delicious recipes for using up leftovers etc. Did you know you can rent a live Christmas tree, or use an app to donate surplus food

to local people in need? Join us on Zoom HERE to make your Christmas greener this year. Meeting ID: 875 8710 0247 Passcode: 679378 Dial in: 0203 481 5240

ONLINE TAIZÉ SERVICE - Wednesday 9 December, 6pm We hold an online service of Taizé prayer every two weeks, with the music of the

Taizé community, bible readings, prayers, reflections and silence. The next service is on 9 December -all welcome. Join us on Zoom HERE. Meeting ID: 822 5652

7475 Password: 822 5652 7475 Or dial in by phone to: 0203 051 2874

STUDY COURSE - MISSIONARY JOURNEYS, MISSIONARY CHURCH Sundays 3 & 10 January at 12.30pm,

Our study course continues in the new year, as we look at the journeys of Paul and his companions using the book ‘Missionary Journeys, Missionary Church’ by Steven

Croft. Please buy a copy of the book (available on Amazon) and join us on Zoom HERE. Meeting ID: 868 8296 9751 Passcode: 083720 Dial in 0203 901 7895

WEEKLY EMAIL

Are you receiving our weekly parish emails? If not, you can keep up to date with all our news and events by signing up on our website - go to www.ahbtt.org.uk, enter

your email address in the 'Join our Mailing List' box and click 'Subscribe'. GIVING TO ALL HALLOWS

Our regular income has been significantly reduced because of the pandemic and we are relying on your support to help us at

this challenging time. You can donate by credit card using this QR code on your phone or at www.ahbtt.org.uk/donate. You

can also pay by bank transfer (email parish@ahbtt.org.uk for details) or by sending a cheque to the church office. Thank you.

mailto:sophia@ahbtt.org.uk?subject=Tales%20for%20a%20Winter%20Eveninghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/85285012511?pwd=UVBaTGIyd0R3RkgrVVJsYnhndVBHZz09https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87587100247?pwd=QWYrbTdtaytiWjZPc1JHRWsrN0Vudz09https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82256527475?pwd=VUJUZUtucUxNL3hXaFVVSXczcHVuQT09https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86882969751?pwd=SHpxNDYraW9rNiszUlAxSW0zMGpyQT09http://www.ahbtt.org.uk/donatemailto:parish@ahbtt.org.uk?subject=Giving%20to%20All%20Hallows

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ADVENT RESOURCES

You are invited to explore the following online resources on your Advent Journey:

‘Comfort and Joy' for Advent & Christmas from the Church of England, including

a weekly reflection and daily reflections from Christmas Day to 2 January HERE.

CAFOD online Advent prayer calendar HERE.

Online Advent Retreat from the Jesuit community with Sacred Space HERE. Sessions last about 25 mins and will be released week by week.

‘Waiting on the Word’ by Malcolm Guite. Daily Poetry in Advent, Christmas and Epiphany HERE.

RAISE FUNDS FOR ALL HALLOWS WHILE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Turn your online shopping into donations by using Easyfundraising when you shop. Just sign up as a supporter at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ahbtt and then

go to the Easyfundraising website first each time you shop online. If you use the links on their website to browse for your favourite shops each time, rather than

going directly to the retailer, they will make a donation to the church whenever you place an order, at no extra cost to you

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

AT ALL HALLOWS

We are planning to hold our Christmas services in person at the church

according to Covid-19 safe regulations, as well as online on Zoom.

As there will only be a limited number of people permitted in the church,

you will need to reserve your place in advance. Tickets are free but must

be pre-booked. Please email Angie (parish@ahbtt.org.uk) if you would like

to come in person (no need to book if you are attending online), indicating

which service you wish to attend. If we are oversubscribed we will operate

a waiting list, so please make sure you let us know if you find you can no

longer attend. The services are:

Sunday 13 December, 4pm: Lessons and Carols

Thursday 17 December, 6.30pm: Carols by Candlelight

Wednesday 23 December, 6pm: Taizé at the Crib (on Zoom only)

Thursday 24 December, 11.30pm: Midnight Mass

Friday 25 December, 11am: Christmas Day Eucharist

https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/preparing-advent-christmas-2020-comfort-and-joyhttps://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Advent-calendarhttps://pray-as-you-go.org/article/advent-retreat-2020https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/blog/http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/ahbtt

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THE TEAM AT ALL HALLOWS

Vicar: The Rev'd Katherine Hedderly

Associate Vicar: The Rev'd Sophia Acland

Licensed Lay Minister: Martin Carr

Operations & Finance Manager: Angie Poppitt

Education & History Officer: Adey Grummet

Organist and Director of Music: Jonathan Melling

Church Wardens: Ken Marshall, Di Robertshaw

ALL HALLOWS BY THE TOWER

with St Dunstan's in the East

Byward Street, London EC3R 5BJ

Tel: 020 7481 2928 Email: parish@ahbtt.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1129137

www.ahbtt.org.uk

@AllHallowsTower

Facebook.com/ahbtt

Hymns reproduced in accordance with CCLI Licence 557772 and One License A-631897

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000

Printed on 100% recycled paper as part of All Hallows' Eco Church commitment