2nd Sunday before Lent

23rd February 2025

The Parish Eucharist

Welcome to Liverpool Parish Church. There has been Christian worship on this site since the 13th century and today we are still proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in the centre of Liverpool.

All people are welcome in this place. At the Eucharist if you normally receive Holy Communion in your own church, you are welcome to do so here.

Babies and children are welcome in this church. If you feel they are unsettled, there is a small play area for them at the back of the north aisle. You would still be able to see, hear and participate in the service, but please rejoin the rest of the congregation when you are ready.

Sunday School Parents are welcome to stay with their children or to reclaim them at the end of the service.

Donations and Giving. We rely on generous individual giving for much of our income. If you are a UK taxpayer donations can be Gift Aided to provide additional benefit to the Church. If you worship here regularly then please consider joining the Planned Giving Scheme. There is also a contactless donation point in the Narthex.

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Calendar for the Week

Monday 24 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
18.30 Service for 3rd Anniversary of war in Ukraine

Tuesday 25 February
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 26 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 27 February
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 28 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 01 March
14.00 Wedding

Sunday 02 March
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.45 Fire alarm test
18.00 A Celebration of Love

Before the service

Organ: Psalm Prelude Set1 no.2 – Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

Opening Hymn

The bell rings and we stand, as we are able, and sing:

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song,
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

To him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown his head;
His name like incense shall arise
With every morning sacrifice

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honours to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the long Amen.

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748) passed on Psalm 72
Music: ‘Truro’ Psalmodia Evangelica (1789)

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

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Confession

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

We receive an absolution, assuring us of God’s forgiveness.

When Sunday School is meeting, a prayer is said with our young people at this point before they leave for their session.

The Gloria and Collect

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.

(Music: Dom Gregory Murray (1905-92))

Almighty God, give us reverence for all creation and respect for every person, that we may mirror your likeness in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-end)

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with the fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with thee the perfect life
Of thine eternity.

Words: Edwin Hatch (1835-89)
Music: ‘Carlisle’ Charles Lockhart (1745-1815)

Second reading (Revelation 4)

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The word of God is living and active; it can judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Luke 6:27-38)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Mthr Jennifer Brady

The Creed

(We stand)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Intercessions

(please kneel or sit)

Any of the following may be used:

Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

At the end:
either: … one God for ever and ever. Amen
or: … Merciful Father, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace

(We stand)

The Peace is introduced, followed by:

The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Offertory 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 their 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.

Words: John Henry Newman (1801-90)
Music: ‘Gerontius’ John Bacchus Dykes (1823-76)

The Eucharistic Prayer

A prayer is said over the gifts on the altar, to which we respond Amen.

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.

The seasonal part of the prayer follows and at the end we all sing:

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 in the highest.

(Addington Service – Richard Shephard (1949-2021))

We pray for the Holy Spirit to transform us and the gifts, and then the words of Jesus at the Last Supper are recalled:

The following acclamation is then used:

Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

The prayer continues with oblation and intercession, ending:

…all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

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.

Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We all sing:

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

Come to this sacred table, not because you must, but because you may; come, not to declare that you are righteous, but that you desire to be true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ; come, not because you are strong, but because you are weak; not because you have any claim on heaven’s rewards, but because in your frailty and sin you stand in constant need of heaven’s grace.

If you normally receive Communion in your own church then you are welcome to do so here, or you may prefer the priest to pray for God’s blessing on you. There are two standing stations for Communion in the centre but if you would prefer to kneel to receive Communion then please use the rail in the south aisle on the congregation’s left side.

Please indicate if you would rather receive a blessing. Gluten-free hosts are available.

During Communion

O changeless Christ, for ever new, who walked our earthly ways,
Still draw our hearts as once you drew the hearts of other days.

As once you spoke by plain and hill or taught by shore and sea,
So be today our teacher still, O Christ of Galilee.

As wind and storm their Master heard and his command fulfilled,
May troubled hearts receive your word, the tempest-tossed be stilled.

And as of old to all who prayed your healing hand was shown,
So be your touch upon us laid, unseen but not unknown.

In broken bread, in wine outpoured, your new and living way
proclaim to us, O risen Lord, O Christ of this our day.

O changeless Christ, till life is past your blessing still be given;
Then bring us home, to taste at last the timeless joys of heaven.

Words: Timothy Dudley Smith (1926-2024)
Music: ‘Wiltshire’ George Thomas Smart (1776-1867)

Post-Communion Prayers

(We stand at ‘Let us pray’)

After the post-communion prayer we say together

We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples. Amen.

Notices (please sit)

Please join us for refreshments after the service.

A collection is taken during the final hymn. Those preferring to donate online are invited to use the Donate button above, or our contactless donation point.

Final Hymn

We are marching in the light of God,
We are marching in the light of God. Repeat
We are marching, ooh,
We are marching in the light of God. Repeat

We are living in the love of God,
We are living in the love of God. Repeat
We are living, ooh,
We are living in the love of God. Repeat

We are moving in the power of God,
We are moving in the power of God. Repeat
We are moving, ooh,
We are moving in the power of God. Repeat

Words: Xhosa South African traditional hymn
Verse 1 Anders Nyberg (born 1955) Verses 2&3 Andrew Maries (born 1949)
Music: ‘Siyahamba’ South African traditional melody arranged Andrew Maries (born 1949)

Blessing and Dismissal

(please stand)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

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

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Organ: Organ Sonata (1st movement) – Edward Elgar (1857-1934).

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000. Hymns and other texts are reproduced under CCL licence number 556443 or One License licence number A-632593.