Fourth Sunday of Easter

11th May 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 12 May
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 13 May
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 14 May
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 15 May
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 16 May
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 17 May

Sunday 18 May
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.45 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: Reflection — Daniel Bishop (born 1981)

Opening Hymn

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

Happy are they, they that love God,
Whose hearts have Christ confest,
Who by his Cross have found their life,
And ’neath his yoke their rest.

Glad is the praise, sweet are the songs,
When they together sing;
And strong the prayers that bow the ear
Of heaven’s eternal King.

Christ to their homes giveth his peace,
And makes their loves his own:
But ah, what tares the evil one
Hath in his garden sown!

Sad were our lot, evil this earth,
Did not its sorrows prove
The path whereby the sheep may find
The fold of Jesu’s love.

Then shall they know, they that love him,
How all their pain is good;
And death itself cannot unbind
Their happy brotherhood.

Words: Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930) and Charles Coffin (1676-1749)
Music: ‘Binchester’ William Croft (1678-1727)

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

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Confession

Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, 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 lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. 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))

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Acts 9:36-43)

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

All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord.
Who can compare with the beauty of the Lord?
Forever he will be the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee and worship him alone.

I will proclaim the glory of the risen Lord,
Who once was slain to reconcile the world to God
Forever you will be the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee and worship you alone.

Words and Music: Noel Richards (born 1955) and Tricia Richards (born 1960)

Second reading (Revelation 7:9-17)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. I know my own and my own know me.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (John 10:22-30)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

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

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

Sermon

Fr Bill Addy

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
We pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

At the end:
… One God, now and forever. Amen
… Through Christ our Lord, 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

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart will fear;
And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here:
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever he may guide me, no want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack:
His wisdom ever waketh, his sight is never dim,
He knows the way he taketh, and I will walk with him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where darkest clouds have been;
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free;
My Saviour has my treasure, and he will walk with me.

Words: Anna Laetitia Waring (1823-1910)
Music: ‘Penlan’ David Jenkins (1849-1910)

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 Cantors 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.

(Mass of Glyn Rhosyn – Meirion Wynn Jones (born 1972))

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.

Rejoicing in God’s new creation 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 cantors 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.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

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

Loving Shepherd of thy sheep,
Keep thy lamb in safety keep;
Nothing can thy power withstand,
None can pluck me from thy hand.

I would praise thee ev’ry day,
Gladly all thy will obey,
Like the blessed ones above
Happy in thy precious love.

Loving Shepherd, ever near,
Teach thy lamb thy voice to hear;
Suffer not thy steps to stray
From the straight and narrow way.

Where thou leadest I would go,
Walking in thy steps below,
Till before my Father’s throne
I shall know as I am known.

Words: Jane E Leeson (1808-81)
Music: Philip Ledger (1937-2012)

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

Thine for ever! God of love,
Hear us from thy throne above;
Thine for ever may we be
Here and in eternity.

Thine for ever! O, how blest
They who find in thee their rest!
Saviour, Guardian, heavenly Friend,
O defend us to the end.

Thine for ever! Lord of life,
Shield us through our earthly strife;
Thou the Life, the Truth, the Way,
Guide us to the realms of day.

Thine for ever! Thou our guide,
All our wants by thee supplied,
All our sins by thee forgiven,
Led by thee from earth to heaven.

Words: Mary Fawler Maude (1819-1913)
Music: ‘Newington’ William Dalrymple Maclagan (1826-1910)

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 the peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Organ: Sortie – Noel Rawsthorne ((1929-2019).

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.