... for a "Civic Service" which will have the local mayor,assorted political bods and other grandees of the borough in attendance.

I'm struggling with thoughts on this one to be honest. Any suggestions (amusing or serious) would be gratefully received.

Thanks!

Chorus of Peers, Iolanthe?

Farrant's "Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake"!

And I'd also try to make sure the hymn "O God of earth and altar" is on the menu!

Less facetiously:
A setting of "God be in my head"?
Vaughan Williams's "O taste and see"?

I'll have a further think.

Tallis 'O Lord give thy holy spirit'.

W. H. Harris / Parry / Byrd: Prevent us, O Lord [a very suitable text]
Viadana: Exultate justi in Domino
W H Harris: Come my way, my truth, my life
Bullock: Give us the wings of faith (a bit long perhaps?)
Howells: I would be true
Wills: To the most high Trinity
Batten: O praise the Lord
Batten: O sing joyfully

'Let us now praise famous men' ? ! There's a setting I think in the Hymn Book 'Songs of Praise'.

let us now praise famous men was set by RVW i think.

What about a setting of 48:4 "for Lo, the kings of the earth are gathered and gone by together"

There used to be four small books of very useful introits published by Novello; two volumes by George Thalben Ball (I think they were under the title 'Laudate Dominum') and two by Eric Thiman. I have got copies of all four somewhere (not sure where at the moment!) and will try to find them.
The GTB ones were, if I recall correctly, composed for the Daily Service on Radio 4. All four books have some very useful pieces in - all are short (some very short!) and are in many different styles to suit all sorts of occasions - they are extremely good for setting the mood of a service at the outset, whether joyful, triumphant, reflective, penitential (or anything in between!).
Herbert Sumsion also composed a set of 9 (i think) Introits - I can't remember who published them - which are also useful, covering the main church festivals.

Philip

Dare I suggest an arrangement from The Magic Flute as a voluntary, whilst the assembled dignitaries are 'shaking hands'?

SB

Colin Mawby's "May the grace of Christ uphold us" (23 bars long).

P4