Join The Revd Canon Dr Alison Joyce, Rector of St Bride's, and St Bride's Choir for this week's reflection in words and music.

Stanford's most dramatic anthem – For lo, I raise up – opens this week's reflection. Written at the outbreak of the First World War, it sets Habakkuk’s Old Testament prophecies, beginning with a depiction of the violence and destruction of war but ending with a message of hope, deliverance and the power of faith.

The church's yearly pattern of observances and celebrations is approaching its end with the feast of Christ the King towards the end of this month when we triumphantly proclaim the universal sovereignty of Christ as supreme authority over all creation whose ultimate triumph lies at the end of time.

In today's reading St Luke's gospel, Jesus foretells of that end and his second coming and Alison reflects on these challenging words.

We end with the seasonal hymn "King of glory, king of peace" by the devotional poet and priest, George Herbert.
We close with the patriotic hymn "I vow to thee my country" published in 1921 after the Great War finally ended. The tune, by Holst, is an adaptation from his Planets Suite and sets a two stanza poem by Cecil Spring Rice, who served as British Ambassador to the United States during the war.

Information about our weekly Sunday services in St Bride's of Choral Eucharist at 11am (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-eucharist/) and Choral Evensong at 5:30 pm (https://www.stbrides.com/worship-music/worship/regular-services/choral-evensong/) can be found on the website.

Find out what's happening at St Bride's at https://www.stbrides.com/whats-on

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We are hugely grateful for people's generosity which we wholly rely on to continue our work, maintain our wonderful architectural heritage and support world-class music-making. People are often surprised to learn that St Bride's receives no external funding.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/stbrideschurchfleetstreet