The Fourth Sunday of Advent

21st 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.

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Calendar for the Week

Monday 22 December
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 23 December
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 24 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
23.00 Midnight Mass

Thursday 25 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist for Christmas Day
Church closed after service

Friday 26 December
Church closed

Saturday 27 December
Church closed

Sunday 28 December
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test
Church closed after service

Before the service

Organ: Improvisation on a Herefordshire Carol – Ian Tracey (born 1955)

Opening Hymn

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

Thanks to God whose word was spoken
In the deed that made the earth.
His the voice that called a nation,
His the fires that tried her worth.

God has spoken, God has spoken:
Praise him for his open word.

Thanks to God whose Word Incarnate
Glorified the flesh of man;
Deeds and words and death and rising
Tell the grace in heaven’s plan.

Refrain:

Thanks to God whose word was written
In the Bible’s sacred page,
Record of the revelation
Showing God to every age.

Refrain:

Thanks to God whose word is published
In the tongues of every race.
See its glory undiminished
By the change of time or place.

Refrain:

Thanks to God whose word is answered
By the Spirit’s voice within
Here we drink of joy unmeasured,
Life redeemed from death and sin.

God is speaking, God is speaking:
Praise him for his open word.

Words: Michael Perry (1942-96) based on Psalm 24
Music: ‘St Helen’ George Clement Martin (1844-1916)

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 fourth candle is lit on the Advent wreath.

People of God: prepare! God, above all, maker of all, is one with us in Christ.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
God, the mighty God, bends down in love to earth.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
God with us, God beside us, comes soon to the world he has made.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
We are God’s children, we seek the coming Christ.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

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.

God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all: Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven Christe, Christe eleison. Christe, christe eleison.

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: Kyrie, kyrie eleison. Kyrie, kyrie eleison.

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

Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her, our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Isaiah 7:10-16)

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

For Mary, Mother of the Lord
God’s holy name be praised,
Who first the Son of God adored
As on her child she gazed.

The angel Gabriel brought the word
She should Christ’s mother be;
Our Lady, handmaid of the Lord,
Made answer willingly.

The heavenly call she thus obeyed,
And so God’s will was done;
The second Eve love’s answer made
Which our redemption won.

She gave her body for God’s shrine,
Her heart to piercing pain,
And knew the cost of love divine
When Jesus Christ was slain.

Dear Mary, from your lowliness
And home in Galilee,
There comes a joy and holiness
To every family.

Hail, Mary, you are full of grace,
Above all women blest;
Blest in your Son, whom your embrace
In birth and death confessed.

Words: John Raphael Peacey (1896-1971)
Music: ‘St Botolph’ - Gordon Slater (1896-1979)

Second reading (Romans 1:1-7)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Matthew 1:18-25)

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

The Revd Michelle Montrose

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:
either: … One God, now and forever. 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

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 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

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail,’ he said, ‘thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!

For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold;
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said.
‘My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name’;
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
‘Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!

Words: Basque Carol paraphrased Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
Arranged by: Edgar Pettman (1866-1943)

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

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age the same;
His holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word:
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children’s children and for evermore!

Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024), based on Luke 1.46-55
Music: ‘Woodlands’ - Walter Greatorex (1877-1949)

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.

As we await our coming Saviour, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Organ: Ciacona in Em BuxWV160 – Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707).

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.