St. Michael - October 4 - Trinity 17

Scriptures and Hymns • October 4

St. Michael and All Angels • The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

Processional Hymn 44

1. WITH the countless hosts of heaven
    Kneeling round the Throne of Light,
   With the Angels and Archangels,
    Cherub pure, and Seraph bright;
   With the Saints and Martyrs glorious,
    Join we now with one accord,
   Singing with the Church victorious
    “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.”
2. “Be ye holy,” saith the Scripture,
    “For your Lord is holy” still,
   Sanctify us then we pray Thee,
    Sanctify our heart and will;
   Pure our every wish and feeling,
    Pure our every thought and word,
   As we chant before Thine Altar,
    “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.”
3. And, amidst this world of sorrow,
    Lift awhile our hearts above,
   Grant us visions of the worship
    Round the Eternal Throne of Love:
   Visions of the King in beauty,
    Of the Lamb by all adored,
   Of the Angels ever singing,
    “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.”
4. Praise to Thee, O Holy Father,
    Praise to Thee, O Holy Son,
   Praise to Thee, O Holy Spirit.
    Ever Three and Ever One;
   Praise to Thine All-Holy Godhead.
    Sing we thus with one accord—
   Echoes of the song eternal,
    “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord.” Amen.

The Collect

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, with all our hearts we praise thee for the great glory of thy most holy archangel Michael and all thy holy angels; we thank thee for their wonderful wisdom, their supreme strength, their radiant beauty; and, as their resistless power is used always and utterly in thy service, so may we, following zealously their resplendent example, devote ourselves wholly to the helping of our brethren; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle

The portion of scripture appointed for the epistle is taken from the seventh and eighth chapters of the Revelation of St John the Divine.

I SAW the seven angels who stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was brought before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

And all the angels stood round about the throne and about the elders and the four beasts and fell before the throne on their faces and worshipped God, saying: Amen; blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Special Gradual

O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord:
 praise Him and magnify Him for ever.

To Him all Angels sing aloud:
 the Heavens and all the Powers therein.

To Him Cherubim and Seraphim:
 continually do cry:

Holy, Holy, Holy:
 Lord God of Hosts.

O praise the Lord, ye Angels of His,
ye that excel in strength:
 ye that fulfil His commandment,
 and hearken unto the voice of His words.

O praise the Lord, all ye His hosts:
 ye servants of His that do His pleasure.

The Gospel

The holy gospel is taken from the eighteenth chapter of the Gospel according to St Matthew, beginning at the first verse.

THEN came the disciples unto Jesus, saying: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said: Amen, I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences; for it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Offertory Hymn 83

1. FAIR are the feet that bring the news
    Of gladness unto me;
   How many messengers God hath
    If we had eyes to see!
2. Thine Angels speak, but still must we
    The hearing ear bestow;
   They smite the rock, but our own lips
    Must stoop to drink the flow.
3. Lo! all things are Thine Angels, Lord,
    That bring my God to me;
   O for the ears to hear their word,
    O for the eyes to see!
4. In all the world I’ve found but Thee,
    Where’er my feet have trod;
   I see my God in everything,
    And everything in God.
5. To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
    The God Whom we adore.
   Be glory, as it was, is now,
    And shall be evermore. Amen.

Recessional Hymn 102

1. O HEAR the song of Angels,
    Come down from realms above;
   A song of radiant gladness,
    A song of peace and love,
   A song of endless glory,
    That through the world shall flow;
   For our Great Master cometh
    From heaven to earth below.
2. It fills the empyrean,
    It flashes through the skies,
   It floods the earth with beauty,
    And far and wide it flies;
   It goeth east and westward,
    It runneth south and north.
   Transcendent news it bringeth,
    Of right celestial worth.
3. The winds all bear the message;
    The moon, the stars, the sun,
   Proclaim the wondrous story,
    Of that new reign begun.
   A reign of truth and justice,
    Of splendour and of strength,
   For our great King is coming
    To bless His world at length.
4. Then sing, ye holy Angels,
    And sing, ye sons of men,
   The King of Glory cometh,
    Within our hearts to reign.
   He comes to bring us Freedom,
    To teach us how to live;
   Dispelling gloom and error,
    He wisdom’s light doth give.
5. Now unto God the Father,
    And unto God the Son,
   And unto God the Spirit
    Be equal honour done.
   With songs of praise and worship
    The Three in One adore;
   God grant us strength to serve Him
    And love Him more and more. Amen.