Maundy Thursday – short version

MAUNDY THURSDAY (9th April)

Maundy comes from the Latin ‘mandatum novum’ – ‘new commandment’. John 13v.34.  Today the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, ‘the day before he suffered’.  During the supper our Lord gave us a lesson in love which was shown washing of his disciples’ feet.

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Trusting in God’s plan for us, let us ask to be renewed in heart and in mind.

Lord, you showed us perfect love.  Lord, have mercy.

Lord, you gave yourself completely.  Christ, have mercy.

Lord, you left us an example to copy.  Lord, have mercy.

A reading from the first letter of S. Paul to the Corinthians:

This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it and broke it, and He said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.”  In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.”  Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.

PRAYERS

We offer our prayers to the Father who calls us home.

We pray for the Church; that in the humility of Christ, we may share her true riches with each other and with the world.

For the leaders of our nation: that they may lead by service especially at this difficult time.

For those who are in need, that they may be supported by a caring society.

We pray that we may all help each other in the great journey, and lighten each other’s load on the way.

We pray for the medical and nursing professions and for all carers.

We pray for all those who have come to the end of their life: that they may take that final step into the heavenly kingdom.

We thank you, Father, when your Son loved us to perfection, and showed us the final meaning of His love.

Our Father…………

CHRIST MOVES TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE WHERE HE WILL FACE ARREST AND THEN TRIAL

Servant – Christ, in prayer we follow you into the garden, to watch with you.  Help us to be ever vigilant for signs of the dawning of your day; to struggle unsparingly to understand, and to be obedient to your perfect will.

Good Friday – short version

GOOD FRIDAY (10th April)

Today the Church stands before the cross of Christ.  The significant part of the day is silence.

Almighty Father, look with mercy on your family for which Our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed and given up into the hands of sinners and to suffer death upon the cross; who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever.  Amen.

THE PASSION GOSPEL

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.  And the people stood beholding.  Then the rulers also with them derided Him, saying: “He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be the Christ, the chosen of God.”  And the soldiers also mocked Him.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, “I thirst.”  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon a hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said: “It is finished”; and he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.

A short period of silence.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

REFLECTION

Lord, what would we have done?  Would we have fallen asleep and then run away terrified, like the disciples in Gethsemane?  Thank you that you forgive us for our weakness, when we opt out and run away from conflict and cost.

Lord, what would we have done?  Would we have shouted ‘Hosanna’ on one day, and ‘Crucify’ on another?  Forgive us when we fail you because it is easier to follow the crowd.

Lord, what would we have done?  Would we have been harsh and judgemental like the Pharisees?  Forgive us when we are quick to condemn, or hide behind legalism.

Lord, what would we have done?  Would we have been like the soldiers, hard and callous, just doing their job?  Forgive us when we act blindly and unthinkingly, without considering the effect our behaviour has on others.

Lord, what would we have done?  Would we have slunk away ashamed from the horror of Calvary?  We thank you that you forgive us when we let you down, and that your love is stronger than all the evil we could throw at you; Lord accept these prayers, offered in your name.

Standing at the foot of the cross, let us pray with confidence as or Saviour has taught us:

Our Father…………

May the cross of Our Lord protect those who belong to Jesus, and strengthen our hearts in faith to Christ, in hardship and in ease, in life and in death, now and for ever.  Amen.

Easter Sunday – short version

EASTER SUNDAY (12th April)

We rejoice in the new life with God our Father has given us through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.  We carry the joy of this feast into the lives of those who seek meaning, hope and encouragement.

If practical, an unlit candle should be placed in a prominent position.

Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to Him, and all ages; to Him be glory and power, through every age and for ever.  Amen.

If safe to do so, light the candle.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The light of Christ.  Thanks be to God.

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way of life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

GOSPEL

Alleluia, alleluia.  I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.  Alleluia.

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb.  She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved.  “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb” she said “and we don’t know where they have put him.”

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.  They ran together but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in.  Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.  Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

PRAYERS

On this Easter Day with confidence we offer our prayers to the merciful Father.

We pray for your Church: help us to proclaim the message of healing and forgiveness for which you died.  We pray for your world: for leaders and all who have to make difficult and challenging decisions.

We pray for broken communities, and we ask your forgiveness for our own apathy, and our desire to wash our hands of involvement in the plight of others.

We pray for all who are in darkness, sickness and pain.  Surround with your presence hospital staff, families, friends and all who care for them.

We pray for those who mourn.  Receive into resurrection life with you those who have died, especially those who have died as a result of the Coronavirus.

Accept our prayers, and take them up into your creative energy of love which you let loose into the world on those extraordinary Passover days.  Amen.

In the hope of the Resurrection we pray:  Our Father…………

May the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead, deepen our faith in the Gospel.  May the Son, who walks with us and will never abandon us, give us new hope to live the joy of the resurrection.  May the Spirit pour down God’s love upon us so that we may love others following the example of Jesus who washed his disciples’ feet.  Alleluia.  Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

Maundy Thursday

Parish of Buxted and Hadlow Down

The Gathering

Opening Hymn

Christ triumphant ever-reigning,
Saviour, Master, King,
Lord of heav’n, our lives sustaining,
Hear us as we sing

Refrain: Yours the glory and the crown,
The high renown, the eternal name.

Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
Power and majesty concealing
By your humble birth:

Suffering servant, scorned, ill-treated,
Victim crucified!
Death is through the cross defeated,
Sinners justified:

Priestly King, enthroned for ever
High in heaven above!
Sin and death and hell shall never
Stifle hymns of love:

So, our hearts and voices raising
Through the ages long,
Ceaselessly upon you gazing,
This shall be our song:

The Welcome:

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

All Amen

Celebrant The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All and also with you.

The Confession:

Our Lord Jesus Christ says:
‘If you love me, keep my commandments.’
‘Unless I wash you, you have no part in me.’
Let us confess to almighty God our sins against his love,
and ask him to cleanse us.

All Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us, forgive us all that is past
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life
to the glory of your name.  Amen.

The Absolution

May God our Father forgive us our sins
and bring us to the fellowship of his table
with his saints for ever.

The Gloria (The bells will be rung and fanfares played)

Glory to God in the highest,
And Peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father
We worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

The Collect:

God our Father,
you have invited us to share in the supper
which your Son gave to his Church
to proclaim his death until he comes:
may he nourish us by his presence,
and unite us in his love;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 11.23-26

Beloved: 23I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

At the end of the Reading:

Reader This is the word of the Lord

All Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation:

An upper room did our Lord prepare
For those he loved until the end:
And his disciples still gather there,
To celebrate their Risen Friend.

A lasting gift Jesus gave his own:
To share his bread, his loving cup.
Whatever burdens may bow us down,
He by his cross shall lift us up.

And after Supper he washed their feet,
For service, too, is sacrament.
In him our joy shall be made complete –
Sent out to serve, as he was sent.

No end there is!  We depart in peace.
He loves beyond our uttermost:
In every room in our Father’s house
He will be there, as Lord and Host.

The Holy Gospel: John 13.1-17, 31b-35

Reader Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord:
Love one another as I have loved you.

All Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

When the Gospel is announced:

All Glory to you, O Lord.

1Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’ 9Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ 10Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.’ 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’

12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

31Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

At the end of the Gospel:

Deacon This is the Gospel of the Lord

All Praise to you. O Christ.

The Sermon

The Washing of Feet

During this we will sing:

Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,
We are trav’llers on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load

I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
When you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together
Of Christ’s love and agony

Will you let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant too.

The Intercessions:

In the power of the Spirit let us pray to the Father
through Christ the saviour of the world.

Father,
on this, the night he was betrayed,
your Son Jesus Christ washed his disciples’ feet.
We commit ourselves to follow his example of love and service.
Lord, hear us

All and humble us.

On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one.
We pray for the unity of your Church.
Lord, hear us

All  and unite us.

On this night, he prayed for those who were to believe through
his disciples’ message.
We pray for the mission of your Church.
Lord, hear us

All and renew our zeal.

On this night, he commanded his disciples to love,
but suffered rejection himself.
We pray for the rejected and unloved.
Lord, hear us

All and fill us with your love.

On this night, he reminded his disciples
that if the world hated them it hated him first.
We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith.
Lord, hear us

All  and give us your peace.

On this night, he accepted the cup of death
and looked forward to the new wine of the kingdom.
We remember those who have died in the peace of Christ.
Lord, hear us

All  and welcome all your children into paradise.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace:

Celebrant Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

Offertory Hymn

I am the Bread of life.
you who come to me shall not hunger;
and who believe in  me shall not thirst.
no-one can come to me
unless the Father draw him

Refrain: And I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day.

The bread that I will give
Is my flesh for the life of the world,
And if you eat of this bread,
You shall live for ever,
You shall live for ever.

Unless you eat
Of the flesh of the Son of Man
And drink of his blood
And drink of his blood
You shall not have life within you.

I am the Resurrection,
I am the life.
If you believe in me
Even though you die
You shall live for ever.

Yes, Lord, we believe,
That you are the Christ,
The Son of God,
Who has come
Into the world.

The Preparation of the Gifts

Celebrant At the Eucharist we are with our crucified and risen Lord.  We know that it was not only our ancestors, but we who were redeemed and brought forth from bondage to freedom, from mourning to feasting.  We know that as he was with them in the upper room so our Lord is here with us now.

All Until the kingdom of God comes let us celebrate this feast.

Celebrant Blessed are you, Lord God of the universe,
you bring forth bread from the earth.

All Blessed be God for ever.

Celebrant Blessed are you, Lord God of the universe,
you create the fruit of the vine.

All Blessed be God for ever.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Celebrant The Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Celebrant Lift up your hearts

All We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

Celebrant It is indeed right to give you thanks,
Father most holy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For on this night he girded himself with a towel
and, taking the form of a servant,
washed the feet of his disciples.
He gave us a new commandment
that we should love one another as he has loved us.
Knowing that his hour had come,
in his great love he gave this supper to his disciples
to be a memorial of his passion,
that we might proclaim his death until he comes again,
and feast with him in his kingdom.
Therefore earth unites with heaven
to sing a new song of praise;
we too join with angels and archangels
as they proclaim your glory without end:

All Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Celebrant We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.

Deacon Great is the mystery of faith:

All Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

Celebrant Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mark, Margaret and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.     Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant: We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

All: Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

The Invitation to Communion

Celebrant: Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.

All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

The Distribution of Communion:

Post Communion Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you that in this wonderful sacrament
you have given us the memorial of your passion:
grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries
of your body and blood
that we may know within ourselves
and show forth in our lives
the fruit of your redemption,
for you are alive and reign, now and for ever

The Gospel of the Watch

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters; for it is written,
“I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.”
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ But he said vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same.

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’

Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’ So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.’ All of them deserted him and fled.

The Vigil

The stripping of the altar and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose:

Please join the procession to the Lady Chapel, during which the following is sung:

Of the glorious body telling,
O my tongue, its myst’ries sing,
And the blood, all price excelling,
Which the world’s eternal king,
In a noble womb once dwelling,
Which he closed in wondrous deed.

Giv’n for us, for us descending,
Of a virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending,
Scattered he the gospel seed,
‘till his sojourn drew to ending,
shed for this world’s ransoming.

At the last great supper lying,
Circled by his brethren’s band,
Meekly with the law complying,
First, he finished its command.
Then, immortal food supplying,
Gave himself with his own hand.

Word made flesh, by word he maketh
Very bread his flesh to be;
Man in wine Christ’s blood partaketh,
And if senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh,
To behold the mystery.

Therefore, we before him bending,
This great sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.

Glory let us give, and blessing,
To the Father and the Son;
Honour, might and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing,
Who from both, with both is one.

Prayer at the Altar of Repose:

Stay with me, remain here with me,
Watching and praying, watching and praying.

Silent Vigil for one hour

Please feel free to leave the Vigil at any time and return at any time during the hour.

All songs covered by Christian Copyright Licensing have been reproduced under CCL licence number 507234

Good Friday

Parish of Buxted and Hadlow Down

The Liturgy of the Word

The Collect:

Almighty Father,
look with mercy on this your family
for which our Lord Jesus Christ was content to be betrayed
and given up into the hands of sinners
and to suffer death upon the cross;
who is alive and glorified with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

First Reading: Isaiah 52.13 – 53.12

13See, my servant shall prosper;
he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high.
14Just as there were many who were astonished at him
– so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of mortals –
15so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

1Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him of no account.

4Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
9They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the LORD shall prosper.
11Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

At the end of the Reading:

Reader This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Hymn

O sacred head, surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
So shamed and put to scorn!
Death’s pallid hue comes o’er thee,
The glow of life decays;
Yet angel-hosts adore thee,
And tremble as they gaze.

Thy comeliness and vigour
Is withered up and gone,
And in thy wasted figure
I see death drawing on.
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesu, all grace supplying,
Turn thou thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good shepherd, think of me
With thy most sweet compassion,
Unworthy though I be:
Beneath thy cross abiding
For ever would I rest,
In thy dear love confiding,
And with thy presence blest.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22

Response: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,
and are so far from my salvation,
from the words of my distress?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime,
but you do not answer;
and by night also, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are the Holy One,
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 Our forebears trusted in you;
they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried out to you and were delivered;
they put their trust in you and were not confounded. R

6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man,
scorned by all and despised by the people.

7 All who see me laugh me to scorn;
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

8 ‘He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him;
let him deliver him, if he delights in him.’

9 But it is you that took me out of the womb
and laid me safe upon my mother’s breast.

10 On you was I cast ever since I was born;
you are my God even from my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near at hand
and there is none to help. R

12 Mighty oxen come around me;
fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side.

13 They gape upon me with their mouths,
as it were a ramping and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart has become like wax
melting in the depths of my body.

15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd;
my tongue cleaves to my gums;
you have laid me in the dust of death. R

16 For the hounds are all about me;
the pack of evildoers close in on me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
they stand staring and looking upon me.

18 They divide my garments among them;
they cast lots for my clothing.

19 Be not far from me, O Lord;
you are my strength; hasten to help me.

20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my poor life from the power of the dog.

21 Save me from the lion’s mouth,
from the horns of wild oxen.
You have answered me! R

22 I will tell of your name to my people;
in the midst of the congregation will I praise you.

23 Praise the Lord, you that fear him;
O seed of Jacob, glorify him;
stand in awe of him, O seed of Israel.

24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the suffering of the poor;
neither has he hidden his face from them;
but when they cried to him he heard them.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
I will perform my vows
in the presence of those that fear you.

26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord shall praise him;
their hearts shall live for ever. R

27 All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
and he rules over the nations.

29 How can those who sleep in the earth
bow down in worship,
or those who go down to the dust kneel before him?

30 He has saved my life for himself;
my descendants shall serve him;
this shall be told of the Lord for generations to come.

31 They shall come and make known his salvation,
to a people yet unborn,
declaring that he, the Lord, has done it.

Second Reading: Hebrews 10.16-25

The Holy Spirit testifies to us, for after saying,
16‘This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds’,
17he also adds,
‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’
18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

19Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

At the end of the Reading:

Reader This is the word of the Lord

All Thanks be to God.

Hymn

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

John 19.1-30

1Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3They kept coming up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and striking him on the face. 4Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’ 5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ 6When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ 7The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’

8Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. 10Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’ 11Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ 12From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.’

13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. 14Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, ‘Here is your King!’ 15They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’ 16Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; 17and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews,” but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.”’ 22Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’ 23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says,
‘They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.’
25And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ 27Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.‘ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

28After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ 29A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.‘ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Sermon

The Proclamation of the Cross:

Celebrant This is the wood of the cross
On which our Redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Refrain: This is the wood of the cross
On which our Redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Celebrant Dearest cross on which he died,
in this blessed Passiontide.
One and only noble tree,
none in fruit thy peer can be.

All Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Celebrant This is the wood of the cross
On which our redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Refrain: This is the wood of the cross
On which our Redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Celebrant Dearest wood and dearest iron,
dearest weight is hung there-on.
Never was a tree so fair,
none in Eden was thy peer.

All Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Celebrant This is the wood of the cross
On which our Redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

Refrain: This is the wood of the cross
On which our Redeemer hung.
Come, come, let us adore,
Come, come, let us adore
The Saviour of the world.

The Solemn Reproaches and Veneration of the Cross:

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

1 I am your Creator, Lord of the universe;
I have entrusted this world to you,
but you have created the means to destroy it.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I made you in my image,
but you have degraded body and spirit
and marred the image of your God.
You have deserted me and turned your backs on me.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I filled the earth with all that you need,
so that you might serve and care for one another,
as I have cared for you;
but you have cared only to serve your own wealth and power.

All Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I made my children of one blood
to live in families rejoicing in one another;
but you have embittered the races
and divided the nations.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I commanded you to love your neighbour as yourself,
to love and forgive even your enemies;
but you have made vengeance your rule
and hate your guide.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

In the fullness of time I sent you my Son,
that in him you might know me,
and through him find life and peace;
but you put him to death on the cross.

All Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

Through the living Christ, I called you into my Church
to be my servants to the world,
but you have grasped at privilege
and forgotten my will.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I have given you a heavenly gift
and a share in the Holy Spirit;
I have given you the spiritual energies
of the age to come;
but you have turned away
and crucified the Son of God afresh.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I have consecrated you in the truth;
I have made you to be one
in the unity of the Father and the Son,
by the power of the Spirit;
but you have divided my Church
and shrouded my truth.

All Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

Turn again, my people, listen to me.

Let your bearing to one another
arise out of your life in Christ Jesus.
He humbled himself
and in obedience accepted the death of the cross.
But I have bestowed on him
the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus,
every knee should bow
and every tongue confess,
Jesus Christ is Lord.

Turn again, my people, listen to me.

Father, hear our prayer and forgive us.
Unstop our ears
that we may receive the gospel of the cross.
Lighten our eyes
that we may see your glory
in the face of your Son.
Penetrate our minds
that your truth may make us whole.
Irradiate our hearts with your love
that we may love one another for Christ’s sake.

Father, forgive us.

Please come forward if you want to venerate the Cross

The Intercessions:

Celebrant Lord, hear us

All Lord, graciously hear us.

God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Therefore we pray to our heavenly Father
for people everywhere according to their needs.

A minister continues with these biddings, the president saying the Collect at the end
of each section.

Minister Let us pray for the Church of God throughout the world:
for unity in faith, in witness and in service,
for bishops and other ministers, and those whom they serve,
for N, our bishop, and the people of this diocese,
for all Christians in this place,
for those to be baptized,
for those who are mocked and persecuted for their faith,
that God will confirm his Church in faith,
increase it in love, and preserve it in peace.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
AllLord, graciously hear us.

President Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AllAmen.

Minister Let us pray for the nations of the world and their leaders:
for Elizabeth our Queen and the Parliaments of this land,
for those who administer the law and all who serve in public office,
for all who strive for justice and reconciliation,
that by God’s help the world may live in peace and freedom.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
AllLord, graciously hear us.

President Most gracious God and Father,
in whose will is our peace,
turn our hearts and the hearts of all to yourself,
that by the power of your Spirit
the peace which is founded on justice
may be established throughout the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.

Minister Let us pray for God’s ancient people, the Jews,
the first to hear his word:
for greater understanding between Christian and Jew,
for the removal of our blindness and bitterness of heart,
that God will grant us grace to be faithful to his covenant
and to grow in the love of his name.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
AllLord, graciously hear us.

President Lord God of Abraham,
bless the children of your covenant, both Jew and Christian;
take from us all blindness and bitterness of heart,
and hasten the coming of your kingdom,
when the Gentiles shall be gathered in,
all Israel shall be saved,
and we shall dwell together in mutual love and peace
under the one God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
AllAmen.

Minister Let us pray for those who do not believe the gospel of Christ:
for those who have not heard the message of salvation,
for all who have lost faith,
for the contemptuous and scornful,
for those who are enemies of Christ and persecute those who follow him,
for all who deny the faith of Christ crucified,
that God will open their hearts to the truth
and lead them to faith and obedience.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
All Lord, graciously hear us.

President Merciful God,
creator of all the people of the earth,
have compassion on all who do not know you,
and by the preaching of your gospel with grace and power,
gather them into the one fold of the one Shepherd;
Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.

Minister Let us pray for all those who suffer:
for those who are deprived and oppressed,
for all who are sick,
for those in darkness, in doubt and in despair, in loneliness and in fear,
for prisoners, captives and refugees,
for the victims of false accusations and violence,
for all at the point of death and those who watch beside them,
that God in his mercy will sustain them
with the knowledge of his love.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
AllLord, graciously hear us.

President Almighty and everlasting God,
the comfort of the sad, the strength of those who suffer:
hear the prayers of your children who cry out of any trouble,
and to every distressed soul grant mercy, relief and refreshment,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.

Minister Let us commend ourselves and all God’s children to his unfailing love,
and pray for the grace of a holy life,
that, with all who have died in the peace of Christ,
we may come to the fullness of eternal life
and the joy of the resurrection.

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
All Lord, graciously hear us.

President O God of unchangeable power and eternal light,
look favourably on your whole Church,
that wonderful and sacred mystery,
and by the tranquil operation of your perpetual providence
carry out the work of our salvation:
and let the whole world feel and see
that things which were cast down are being raised up
and things which had grown old are being made new
and that all things are returning to perfection
through him from whom they took their origin,
even Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Lord’s Prayer:

Celebrant: As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

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. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.     Amen.

The Agnus Dei:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

The Invitation to Communion:

Celebrant This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
But only say the word, and I shall be healed.

The Distribution of Communion:

All those baptised in the Christian faith, youngsters and adults, are welcome to receive Holy Communion. Others are invited to come forward for a Blessing (please keep your hands down, as an indication that you are not receiving the bread and wine).

Communion Hymn

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified
Who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
What pains he had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven
He died to make us good;
That we might go at last to heaven,
Saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin;
He only could unlock the gate
Of heaven, and let us is.

O, dearly, dearly has he loved,
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.

Post Communion Prayer:

Celebrant O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
set your passion, cross and death
between your judgement and our souls,
now and in the hour of our death.
Grant mercy and grace to the living,
rest to the departed,
to your Church peace and concord
and to us sinners forgiveness,
and everlasting life and glory;
for, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you are alive and reign,
God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn

Drop, drop, slow tears,
And bathe those beauteous feet,
Which brought from heaven
The news and Prince of peace.

Cease not, wet eyes,
His mercies to entreat:
To cry for vengeance
Sin doth never cease.

In your deep floods
Drown all my faults and fears;
Nor let his eye
See sin, but through my tears.

The Clergy leave in Silence

You are welcome to stay in Church for as long as you wish.

All songs covered by Christian Copyright Licensing have been reproduced under CCL licence number 507234

Palm Sunday

Procession, Passion and Eucharist

THE ENTRY TO JERUSALEM

Assemble outside the church.

Welcome and Introduction

Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ  be with you

and also with you.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the Church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.

Prayer over the Palm Crosses

The people hold up their palms while the prayer is said.

God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and to die, let these palms be for us signs of his victory; and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of  the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

THE PALM GOSPEL

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark

Glory to you, O Lord.

Luke 19.28-40

1When Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 2‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.“’ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

At the end:

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Let us go forth, praising Jesus our Messiah

Procession into the church
(Please join in with the singing as you enter the church)

All glory, laud, and honour to thee, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

  • Thou art the king of Israel,
    thou David’s royal son,
    who in the Lord’s name comest,
    the king and blessed one.
  • The company of angels
    are praising thee on high,
    and mortal men and all things
    created make reply.
  • The people of the Hebrews
    with palms before thee went:
    our praise and prayer and anthems
    before thee we present.
  • To thee before thy passion
    they sang their hymns of praise:
    to thee now high exalted
    our melody we raise.
  • Thou didst accept their praises:
    accept the prayers we bring,
    who in all good delightest,
    thou good and gracious king.

THE PASSION

The Collect

Let us pray for a closer union with Christ in his suffering and in his glory

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Amen.

First Reading

Reader: Sue France

Isaiah 50.4-9a

5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death –
even death on a cross.

9Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

At the end:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The response to the Psalm is : Into your hands I commend my spirit.

Second Reading

Philippians 2.5-11

At the end:

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn

  • Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
    Hark! All the tribes hosanna cry!
    O Saviour meek, pursue thy road
    with palms and scattered garments strowed.
  • Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
    In lowly pomp ride on to die:
    O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
    o’er captive death and conquered sin.
  • Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
    The winged squadrons of the sky
    look down with sad and wondering eyes
    to see the approaching sacrifice.
  • Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
    The last and fiercest strife is nigh:
    the Father on his sapphire throne
    awaits his own anointed Son.
  • Ride on! Ride on in Majesty!
    In lowly pomp ride on to die;
    bow thy meek head to mortal pain,
    then take, O God, thy power, and reign.

THE PASSION GOSPEL

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory; Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name.

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

[Please sit]

Luke 23.1-49

[When it is introduced and concluded, no response is made.]

Silence

Intercessions

With response:

…let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

We stand with Christ in his suffering.

For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean spiritual death, and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For Christian people, that through the suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them, that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly for justice and peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those in the darkness and agony of isolation, that they may find support and encouragement, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow, feel that God is far from them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

That we, with those who have died in faith, may find mercy in the day of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

At the end:

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Once we were far off,
but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near
through the shedding of Christ’s blood,
for he is our peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Offertory Hymn

  • And now, O Father, mindful of the love
    that bought us, once for all, on Calvary’s tree,
    and having with us him that pleads above,
    we here present, we here spread forth to thee
    that only offering perfect in thine eyes,
    the one true, pure, immortal sacrifice.
  • Look, Father, look on his anointed face,
    and only look on us as found in him;
    look not on our misusings of thy grace,
    our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim:
    for lo, between our sins and their reward
    we set the passion of thy Son our Lord.
  • And then for those, our dearest and our best,
    by this prevailing presence we appeal:
    O fold them closer to thy mercy’s breast,
    O do thine utmost for their souls’ true weal;
    from tainting mischief keep them white and clear,
    and crown thy gifts with strength to persevere.
  • And so we come: O draw us to thy feet,
    most patient saviour, who canst love us still;
    and by this food, so aweful and so sweet,
    deliver us from every touch of ill:
    in thine own service make us glad and free,
    and grant us never more to part with thee.

The gifts of the people are  gathered and presented.

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

Jesus, true vine and bread of life, ever giving yourself that the world might live, let us share your death and passion: make us perfect in your love.

Amen.

The president takes the bread and wine.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For as the time of his passion and resurrection draws near
the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty.
The power of the life-giving cross
reveals the judgement that has come upon the world
and the triumph of Christ crucified.
He is the victim who dies no more,
the Lamb once slain, who lives for ever,
our advocate in heaven to plead our cause,
exalting us there to join with angels and archangels,
for ever praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

(Choir only)

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Accept our praises, heavenly Father,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and as we follow his example and obey his command,
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us his body and his blood;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.

Therefore, heavenly Father,
we remember his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.

Jesus Christ is Lord:

Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.

Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts
in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit,
inspire us with your love
and unite us in the body of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, and with him, and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Father almighty,
in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.

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.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread.

Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Agnus Dei

(Choir only)

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

The president says the invitation to communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

The president and people receive communion.

During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung.

Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant,
and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation:
give us the mind to follow you
and to proclaim you as Lord and King,
to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

  The Dismissal

Blessing

May the Father, who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, bring you by faith to his eternal life.

May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father’s will, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross.

May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory, set your minds on life and peace.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Hymn

  • Praise to the holiest in the height,
    and in the depth be praise:
    in all his words most wonderful,
    most sure in all his ways.
  • O loving wisdom of our God!
    When all was sin and shame,
    a second Adam to the fight
    and to the rescue came.
  • O wisest love! That flesh and blood,
    which did in Adam fail,
    should strive afresh against the foe,
    should strive and should prevail;
  • And that a higher gift than grace
    should flesh and blood refine,
    God’s presence and his very self,
    and essence all-divine.
  • O generous love! That he, who smote
    in man for man the foe,
    the double agony in man
    for man should undergo;
  • and in the garden secretly,
    and on the cross on high,
    should teach his brethren, and inspire
    to suffer and to die.
  • Praise to the holiest in the height,
    and in the depth be praise:
    in all his words most wonderful,
    most sure in all his ways.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Copyright acknowledgment (where not already indicated above):

Post Communion (Palm Sunday) ©  1984 General Synod of the Church of Ireland

Invitation to Confession (5th Sun Lent until Weds of Holy Week) ©  1988 Continuum (Mowbray) (Adapted)

Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

Confession (Lent, Penitence, Lament) ©  Stuart Thomas

Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  The Archbishops’ Council 2000

Collect (Palm Sunday) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

All songs covered by the Christian Copyright Licensing have been reproduced under CCL licence number 507234

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