Palm Sunday

29th March 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 during term time. 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 30 March
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 31 March
08.30 Eucharist with traditional language
09.00 Morning Prayer
18.30 Lent Address by David Swift

Wednesday 01 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Maundy Thursday 02 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

19.00 Simple Supper
19.45 Solemn Eucharist of the Lord’s Supper
21.00 The Watch

Good Friday 03 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
13.00 Stations of the cross
14.00 Solemn Liturgy

Saturday 04 April
19.45 Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter

Sunday 05 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Festal Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: Fidelis (4 Extemporisations) - Percy Whitlock (1903-46)

Commemoration of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem

Weather permitting, we expect to begin the service in the churchyard and then process around the garden before re-entering the church. If you are able, please move out by the garden door when indicated by the churchwardens so that the service can begin promptly at 10.00. Please assemble around the path around the grass.

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 liturgy of the day is introduced. Then all are invited to hold up their palm crosses to be blessed. We respond Amen to the prayer of blessing.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (Matthew 21:1-11)

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

Let us go forth, praising Jesus our Messiah.

We follow the procession into church singing:

Refrain: All glory, laud, and honour to thee, Redeemer, King! to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel, thou David’s royal Son,
who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and blessed One. Refrain

The company of angels are praising thee on high;
and mortal men and all things created make reply. Refrain

The people of the Hebrews with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems before thee we present. Refrain

To thee before thy passion they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise. Refrain

Thou didst accept their praises; accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest, thou good and gracious King. Refrain

Do thou direct our footsteps upon our earthly way,
and bring us by thy mercy to heaven’s eternal day. Refrain

Within that blessed City thy praises may we sing,
and ever raise hosannas to our most loving King. Refrain

Words: St Theodulph of Orleans (c.750-821)
Translated John Mason Neale 1818-66)
Music: ‘St Theodulph’ Melody by Melchior Teschner (1584-1635)
Harmonised by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)

The altar is censed as members of the congregation return to their place.

The Collect

True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the path of glory.

Amen.

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

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Isaiah 50:4-9a)

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

When I survey the wondrous Cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the cross of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson like a robe,
Spreads o’er his body on the Tree;
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: ‘Rockingham’ Edward Miller (1731-1807)

Second reading (Philippians 2:5-11)

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

(We stand)

Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory. x2
Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. x2
Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name.
Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. x2

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew (please see separate booklet)

All should remain standing unless prevented by infirmity. Please join in the sections printed in bold text.

No response is made at the end of the Passion (Matthew 21:1-11)

Sermon

Fr Steven Shakespeare

The Intercessions

(please kneel or sit)

Any of the following may be used:

By the Saviour’s cross and passion Lord, save us and help us.
Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.

At the end:
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.

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

My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me,
Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be.
O, who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from his blest throne, salvation to bestow:
But men made strange, and none the longed-for Christ would know.
But O, my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need his life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way, and his sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day hosannas to their King.
Then ‘Crucify!’ is all their breath,
And for his death they thirst and cry.

They rise, and needs will have my dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save, the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he to suffering goes,
That he his foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine;
Never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine!
This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.

Words: Samuel Crossmen (c.1624-83)
Music: ‘Love Unknown’ John Nicholson Ireland (1879-1962)

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.

(Modal Communion Service – Martin Shaw (1875-1958))

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.

Standing at the foot of the cross, 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.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

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

Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Words: Matthew 21.9
Music David Halls (born 1963)

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

Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry;
Thy humble beast pursues his road
With palms and scattered garments strowed

Ride on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
O Christ, thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on! ride on in majesty!
The winged squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching sacrifice

Ride on! ride on in majesty!
Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
The Father on his sapphire throne
Awaits his own anointed Son.

Ride on! ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die;
Bow thy meek head to mortal pain
Then take, O God, thy power and reign.

Words: Henry Milman (1791-1868)
Music: ‘Winchester New’ adapted from a chorale in Musicalisches Hand-Buch, Hamburg 1690

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: Valet will ich dir geben (BWV736) – J. S. Bach (1685-1750) .

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.