Second Sunday of Easter

12th 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.

Go to Facebook Go to our website Go to Twitter

Calendar for the Week

Monday 13 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Tuesday 14 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Wednesday 15 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist

Thursday 16 April
09.00 Morning Prayer

Friday 17 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
12.15 Eucharist
13.05 RC Mass
19.30 Bells

Saturday 18 April

Sunday 19 April
09.00 Morning Prayer
10.00 Parish Eucharist
11.30 Fire alarm test

Before the service

Organ: Andante Tranquillo (Five Short Pieces) – Percy Whitlock (1903-46)

Opening Hymn

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

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel in to joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters;
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea water.

‘Tis the spring of souls to-day; Christ hath burst his prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen:
All the winters of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendour,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesu’s resurrection.

Alleluia now we cry to our King immortal,
Who triumphant burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
Alleluia, with the Son God the Father praising;
Alleluia yet again to the Spirit raising.

Words: St John of Damascus (c.675-c.750) trans. John Mason Neale (1818-66)
Music: ‘St John Damascene’ Arthur Henry Brown (1830-1926)

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

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

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Confession

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

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

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))

Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father.

Amen.

Readings

(We sit)

First Reading (Acts 2:14a, 22-32)

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

The Saint Nicholas’ Singers sing Psalm 16:

  1. Preserve me, O God * for in thee have I put my trust.
  2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord * Thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto thee.
  3. All my delight is upon the saints, that are in the earth * and upon such as excel in virtue.
  4. But they that run after another god * shall have great trouble.
  5. Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer * neither make mention of their names within my lips.
  6. The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup * thou shalt maintain my lot.
  7. The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground * yea, I have a goodly heritage.
  8. I will thank the Lord for giving me warning * my reins also chasten me in the night-season.
  9. I have set God always before me * for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.
  10. Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced * my flesh also shall rest in hope.
  11. For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell * neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
  12. Thou shalt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is the fulness of joy * and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.

Second reading (1 Peter 1:3-9)

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

(We stand)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus said, You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Please turn to face the Gospel reading (John 20:19-31)

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

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:

We pray to the Father. Hear our prayer
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

At the end:
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

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through;
Strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s Destruction
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee.

Words: William Williams (1717-91) Translated Peter Williams (1727-96)
Music: ‘Cwm Rhondda’ John Hughes (1872-1914)

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:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
[Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Hosts. 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 in G major – Franz Peter Schubert (1798-1823))

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.

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:

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. (x2)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
[Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. (x2)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us 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

Quia vidisti me, Thoma, credidisti: beati qui non viderunt, et crediderunt. Alleluia.

[Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Alleluia.]

Words: John.20.29
Music: Luca Marenzio (1553-99)

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

Love’s redeeming work is done;
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o’er!
Lo, he sets in blood no more!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal,
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
Death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has opened Paradise.

Lives again our glorious King;
Where, O Death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, he all doth save;
Where thy victory, O grave?

Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;
Made like him, like him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to thee by both be given:
Thee we greet triumphant now;
Hail, the Resurrection thou!

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
Music: ‘Savannah’ Melody from Herrnhut collection (c1740) in John Wesley’s A Collection of Tunes Set to Music (1742)

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 the peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Organ: Overture (Occasional Oratorio) – George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).

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.