A Minister sings Let us pray.  Please stand

The GREETING

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

I invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.

The COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name: through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Celebrant introduces the CONFESSION

After a short pause for self examination, all say

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may walk in newness of life to the glory of your name.  Amen.

The Celebrant pronounces the ABSOLUTION

Please remain standing  The Celebrant intones the COLLECT OF THE DAY

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PROCLAIMING AND RECEIVING THE WORD

Please sit to listen to the READING: 2 Corinthians 5: 20b – 6: 10

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Choristers sing THE GRADUAL

Drop, drop, slow tears, and bathe those beauteous feet, which brought from heaven the news and Prince of peace. Cease not, wet eyes, his mercies to entreat; to cry for vengeance sin doth never cease. In your deep floods drown all my faults and fears; not let his eye see sin but through my tears.

Orlando Gibbons (1585–1623)

Please stand to listen to the GOSPEL READING:

The Deacon and the Choristers sing

The Lord be with you.

  And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ according to Saint Matthew, in the sixth chapter, beginning at the first verse.

  Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The PEACE

Please stand The Celebrant introduces the PEACE, and says

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

CELEBRATING AT THE LORD’S TABLE

Please remain standing The Celebrant and the Choristers sing SURSUM CORDA

The Lord is here.

  His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

  We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

The Celebrant prays the PREFACE, which concludes

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and singing:

The Choristers sing SANCTUS

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.

Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen.

Please remain standing as the EUCHARISTIC PRAYER continues, concluding

. . . through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom and in whom, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of never-ending praise:

The Choristers sing

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen.

The Celebrant invites the People to pray the LORD’S PRAYER  Please kneel or sit

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.

The Celebrant breaks the bread, and says

The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The Celebrant invites the People to receive Communion

During Communion the Choristers sing AGNUS DEI

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.

GOING OUT AS GOD’S PEOPLE

When all have received Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of 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.

The Celebrant says the BLESSING

The Deacon and the Choristers sing the DISMISSAL

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

  In the name of Christ. Amen.