The Fourth Sunday of Lent

30th March 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 31 March
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 01 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 02 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 03 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 04 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 05 April
19.00 Liverpool Bach Collective performance of the St John Passion

Sunday 06 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.45 Fire alarm test
18.00 Choral Evensong

Before the service

Organ: Christe, du Lamm Gottes BWV619 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Opening Hymn

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

Awake, awake: fling off the night!
For God has sent his glorious light;
And we who live in Christ’s new day
Must works of darkness put away.

Awake and rise, with love renewed,
And with the Spirit’s power endued.
The light of life in us must glow,
And fruits of truth and goodness show.

Let in the light: all sin expose
To Christ, whose life no darkness knows.
Before his cross for guidance kneel;
His light will judge and, judging, heal.

Awake, and rise up from the dead,
And Christ his light on you will shed.
Its power will wrong desires destroy,
And your whole nature fill with joy.

Then sing for joy, and use each day;
Give thanks for everything alway.
Lift up your hearts; with one accord
Praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Words: John Raphael Peacey (1896-1971)
Music: ‘Morning Hymn’ François Hyppolite Barthélémon (1741-1808)

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.

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

Confession

The Deacon invites us to confess our sins.

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin: Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.
Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me: Christe, Christe eleison. Christe, Christe eleison.
Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me: Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.

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

The Collect

God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Exodus 2:1-10)

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

The Saint Nicholas’ Singers sing Psalm 127:

  1. Except the Lord build the house * their labour is but lost that build it.
  2. Except the Lord keep the city * the watchman waketh but in vain.
  3. It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness * for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
  4. Lo, children and the fruit of the womb * are an heritage and gift that cometh of the Lord.

Second reading (Colossians 3:12-17)

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

(We stand)

Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory. x2
Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. x2
This child is the light to enlighten the nations and the glory of your people Israel.
Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. x2

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Luke 2:33-35)

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

Fr Yazid Said

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 of compassion In your mercy hear us
Lord, meet us in the silence. give us strength and hear our prayer.

At the end:
either: … raise us up by your unfailing mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
or: … Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer, here and in eternity. 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

Sing we of the blessèd Mother
Who received the angel’s word,
And obedient to his summons
Bore in love the infant Lord;
Sing we of the joys of Mary
At whose breast that child was fed
Who is Son of God eternal
And the everlasting Bread.

Sing we, too, of Mary’s sorrows,
Of the sword that pierced her through,
When beneath the cross of Jesus
She his weight of suffering knew,
Looked upon her Son and Saviour
Reigning high on Calvary’s tree,
Saw the price of man’s redemption
Paid to set the sinner free.

Sing again the joys of Mary
When she saw the risen Lord,
And in prayer with Christ’s apostles,
Waited on his promised word:
From on high the blazing glory
Of the Spirit’s presence came,
Heavenly breath of God’s own being,
Manifest through wind and flame.

Sing the chiefest joy of Mary
When on earth her work was done,
And the Lord of all creation
Brought her to his heavenly home:
Virgin Mother, Mary blessèd,
Raised on high and crowned with grace,
May your Son, the world’s redeemer,
Grant us all to see his face.

Words: George B Timms (1910-97)
Music: ‘Abbot’s Leigh’ - Cyril Taylor (1907-91)

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 the Saint Nicholas Singers sing:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
[Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts. 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.]

(‘Madrid’ Mass for four voices – Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757))

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:

Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death Lord Jesus, until you come in glory.

The prayer continues with oblation and intercession, ending:

…we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

Trusting in the compassion of God, 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.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

The Saint Nicholas’ Singers sing:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. (x2)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
[Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. (x2)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.]

Behold 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.

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

Ave, maris stella, Dei Mater alma, atque semper virgo, felix caeli porta.
Sumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, funda nos in pace, mutans Evae nomen.
Solve vincla reis, Profer lumen caecis, mala nostra pelle, bona cuncta posce
Monstra te esse matrem Sumat per te preces, qui pro nobis natus tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis, Inter omnes mitis, nos culpis solutos, mites fac et castos.
Vitam praesta puram, Iter para tutum, ut videntes Jesum, semper collaetemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri, Summo Christo decus spiritui Sancto, tribus honor unus. Amen.

[Hail, star of the sea, loving Mother of God, and also always a virgin, Happy gate of heaven. Receiving that Ave from Gabriel’s mouth confirm us in peace, Reversing Eva’s name. Break the chains of sinners, Bring light to the blind, Drive away our evils, Ask for all good. Show yourself to be a mother, May he accept prayers through you, he who, born for us, Chose to be yours. O unique virgin, Meek above all, Make us, absolved from sin, Gentle and chaste. Keep life pure, Make the journey safe, So that, seeing Jesus, We may always rejoice together. Let there be praise to God the Father, Glory to Christ in the highest, To the Holy Spirit, One honour to all three. Amen.

Words: 8th Century Latin
Music: Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Post-Communion Prayers

(We stand at ‘Let us pray’)

After the post-communion prayer we say together

Faithful God, in baptism you have adopted us as your children, made us members of the body of Christ and chosen us as inheritors of your kingdom: we thank you that in this Eucharist you renew your promises within us, empower us by your Spirit to witness and to serve, and send us out as disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 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

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven,
The One eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore

Words: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)
Music: ‘Nun Danket’ Melody Johann Cruger in Praxis Pieatis Melica (1647)
Harmony chiefly from Felix Mendelssohn –Bartholdy Lobgesang (1840

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: Five Part Fantasia in C minor BWV562 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).

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.