Candlemas

1st February 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.

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Calendar for the Week

Monday 02 February
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 03 February
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 04 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 05 February
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 06 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 07 February

Sunday 08 February
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test
18.00 Choral Evensong

Before the service

Organ: Sicilienne – Maria von Paridis (1759-1824)

Greeting

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

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 Candlemas liturgy is introduced

Blessing of the candles

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give thanks and praise

Blessed are you, Lord our God, … and in your light shall we see light Blessed be God for ever.

The candles are blessed, and we all respond Amen.

Processional Hymn

Please follow in procession if you are able.

When candles are lighted on Candlemas Day
the dark is behind us, and spring’s on the way.

Refrain: A glory dawns in every dark place,
the light of Christ, the fullness of grace.

The kings have departed, the shepherds have gone,
the child and his parents are left on their own. Refrain

They go to the temple, obeying the law,
and offer two pigeons, the gift of the poor. Refrain

But Anna and Simeon recognize there
the Christ-child who came at the turn of the year. Refrain

The old who have suffered and waited so long
see hope for the world as they welcome the young. Refrain

They gaze at God’s wonderful answer to prayer,
the joy of the Jews and the Gentiles’ desire. Refrain

The light is increasing and spring’s in the air.
Look back with thanksgiving! Look forward with awe! Refrain

Like Anna, like Simeon, may they have trust,
The eyes to see Jesus, and peace at the last. Refrain

The candles invite us to praise and to pray
when Christmas greets Easter on Candlemas Day. Refrain

Words: Elizabeth Cosnett (1936-2024)
Music: ‘Lourdes’ French Traditional Melody

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:

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God

Amen.

Candles are extinguished at this point

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Malachi 3:1-5)

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

The cantors sing from Psalm 24:

7 Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, you everlasting doors * and the King of glory shall come in.
8 ‘Who is the King of glory?’ * ‘The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord who is mighty in battle.’
9 Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, you everlasting doors * and the King of glory shall come in.
10 ‘Who is this King of glory?’ * ‘The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.’

Second reading (Hebrews 2:14-end)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The child is the light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (Luke 2:22-40)

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 Steven Shakespeare

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 have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.

At the end:
either: … One God, now and forever. Amen
or: through Jesus 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

Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
Music: ‘Blaenwern’ 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 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.

(Communion Service – John Rutter (born 1945))

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:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.

The prayer continues with oblation and intercession, ending:

…all honour and glory be yours, almighty 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 cantors sing:

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: grant us your 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

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Words: Luke 2.29-32 Music: John Henry Arnold (1887-1956)

Post-Communion Prayers

(We stand at ‘Let us pray’)

After the post-communion prayer we say together

You have opened to us the Scriptures, O Christ, and you have made yourself known in the breaking of the bread. Abide with us, we pray, that, blessed by your royal presence, we may walk with you all the days of our life, and at its end behold you in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one God for ever and ever. 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

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
O’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but thee;
Yet possessing every blessing,
If our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us;
All our weakness thou dost know;
Thou didst tread this earth before us;
Thou didst feel its keenest woe;
Self denying, death defying,
Thou to Calvary didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,
Fill our hearts with heavenly joy;
Love with every passion blending
Pleasure that can never cloy;
Thus provided, pardoned, guided,
Nothing can our peace destroy.

Words: James Edmeston (1791-1867)
Music: ‘ Mannheim’ Melody from Freidrich Filitz Choralbuch (1847)
Harmonised by Lowell Mason (1792-1872)

Blessing and Dismissal

(please stand)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Christ, whose glory fills the skies, fill you with radiance and scatter the darkness from your path. Amen.
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, gladden your eyes and warm your heart. Amen.
Christ, the Dayspring from on high, draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace. Amen.

…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 light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

Organ: Processional – William Mathias (1934-92).

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.