The Second Sunday in Advent

7th December 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 meets each week. 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.

Go to Facebook Go to our website Go to Twitter

Calendar for the Week

Monday 08 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
17.30 Barclays Carols

Tuesday 09 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
17.30 Merseyside Police Carols

Wednesday 10 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.00 City Carols with Merseyside Police Band

Thursday 11 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
18.30 HSBC (Horizons) Carol Service

Friday 12 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 13 December

Sunday 14 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.45 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: From Heaven above, behold I come Op.65 - Sigfrid Karg-Elert (1877-1933)

Opening Hymn

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

On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come then and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.

Then cleansed be every Christian breast,
And furnished for so great a guest!
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,
Our refuge and our great reward;
Without thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

Stretch forth thine hand to heal our sore,
And make us rise, to fall no more;
Once more upon thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.

All praise, eternal Son, to thee
Whose advent sets thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore,
And Spirit blest, for evermore.

Words: Charles Coffin (1676-1749) translated John Chandler (1806-76)
Music: ‘Winchester New’ from a chorale in Musicalisches Hand-Buch, Hamburg 1690

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.

The second candle is lit on the Advent wreath.

People of God: be glad! Your God delights in you, giving you joy for sadness and turning the dark to light. Be strong in hope therefore; for your God comes to save. You are God’s children.

Lord, make us one in the love of Christ today and for ever. Amen.

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

Confession

When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of your kingdom:
Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.

You come in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness:
Christe, Christe eleison. Christe, christe eleison.

You will come in glory with salvation for your people:
Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.

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

Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour we may be ready to receive him, who is our Lord and our God.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Isaiah 11:1-10)

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

The cantors sing Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19:

Please repeat the response after the Cantors and after each section:

1 Give the king your judgements, O God * and your righteousness to the son of a king.
2 Then shall he judge your people righteously * and your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains bring forth peace * and the little hills righteousness for the people. [R]
4 May he defend the poor among the people * deliver the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.
5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure * from one generation to another. [R]
6 May he come down like rain upon the mown grass * like the showers that water the earth.
7 In his time shall righteousness flourish * and abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more. [R]
18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel * who alone does wonderful things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever * May all the earth be filled with his glory [R]

Second reading (Romans 15:4-13)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. 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:

Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

At the end:
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

God has spoken-by his prophets, spoken his unchanging word:
Each from age to age proclaiming God the one, the righteous Lord:
In the world’s despair and turmoil one firm anchor holds us fast:
God eternal reigns for ever, God the first and God the last.

God has spoken-by Christ Jesus, Christ, the everlasting Son:
Brightness of the Father’s glory, with the Father ever one:
Spoken by the Word incarnate, life, before all time began,
Light of Light, to earth descending, God, revealed as Son of Man.

God is speaking-by his Spirit speaking to our hearts again;
In the ageless Word declaring God’s own message, now as then.
Through the rise and fall of nations one sure faith is holding fast:
God abides, his word unchanging, God the first and God the last.

Words: George Wallace Briggs (1875-1959)
Music: ‘Blanwern’ William Penfro Rowlands (1860-1937)

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 hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

(Mass in the Dorian Mode – Barrie Cabena (born 1933))

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:

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

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.

Awaiting his coming in glory, 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.

The cantors sing:

O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy 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

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

Words: Romans 10:1-5
Music: George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)

Post-Communion Prayers

(We stand at ‘Let us pray’)

After the post-communion prayer we say together

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. 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

The Lord will come and not be slow,
His footsteps cannot err;
Before him righteousness shall go,
His royal harbinger.

Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
Shall bud and blossom then;
And justice, from her heavenly bower,
Look down on mortal men.

Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might,
This wicked earth redress;
For thou art he who shalt by right
The nations all possess.

The nations all whom thou hast made
Shall come, and all shall frame
To bow them low before thee, Lord,
And glorify thy name.

For great thou art, and wonders great
By thy strong hand are done:
Thou in thy everlasting seat
Remainest God alone.

Words: John Milton the younger (1608-74)
based on verses from Psalms 82, 85, 86
Music: ‘St Stephen’ William Jones (1726-1800)

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: Rigaudon – Jean Baptiste Lully (1732-87).

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.