Easter Sunday

5th April 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 06 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 07 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 08 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 09 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 10 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 11 April

Sunday 12 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: Two Preludes on ‘Orientibus’ ‘Christ the Lord is risen today’ – Stephen Burtonwood (born 1951)

Opening Hymn and Greeting

The bell rings and we stand, as we are able. The servers and clergy stand in front of St Peter’s Chapel. The deacon holds the Paschal Candle which was lit at last night’s Easter Vigil.

Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end.

Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to him, and all ages; to him be glory and power, through every age and for ever. Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Festival is introduced and the Paschal Candle is welcomed. The deacon proclaims: The light of Christ. Thanks be to God.

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the Cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the Cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

We pause at the Easter Garden and the president uses these words of blessing:
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation… finishing …Blessed be God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever.

The hymn continues:
But the pains that he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Words and Music: Lyra Davidica, 1708

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

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

We sing the Gloria. The congregation sings the refrain (below) while a cantor sings the 5 verses of the Gloria:

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Acts 10:34-43)

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

The cantors sing Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24:

1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, * ‘His mercy endures for ever.’
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, * and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation * sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds; the right hand of the Lord raises up; * the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17 I shall not die, but live * and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, * but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, * that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; * the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me * and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected * has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, * and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; * we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Second reading (Colossians 3:1-4)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (John 20:1-18)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord

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

Sermon

Fr Philip Anderson

The Re-affirmation of baptismal vows

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God? I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil? I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour? I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour? I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord? I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life? I come to Christ.

The water is blessed, beginning: 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.

… authority and power are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

We are all then sprinkled with the water of baptism.

The Intercessions

(please kneel or sit)

Any of the following may be used:

Jesus, Lord of life Lord, save us and help us.
Lord, meet us in the silence, give us strength and hear our prayer.

At the end:
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers, and be with us always. 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

Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky;
Heaven thunders forth its victor-cry
Alleluia, Alleluia,
The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
And groaning hell makes wild reply:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord:

He bade them see his hands, his side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
The tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again:

Jesu, the King of gentleness,
Do thou thyself our hearts possess,
That we may give thee all our days
The tribute of our grateful praise:

All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally:

Words: John Mason Neale(1818-66) based on Aurora lucis rutilat (Latin 4th C)
Music: ‘Lasst uns erfreuen’ Melody in Geistliche Kichengesang, Cologne (1623) arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

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.

(Mass of All Saints – Alan Wilson (born 1947))

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:

Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

The prayer continues with oblation and intercession, ending:

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

Rejoicing in God’s new creation 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.

Jesus says, I am the bread of life, whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Lord, our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always.

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.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

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

This joyful Eastertide, away with sin and sorrow.
My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow:

Refrain:
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber:
Till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number: Refrain:

Death’s flood hath lost his chill, since Jesus crossed the river:
Lover of souls, from ill my passing soul deliver: Refrain:

Words: George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934)
Music: David’s Psalmen, Amsterdam, 1685 harm. Charles Wood (1866-1926)

Post-Communion Prayers

(We stand at ‘Let us pray’)

After the post-communion prayer we say together

We thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples. 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

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting:

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
Life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife,
Make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love;
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above:

Words: Edmond Budry (1854-1932) trans. Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939)
Music: ‘Maccabeus’ George Frederick Handel (1685-1759)

Blessing and Dismissal

(please stand)

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

God the Father, by whose love Christ was raised from the dead, open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. Amen.

God the Son, who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory, give you joy as you share the Easter faith. Amen.

God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower you and fill you with Christ’s 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 peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Organ: Toccata (from Symphonie Nr. 5) – Charles Marie Widor (1844-1937).

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.