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 Hertford Chamber Choir.

Setting: Missa Aeterna Christi munera, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c 1525–94)

During the offertory hymn a collection will be taken. The money from today's services will be divided equally between Peek Vision and the work of the Abbey. Peek Vision is a social enterprise that powers eye health providers working in low- and middle-income countries to optimise their services and strengthen health systems.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter, and to sing the Hymn

The Lord whom earth and sea and sky
adore and praise and magnify,
who o'er their threefold fabric reigns,
the Virgin's spotless womb contains.

And he whose will is ever done
by moon and seas, by stars and sun,
is borne upon a maiden's breast,
whom God's foreseeing grace possessed.

How blest that Mother, in whose shrine
the very Word of God divine,
the maker of the earth and sky,
was pleased in fleshly form to lie.

Blest in the message Gabriel brought,
blest in the work the Spirit wrought,
blest evermore, who brought to birth
the long-Desired of all the earth.

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee
eternal praise and glory be,
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Spirit, evermore.
   Amen.

Words: Quem terra pontus aethera Venantius Fortunatus (c 530–c 609)
Tune: Puer nobis nascitur 181ii NEH, adapted by Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

All remain standing. The president introduces the Prayers of Penitence, after which all say

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

The president gives the Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The choir sings Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria in excelsis Deo,

All sit

et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe; Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

All stand for the Collect

Let us pray.

All sit for the Reading from the Old Testament, Isaiah 7: 10–14

The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: 'Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.'

The choir sings Psalm 40: 5–11

Great are the wonders you have done, O Lord my God. How great your designs for us!
   There is none that can be compared with you.
If I were to proclaim them and tell of them
   they would be more than I am able to express.

Sacrifice and offering you do not desire
   but my ears you have opened;
burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you have not required;
   then said I, 'Lo, I come.
In the scroll of the book it is written of me that I should do your will, O my God;
   I delight to do it: your law is within my heart.'
I have declared your righteousness in the great congregation;
   behold, I did not restrain my lips, and that, O Lord, you know.
Your righteousness I have not hidden in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
   I have not concealed your loving-kindness and truth from the great congregation.

The Epistle, Hebrews 10: 4–10

It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. When Christ came into the world, he said,
'Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
   but a body you have prepared for me;
in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings
   you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, "See, God, I have come to do your will, O God"
   (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).'
When he said above, 'You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin-offerings' (these are offered according to the law), then he added, 'See, I have come to do your will.' He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

All stand for the Procession of the Gospel. The choir sings

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

and all repeat

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory.

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The reader announces the Gospel, Luke 1: 26–38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.' But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.' Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.' Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.' Then the angel departed from her.

The Sermon by The Reverend Dan Warnke, Priest Vicar

All stand to say the Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

All remain standing for the Prayers of Intercession. At the end of each petition there is said

The intercession ends

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The president introduces the Peace

In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

All may greet one another with the words Peace be with you. Please be sensitive to those who might not wish to shake hands

All remain standing to sing the Hymn during the Preparation of the Altar. The collection will be taken. Alternatively, cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door

For Mary, Mother of the Lord
   God's holy name be praised,
who first the Son of God adored
   as on her child she gazed.

The angel Gabriel brought the word
   she should Christ's mother be;
our Lady, handmaid of the Lord,
   made answer willingly.

The heavenly call she thus obeyed,
   and so God's will was done;
the second Eve love's answer made
   which our redemption won.

She gave her body for God's shrine,
   her heart to piercing pain,
and knew the cost of love divine
   when Jesus Christ was slain.

Dear Mary, from your lowliness
   and home in Galilee
there comes a joy and holiness
   to every family.

Hail, Mary, you are full of grace,
   above all women blest;
blest in your Son, whom your embrace
   in birth and death confessed.

Words: John Peacey (1896–1971)
Tune: St Botolph 385 NEH Gordon Slater (1896–1979) 

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

It is indeed right and good, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

We give you thanks and praise that the Virgin Mary heard with faith the message of the angel, and by the power of your Holy Spirit conceived and bore the Word made flesh. From the warmth of her womb to the stillness of the grave he shared our life in human form. In him new light has dawned upon the world and you have become one with us that we might become one with you in your glorious kingdom.

Therefore earth unites with heaven to sing a new song of praise; we too join with angels and archangels as they proclaim your glory without end:

The choir sings Sanctus

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The president continues the Eucharistic Prayer

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

The president concludes the Eucharistic Prayer

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

All remain standing. The president introduces the Lord's Prayer

As we prepare to feed on the living bread which comes down from heaven, so we say, each in our own language, the prayer that Jesus Christ has taught us,

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.

All remain standing for the Breaking of the Bread

The congregation is invited to sit as the president and other ministers begin the distribution of Holy Communion. Those wishing to receive come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Gluten-free wafers are available

Holy Communion is offered in both kinds (bread and wine). Wine is offered to drink only; please refrain from dipping bread in the chalice. If you prefer to receive in one kind (bread alone) then you may do so. Those who do not wish to receive communion are invited to come for a blessing. Please bow your head to indicate to the priest that you are asking for a blessing. The minister says

The body of Christ. Amen.

The blood of Christ. Amen.

During the giving of communion, the choir sings Agnus Dei and the Motet

Dixit Maria ad angelum: Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Mary said to the angel: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me, according to your word.

Words: after Luke 1: 38
Music: Hans Leo Hassler (c 1564–1612)

Let us pray.

All stand. The president says the Prayer after Communion

God most high, whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh: we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption you visit us with your Holy Spirit and overshadow us with your power; strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The president pronounces the Blessing

Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Music after the service

Magnificat primi toni BuxWV 203, Dieterich Buxtehude (c 1637–1707)

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Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.