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Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.

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Radio 4 Opening Announcement:Ìý

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.Ìý And time now for Sunday Worship which is a Mass live from St Joseph’s Church, Burntwood in Staffordshire. The Celebrant and Preacher is the parish priest Father Patrick Mileham and the service begins with a reading of verses from the Bible which introduce the theme

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ANTIPHON ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý [To be read over introduction to following hymn ]

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Voice 1: (Reader)

After the Lord was baptised, the heavens were opened,

and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove,

and the voice of the Father thundered:

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Voice 2: (Tony Stanley)

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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OPENING HYMNÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý When Jesus comes to be baptized

Text: Stanbrook Abbey, 1971

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INTRODUCTORY RITESÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Celebrant:ÌýÌý In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All:ÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Amen.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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Celebrant:ÌýÌý The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

All:ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý And with your spirit.

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Introduction given by CelebrantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

I’d like to welcome you here today, to St Joseph’s Catholic Church. The South Staffordshire town of Burntwood is on the edge of Cannock Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and close to the city of Lichfield.Ìý Our greatest claim to fame in recent years, was the discovery of the Anglo Saxon Hoard on the border of the parish; an incredible chance find of golden treasure, of great historical significance.

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Our church, dedicated to St Joseph is only 10 years old but it incorporates many features, including a beautiful set of stained-glass windows from our former parish church in neighbouring Chasetown.Ìý We are joined today by the talented musicians of CJM Music including their Musical Director and co-founder who isÌý a member of this parish.

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Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which brings to an end the Season of Christmas. We will begin our Mass today with the rite of blessing and sprinkling of holy water. I will, in a few moments move through the church, sprinkling the congregation.Ìý This not only reminds us of our own baptism but also that, through the baptismal waters, we share in the life of Christ as beloved sons and daughters of God, whose favour rests on us.Ìý

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CelebrantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Brothers and sisters, let us humbly beseech the Lord our God to bless this water he has created, which will be sprinkled on us as a memorial of our Baptism. May he help us by his grace to remain faithful to the Spirit we have received.

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(pause)

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Almighty Lord and God

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Who are the source and origin of all life, whether of body or soul, we ask you to bless this water, which Christ makes holy in the Jordan, which we use in confidence to implore forgiveness for our sins and to obtain the protection of your grace against all illness and every snare of the enemy.

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Grant, O Lord, in your mercy, that as your Son sanctified the waters of the Jordan so may living waters always spring up for our salvation, that we may we approach you with a pure heart and avoid all danger to body and soul. Through Christ our Lord. AmenÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

SPRINKLING RITEÌýÌý

SONGÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Springs of water, bless the Lord

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PRAYER

May almighty God cleanse us of our sins and through the celebration of this Eucharist make us worthy to share at the table of his Kingdom.

AmenÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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GLORIAÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Mass of St Bernadette

COLLECTÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

CelebrantÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Let us pray.

Almighty ever-living God,

Who, when Christ had been baptised in the River Jordan

And as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,

Solemnly declared him your beloved Son,

Grant that your children by adoption,

Reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,

May always be well pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Amen.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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FIRST READING Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11ÌýÌýÌýÌý (JEANETTE)

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah

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‘Console my people, console them’

says your God.

‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem

and call to her

that her time of service is ended,

that her sin is atoned for,

that she has received from the hand of the Lord

double punishment for all her crimes.’

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A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness

a way for the Lord.

Make a straight highway for our God

across the desert.

Let every valley be filled in,

every mountain and hill be laid low.

Let every cliff become a plain,

and the ridges a valley;

then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed

and all mankind shall see it;

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

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Go up on a high mountain,

joyful messenger to Zion.

Shout with a loud voice,

joyful messenger to Jerusalem.

Shout without fear,

say to the towns of Judah,

‘Here is your God.’

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Here is the Lord coming with power,

his arm subduing all things to him.

The prize of his victory is with him,

his trophies all go before him.

He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,

gathering lambs in his arms,

holding them against his breast

and leading to their rest the mother ewes.ÌýÌýÌý

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The word of the Lord.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

All: ÌýÌýÌý Thanks be to God.

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM (SUNG)ÌýÌýÌý Psalm 103:1-4,24-25,27-30Ìý (Remove 1 or 2 verses if timing a problem)

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Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are.

SECOND READING - ÌýActs of the Apostles 10:34-38ÌýÌý (possible cut)ÌýÌýÌýÌý

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

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Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

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‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’

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The word of the Lord

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ALL: ÌýÌý Thanks be to God

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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Your words are Spirit O Lord and they are life

you have the words of eternal life

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Mass of St Bernadette

GOSPEL Luke 3:15-16,21-221:26-38

The Lord be with you.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

And with your spirit.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Glory to you, O Lord.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.ÌýÌýÌý

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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HOMILY

About a year ago, I accompanied a group of people on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.Ìý Now pilgrimages are fairly common in the Catholic tradition because not only can they be both enjoyable and very rewarding; they can also bring closer to God and deepen our relationship with him and with one another; in the Holy Land, this experience is particularly special because we touch so many places mentioned in the Scriptures; the places associated with the patriarchs, prophets and kings and, of course, with the life and ministry of Jesus and his disciples.

As part of our pilgrimage we visited the ancient site of Jesus’ Baptism, the place where the events of today’s Gospel reading are believed to have taken place. The site is situated on the banks of the river Jordan, about 5 miles from the northern shore of the Dead Sea; It’s been rarely open to visitors since the 1967 war, because of its sensitive location on the border between Israel and Jordan. On the day we visited it was raining. It was cold, grey and miserable; reflecting the war-torn history of this site…the road to the site bore the marks of this with signs telling us to beware of mines.

It perhaps doesn’t sit well with the glorious image we might expect when thinking of the holy places.Ìý So, in the drizzle, we gathered together, we prayed and we read the Biblical account of Jesus’ Baptism.Ìý It was then that I noticed, far away in the west, the clouds beginning to break and the sun casting its rays onto the horizon.Ìý What these rays revealed to me was something I hadn’t realised about Christ’s journey.Ìý I didn’t hear any voice from heaven or see any doves descending but I was forcibly struck with what I saw on the horizon. And what it was, were the three towers that stand along the ridge of the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem.

Being there, I was surprisingly moved by the thought that Jesus’ public ministry, which began at his Baptism, there, by the banks of the River Jordan, ultimately led him to Jerusalem, to the place of his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, there on the ridge of the Mount of Olives. You could see, very clearly, both the beginning and the end of his journey.

That journey, in a spiritual sense, is the journey which all of us are invited to imitate and called to follow. It’s a journey that day by day draws us closer to Jesus, who strengthens us and nourishes us along the way. In the words of the Prophet Isaiah: ‘He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes’. The way he feeds us is of course by his word and his sacraments and in particular the Eucharist. It’s also a journey in which we are never alone, we have each other, our families and parish communities to pray for us and support us along the way.

But we know that the most rewarding paths are never the easiest; they are filled with dangers and challenges.Ìý As Christ’s journey from the Jordan to Jerusalem brought him trials, suffering and ultimately death, we are reminded that the journey which we take will challenge us and cause us to struggle; it’s a journey that will also involve suffering because all of us have our own particular cross to bear. Maybe it’s bereavement or illness or the breakup of a relationship; or maybe it’s unemployment or hardship and the struggle to make ends meet. In less dramatic ways, our cross might simply be the challenges of family life and the daily grind. The journey with Christ is as much in the ordinary things of life as the momentous or life changing. If we do try to follow Jesus, and unite our sufferings with his, we can be confident that we won’t be overwhelmed by whatever it is that burdens us.

Sadness and suffering are not the things that ultimately define us no matter how heartbreaking they are; because united with Christ, even death itself does not have the final word.

‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’. Let’s not forget that these affirming words of God the Father, heard from heaven after Jesus was baptized, are meant not just for Jesus but to all of us. For those of us who have been baptized and adopted as God’s beloved sons and daughters, it’s right, in this Year of Faith which Pope Benedict has proclaimed, that we reaffirm our baptismal commitment to the Lord. So wherever we are on life’s journey, in whatever place we find ourselves, let’s always try to stay focused; focused on the One we are following, focused on our final destination, focused on the light that shines on the horizon, the light of the new Jerusalem; God’s kingdom of justice, love and peace.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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APOSTLES CREED

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFULÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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CelebrantÌýÌýÌýÌý

At his baptism in the River Jordan, strengthened by his Father’s love, our Lord began his public ministry. Let us now place all our trust in that same love as we bring our needs before him.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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Reader

For the Pope, the bishops and all Christians, that through our common baptism we may work for the salvation of all peoples. May the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity which begins on Friday bring greater understanding between all the baptized.ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Lord, in your mercy.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hear our prayer.ÌýÌýÌý

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Reader

For an end to war, conflict and violence; we pray especially at this time for the peoples of Syria and the Holy Land; that they may build societies based on the principles of justice, reconciliation and mutual trust. Ìý

Lord, in your mercy.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hear our prayer.ÌýÌýÌý

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Reader

For the sick, the lonely and the marginalised; may they come to know that they are loved and cherished by God the Father whose voice was heard at the River Jordan.

Lord, in your mercy.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hear our prayer.

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ReaderÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

For those whose faith has grown dim; that in this Year of Faith, they may come to recognise true faith as something that enhances and enriches our lives, something that brings hope, freedom and benefit to the common good.

Lord, in your mercy.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hear our prayer.

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Reader

For those who have died and those whose anniversaries occur at this time, that the Lord will bless them with peace and grant them eternal rest.

Lord, in your mercy.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hear our prayer.

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ReaderÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

For the intercession of Our Lady, that as we reach the end of this Christmas season, she may lead all people to the One she lovingly bore in her womb.

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(Sung if time permits:)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women,

and bless’d is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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For our own private intentions; let us pray for a few moments in silence.

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CelebrantÌýÌýÌýÌý

God our Father, in the waters of baptism we died to sin and rose with Christ to become your adopted children. May we hear your voice once again, that we may recognize in your beloved Son our hope of inheriting eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Amen.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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LITURGY OF THE EUCHARISTÌýÌýÌýÌý

At this moment in the mass we move from the table of the Word to the table of the Eucharist. Having been fed by the Word of God we now prepare to celebrate his sacrifice on the cross where the bread and wine we present are transformed into his Body and Blood. Then the table of sacrifice becomes the table of our banquet.)ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

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Offertory SongÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý I am the voice crying out from the wilderness

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PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

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EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 2

SANCTUSÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Mass of St Bernadette

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COMMUNION RITE

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Celebrant

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All

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.

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Celebrant

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,

that, by the help of your mercy,

we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress,

as we await the blessed hope

and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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All

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

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SIGN OF PEACE

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DeaconÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Let us offer each other the sign of peace.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

LAMB OF GODÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Mass of St Bernadette

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COMMUNION SONGÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all!

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PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

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Celebrant

Nourished with these sacred gifts,

we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord,

that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son,

we may be your children in name and in truth.

Through Christ our Lord.

All ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýAmen.

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Celebrant ÌýÌýÌý The Lord be with you.

AllÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý And with your spirit.

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Celebrant ÌýÌýÌý May almighty God bless, the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit.

AllÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Amen.

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DeaconÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

AllÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Thanks be to God.

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FINAL HYMNÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

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Radio 4 Closing Announcement:

Sunday Worship came live from St Joseph’s Church, Burntwood in Staffordshire. The Mass was led by the Celebrant and Preacher, Father Patrick Mileham and the music was ledÌý by Mike Stanley and Jo Boyce.Ìý The Producer was Katharine Longworth.

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Next week, Sunday Worship comes from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London and looks forward to the Second Inauguration of President Obama.Ìý That’s at the usual time of 10 past 8, here on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.

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