Once in royal David’s city (Solo first verse sung by Liam Butterworth, a chorister of The Queen’s Chapel of the Savoy)

Words: Mrs C. F. Alexander (1818-1895)

Tune: ‘Irby’, H. J Gauntlett (1808-1876), rev. A. H. Mann (1850-1929)

Descant: Philip Berg (b. 1959)

WELCOME

The Chaplain

BIDDING PRAYER

My sisters and brothers in the name of Christ welcome to this Carol Service. Christmas draws near and we prepare for our celebration of the birth of God’s beloved Son. Through the days of Advent we follow the light of Christ, and we travel in spirit with Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to acclaim with the multitude of the heavenly host the coming of the Prince of Peace. Through Scripture and silence, prayer and song, let us hear again the wonderful story of our redemption, and, hearing, let us rejoice and respond with lively faith. Amen.

Choir Anthem

Zion hört die Wächter singen

Words: P. Nicolai (1556 – 1608)

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

First Lesson  Isaiah 9: 2, 6 & 7 (The Prophecy of the Messiah's Birth);

Read by Peter Charlton

Carol

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Words: Edmund Sears (1810 – 76)

Music: Traditional English, adapted by Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842 –1900)

Second Lesson  Matthew 1:18-23 (The Birth of Emmanuel)

Read by Elizabeth Stanton Jones

Choir Anthem

I saw a fair mayden sytten and sing.

Words: 15th Century

Music: R. R. Terry (1865-1938)

Third Lesson  John 1; 1-14 (The Incarnation of the Word of God)

Read by Sir Andrew Parmley

Carol

The Three Kings

Words and music: Peter Cornelius (1824-94), arr. Philip Berg (b. 1959)

COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

The Chaplain

Almighty God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

Carol

Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and others

Music : Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847)

CLOSING VOLUNTARY

I Saw Three Ships

English Traditional Carol, arr. for voices and organ by

Philip Berg MVO (b. 1959).

Transcribed for saxophone ensemble, and played, by

Alfie Beston (current chorister).

FIRST READING    2 Peter 3.8–15a

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

PSALM 85: 8-13

8. I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me : for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again.

9. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him : that glory may dwell in our land.

10. Mercy and truth are met together : righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11. Truth shall flourish out of the earth : and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

12. Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness : and our land shall give her increase.

13. Righteousness shall go before him : and he shall direct his going in the way.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;

end. Amen.

SECOND READING     Mark 1.1–8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,”’ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

FIRST READING    Isaiah 64.1–9

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence – as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.

PSALM 80 1-7, 17-19

1. Hear O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep : shew thyself also, thou that sittest upon the cherubims.

2. Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses : stir up thy strength, and come, and help us.

3. Turn us again, O God : shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

4. O Lord God of hosts : how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?

5. Thou feedest them with the bread of tears : and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.

6. Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours : and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7. Turn us again, thou God of hosts : shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

17.  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand : and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.

18.  And so will not we go back from thee : O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.

19.  Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts : shew the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it as in the beginning, is now

and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

SECOND READING   Mark 13.24–37

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 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.’

FIRST READING   Ephesians 1: 15-end

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

PSALM 95 1-7

1. O Come let us sing unto the Lord : let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving : and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

3. For the Lord is a great God : and a great King above all gods.

4. In his hand are all the corners of the earth : and the strength of the hills is his also.

5. The sea is his, and he made it : and his hands prepared the dry land.

6. O come, let us worship and fall down : and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

7. For he is the Lord our God : and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it as in the beginning, is now

and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

SECOND READING   Matthew 25: 31- end.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

FIRST READING   1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

SECOND READING   Matthew 25: 14-30

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The kingdom of heaven is as if a man, going on a journey,  summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”’

WELCOME

THE ACT OF HOMAGE

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

we will remember them.

We will remember them.

HYMN

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Words: Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice, GCMG, GCVO (1859-1918) Tune: ‘Thaxted’ Gustav Theodore Holst (1874-1934)

FIRST READING  Amos 5: 18-24

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

PSALM 70

1.  Haste thee, O God, to deliver me : make haste to help me, O Lord.

2.  Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul : let them be turned backward

and put to confusion that wish me evil.

3.  Let them for their reward be soon brought to shame : that cry over me, There, there.

4.  But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee : and let all such as delight in thy

salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.

5.  As for me, I am poor and in misery : haste thee unto me, O God.

6.  Thou art my helper and my redeemer : O Lord, make no long tarrying.

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

SECOND READING  Matthew 25.1–13

Jesus spoke this parable to the disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’

PSALM 118 19-24

19.  Open me the gates of righteousness : that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.

20.  This is the gate of the Lord : the righteous shall enter into it.

21. I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me : and art become my salvation.

22.  The same stone which the builders refused : is become the head-stone in the corner.

23. This is the Lord's doing : and it is marvellous in our eyes.

24.  This is the day which the Lord hath made : we will rejoice and be glad in it.

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.

READING  Matthew 21.1–11

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew.

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

PSALM 22: 1-11

1.  My God, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me : and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint?

2.  O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not : and in the night-season also I take no rest.

3.  And thou continuest holy : O thou worship of Israel.

4.  Our fathers hoped in thee : they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them.

5.  They called upon thee, and were holpen : they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded.

6.  But as for me, I am a worm, and no man : a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people.

7.  All they that see me laugh me to scorn : they shoot our their lips, and shake their heads, saying,

8.  He trusted in God, that he would deliver him : let him deliver him, if he will have him.

9.  But thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb : thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts.

10.  I have been left unto thee ever since I was born : thou art my God, even from my mother's womb.

11.  O go not from me, for trouble is hard at hand : and there is none to help me.

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.

PSALM 118: 14-24

14.  The Lord is my strength, and my song : and is become my salvation.

15.  The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.

16.  The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence : the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.

17.  I shall not die, but live : and declare the works of the Lord.

18.  The Lord hath chastened and corrected me : but he hath not given me over unto death.

19.  Open me the gates of righteousness : that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.

20.  This is the gate of the Lord : the righteous shall enter into it.

21.  I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me : and art become my salvation.

22.  The same stone which the builders refused : is become the head-stone in the corner.

23.  This is the Lord's doing : and it is marvellous in our eyes.

24.  This is the day which the Lord hath made : we will rejoice and be glad in it.

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.

FIRST READING Acts 10.34–43

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Here ends the first reading.

SECOND READING  Matthew 28:1–10

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

Here ends the second reading.

FIRST READING  Acts 2: 14a, 22 -32

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, ‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know – this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.” This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.’

Here ends the first reading.

SECOND READING   John 20: 19-end

A reading from the gospel according to John.

When it was evening on the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Here ends the second reading.