Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

The choir sings the Introit

Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
   make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

All flesh is grass,
   and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field.

Words: Isaiah 40: 3b, 6b
Music: Humphrey Clucas (b 1941)

The officiant says a Sentence of Scripture

The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Composer: Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623–25

All sit. The choir sings Venite exultemus Domino

All remain seated. The choir sings Psalm 81

Sing we merrily unto God our strength : make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret : the merry harp with the lute.
Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon : even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.
For this was made a statute for Israel : and a law of the God of Jacob.
This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony : when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.
I eased his shoulder from the burden : and his hands were delivered from making the pots.
Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee : and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.
I proved thee also : at the waters of strife.
Hear, O my people, and I will assure thee, O Israel : if thou wilt hearken unto me,
there shall no strange god be in thee : neither shalt thou worship any other god.
I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt : open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.

All stand

Chants: James Turle (1802–82) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1831–82, and Joseph Barnby (1838–96)

All sit for the first Lesson, Amos 7: 1–9

This is what the Lord God showed me: he was forming locusts at the time the latter growth began to sprout (it was the latter growth after the king's mowings). When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,
'O Lord God, forgive, I beg you!
   How can Jacob stand?
   He is so small!'
The Lord relented concerning this;
   'It shall not be,' said the Lord.

This is what the Lord God showed me: the Lord God was calling for a shower of fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. Then I said,
'O Lord God, cease, I beg you!
   How can Jacob stand?
   He is so small!'
The Lord relented concerning this;
   'This also shall not be,' said the Lord God.

This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, 'Amos, what do you see?' And I said, 'A plumb-line.' Then the Lord said,
'See, I am setting a plumb-line
   in the midst of my people Israel;
   I will never again pass them by;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
   and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
   and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.'

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Benedicite omnia opera

O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Sun, and Moon, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Showers, and Dew, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Dews, and Frosts, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Nights, and Days, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Lightnings, and Clouds, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let the Earth bless the Lord.
O ye Mountains, and Hills, bless ye the Lord.
O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Seas, and Floods, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
All ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord.
O all ye Beasts, and Cattle, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O let Israel bless the Lord.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord.
O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord :
   praise him, and magnify him for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Morning Service in F, George Dyson (1883–1964)

All sit for the second Lesson, Luke 1: 5–20

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense-offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.' Zechariah said to the angel, 'How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.' The angel replied, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.'

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel : for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;
and hath raised up a mighty salvation for us : in the house of his servant David;
as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets : which have been since the world began;
that we should be saved from our enemies : and from the hands of all that hate us;
to perform the mercy promised to our forefathers : and to remember his holy covenant;
to perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham : that he would give us;
that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies : might serve him without fear;
in holiness and righteousness before him : all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
to give knowledge of salvation unto his people : for the remission of their sins,
through the tender mercy of our God : whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;
to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death : and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Morning Service in C, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852–1924)

All stand and face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit. The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany, the Lord's Prayer, and the Responses

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, of Advent, for Peace, and for Grace:

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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 Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day; defend us in the same with thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

John Barnard (fl 1648)

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Camilla the Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

All stand to sing the Hymn, during which a collection will be taken. The money from today's services will be divided equally between the work of the Abbey and the charities it supports. Alternatively, cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door

O heavenly Word of God on high,
whose love has brought salvation nigh,
and from the Father's heart didst come
to save a race by sin undone.

Our minds enlighten from above,
and kindle with the fire of love,
that as we hear thy gospel read,
all sinful thoughts may flee in dread.

So, when thou comest at the last,
and earth's long history is past,
may we be set at thy right hand,
and with thine own in glory stand.

Grant thou thy gifts of grace below,
in heaven an endless joy bestow,
who art our sole and sovereign Lord,
the saving judge, and saints' reward.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee
whose advent sets thy people free,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Spirit blest, for evermore.
   Amen.

Words: 2 NEH, after Verbum supernum prodiens c 10th century
Tune: St Gregory 1ii NEH, from König's Choralbuch 1738 adapted

All remain standing for the Blessing

Music after the service

Benedictus (Sonata III in D minor Op 152 'Britannica')

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary