The Baptism of Christ

11th January 2026

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 12 January
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 13 January
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 14 January
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 15 January
09.00 Morning Prayer

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

Saturday 17 January

Sunday 18 January
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: Trio in Eb major – Julius Reubke (1834-58)

Opening Hymn

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

The sinless one to Jordan came
To share our fallen nature’s blame;
God’s righteousness he thus fulfilled
And chose the path his Father willed.

Uprising from the waters there,
The voice from heaven did witness bear
That he, the Son of God, had come
To lead his scattered people home.

Above him see the heavenly Dove,
The sign of God the Father’s love,
Now by the Holy Spirit shed
Upon the Son’s anointed head.

How blest that mission then begun
To heal and save a race undone;
Straight to the wilderness he goes
To wrestle with his people’s foes.

Dear Lord, let those baptized from sin
Go forth with you, a world to win,
And send the Holy Spirit’s power
To shield them in temptation’s hour.

On you shall all your people feed
And know you are the Bread indeed,
Who gives eternal life to those
That with you died, and with you rose.

Words: George B. Timms (1910-97)
Music: ‘Solothurn’ Swiss Traditional Melody (1781)

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

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of he universe. From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is proclaimed in all the world.

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.

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))

The Collect is said:

Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Isaiah 42:1-9)

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

The Saint Nicholas’ Singers sing Psalm 29:

  1. Bring unto the Lord, O ye mighty, bring young rams unto the Lord * ascribe unto the Lord worship and strength.
  2. Give the Lord the honour due unto his Name * worship the Lord with holy worship.
  3. It is the Lord that commandeth the waters * it is the glorious God that maketh the thunder.
  4. It is the Lord that ruleth the sea; the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation * the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
  5. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedar-trees * yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Libanus.
  6. He maketh them also to skip like a calf * Libanus also, and Sirion, like a young unicorn.
  7. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness * yea, the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Cades.
  8. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to bring forth young, and discovereth the thick bushes * in his temple doth every man speak of his honour.
  9. The Lord sitteth above the water-flood * and the Lord remaineth a King for ever.
  10. The Lord shall give strength unto his people * the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Second reading (Acts 10:34-43)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
This is my Son, the Belovèd, with whom I am well pleased.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Matthew 3:13-17)

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 Philip Anderson

Thanksgiving for Holy Baptism

We stand

Water is poured into the font with these words:

God in Christ gives us water welling up for eternal life. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Lord, give us this water and we shall thirst no more.

Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

The priest then says a prayer of blessing over the water which finishes
…..For all might, majesty, dominion and power are yours, now and for ever.
Amen.

An act of penitence and dedication then follows, using this response
From all our sins, O Lord:
wash us and we shall be clean.

Almighty God, in our baptism you have consecrated us to be temples of your Holy Spirit. May we, whom you have counted worthy, nurture your indwelling Spirit with a lively faith, and worship you with upright lives; through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The congregation is sprinkled with holy water, reminding us of our own baptism.

The absolution is then given, assuring us of the forgiveness of sins

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

When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon, but as his Father’s Son.
He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins,
To speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.

He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,
For us and our salvation to die upon the cross.
So when the Dove descended on him, the Son of Man,
The hidden years had ended, the age of grace began.

Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make,
This very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
To share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.

Words: Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000)
Music: ‘Offertorium’ adapted from Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806)

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:

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.

(Communion in E major ‘Collegium Regale’ – Harold Darke (1888-1976))

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:

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

Believing the promises 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:

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.

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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

Vidi aquam egredientem de templo, a latere dextro, alleluia: Et omnes, ad quos pervenit aqua ista, salvi facti sunt et dicent, alleluja. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus: quoniam in saeculum misericordia ejus. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

[I saw water flowing from the temple, on the right side, alleluia: And all to whom that water came have been saved, and they will say, alleluia. Worship the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy is forever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.]

Words: Antiphon and Psalm 117
Music: Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)

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

Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now his brow adorn:
Fruit of the mystic Rose, as of that Rose the Stem;
The Root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.

Crown him the Lord of love! Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end, and round his piercèd feet
Fair flowers of Paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
Glassed in a sea of light, there everlasting waves
Reflect his throne – the Infinite! who lives – and loves – and saves.

Words: Matthew Bridges (1800-94)
Music: ‘Diademata’ George Job Elvey (1816-93)

Blessing and Dismissal

(please stand)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

May God the Father, who led the wise men by the shining of a star to find the Christ, the Light from light, lead you in your pilgrimage to find the Lord. Amen.
May God the Son, who turned water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana, transform your lives and make glad your hearts. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, who came upon the beloved Son at his baptism in the river Jordan, pour out his gifts on you who have come to the waters of new birth. Amen.

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

We have come to Christ, the living water. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Organ: Passacaglia in Dm (BuxWV161) – 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.