'Choral Eucharist on 13th April will be livestreamed and available online at Holy Trinity’s YouTube site from 10.55am on Sunday at  https://www.youtube.com/live/3__ruwMmCfE

​

INTROIT We begin outside.
 
Hosanna to the Son of David.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Behold your king comes to you, O Zion, meek and lowly, 
sitting upon a donkey.
Hosanna to the Son of David.
Ride on in the cause of truth and for the sake of justice.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Your throne is the throne of God, it endures for ever;
and the sceptre of, your kingdom is a righteous sceptre.
Hosanna to the Son of David.
You have loved righteousness and hated evil:
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness.
Hosanna to the Son of David.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
 
Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord's Paschal mystery.  On this day our Lord Jesus Christ entered into the holy city of Jerusalem. The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before him led to self-giving, suffering and death. Today we greet Jesus as our King, although we know His crown is a crown of thorns and His throne a cross.  We follow Him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by the dark road of suffering and death, knowing that as we are united with him in his suffering on the cross we also share with him in the resurrection.
 
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew. 

And when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them’, and he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
“Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the ass and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, ” Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
 
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, whose son, in the fulfilment of prophecy rode this day into the Holy City, bless and sanctify to our use, these branches of palm; and grant that we who carry them in honour of our King and Redeemer may, may  with steadfast faith prepare his way when he comes again; who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
 
PROCESSION   We process into church.

HYMN 
 
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 Blessèd 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 prayer and praise 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
 
THE PASSION ACCORDING TO MATTHEW   Please sit.
 
EVANGELIST:  When morning had come, the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to bring him to death. And they bound him, and led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said,
 
READER 1 (JUDAS):  "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." 
 
EVANGELIST:  But they said, 
 
READER 2 (PRIESTS):  "What is that to us? See to it yourself." 
 
EVANGELIST:  Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went out and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, 
 
READER 2 (PRIESTS):  "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." 
 
EVANGELIST:  After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,
 
READER 3 (PROPHET):  "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me." 
 
EVANGELIST:  Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, 
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  "Are you the King of the Jews?"
 
EVANGELIST:  Jesus said, 
 
READER 3 (JESUS):  "It is you that say it." 
 
EVANGELIST:  But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, 
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" 
 
EVANGELIST:  But Jesus gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them,
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  ”Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" 
 
EVANGELIST:  For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, 
 
READER 3 (PILATE’S WIFE):  "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." 
 
EVANGELIST:  Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them,
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" 
 
EVANGELIST:  And they said, 
 
ALL:  "Barabbas." 
 
EVANGELIST:  Pilate said to them, 
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  ”Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?"
 
EVANGELIST:  All of them said, 
 
ALL:  "Crucify Him!"
 
EVANGELIST:  Then he asked,
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  ”Why, what evil has he done?"
 
EVANGELIST:   But they shouted all the more,
 
ALL:   “Crucify Him!"
 
EVANGELIST:  So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying,
 
READER 1 (PILATE):  ”I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."
 
EVANGELIST:   Then the people as a whole answered,
 
ALL:   "His blood be on us and on our children!"
 
EVANGELIST:   So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 
 
Please stand. 
 
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying,
 
ALL: "Hail, King of the Jews!" 
 
EVANGELIST:  They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 
And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read,
 
READER 3 (JESUS):  "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."
 
EVANGELIST:  Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by 
derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
 
READER 2:   "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 
 
EVANGELIST:   In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 
 
READER 2 :  "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" 
 
EVANGELIST:  The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice,
 
READER 3 (JESUS):   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 
 
EVANGELIST:   When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, 
 
READER 2 :  "This man is calling for Elijah." 
 
EVANGELIST:   At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said,
 
READER 2:  "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."
 
EVANGELIST:  Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 
 
We stand in silence. 
 
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said,
 
READER 3 (CENTURION):  "Truly this man was the son of God!" 
 
After a minute’s silence, some music is played
 
THE LITANY 

Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,  by the greatness of your love  
by your holy incarnation and your coming in the flesh; 
from all evil pride, vanity and hypocrisy,

from envy, hatred and malice and from all evil intent;  

Good Lord, deliver us. 
 
By your agony and trial; 
by your cross and suffering; and by your precious death and burial: 
by your sacrifice, by your immeasurable love and by your passion, 
by your giving of yourself to all people, 
have mercy on us
Guide and protect your church, fill us with love and truth, 
and grant us that unity which is your will. 
Make us bold to preach the Gospel in all the world and to make disciples of all the nations. 
Uphold the weak, raise up those who fall 
and strengthen us all by your power. 
Give us true repentance; 
forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance, and our deliberate sins;

and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit 
to amend our lives  according to your word. 
 
PEACE 
We meet in Christ’s name. 
Let us share his peace.
 
OFFERTORY HYMN 
 
The Son of God goes forth to war,
a kingly crown to gain;
his blood red banner streams afar:
who follows in his train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
triumphant over pain,
who patient bears his cross below,
he follows in his train.

​

That martyr first, whose eagle eye
could pierce beyond the grave;
who saw his Master in the sky,
and called on him to save.
Like him, with pardon on his tongue,
in midst of mortal pain,
he prayed for them that did the wrong:
who follows in his train?

​

A glorious band, the chosen few
on whom the Spirit came;
twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
and mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
the lion's gory mane;
they bowed their heads the death to feel:
who follows in their train?

​

A noble army, men and boys,
the matron and the maid,
around the Savior's throne rejoice,
in robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heaven,
through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given,
to follow in their train.
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING 
 
The Lord be with you 
And also with you
Lift up your hearts 
We lift them up to the Lord
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you
Because by your cross and passion 
you have redeemed the world. 
 
Worship and praise belong to you, maker of light and darkness.  

In your wisdom you created the world and all that is in it.  

You gave us ears to heed your voice,

You gave us the will to choose your way.

You sent Christ your Son to reconcile a sinful and lost world to you.

In him, enemies were reconciled, debts forgiven  and strangers made welcome.  

You sent your Spirit to sustain us in our earthly pilgrimage,  

as we walk with Christ through the valley of darkness. 
 
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you

Because by your cross and passion

you have redeemed the world. 
 
We who by Christ’s power follow the way of the Cross,

sharing the joy of his obedience,  

now offer you our praise, with angels and archangels  

and the whole company of heaven

singing the hymn of your unending glory:
 
 SANCTUS
 
 
Almighty God, you so loved the world that you gave your only begotten son,

and whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For you did not send your son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world through him might be saved.

For as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up. 
 
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you

because by your cross and passion

you have redeemed the world. 
 
Before he was given up to suffering and death, 
recalling the night in which the sons of Egypt died, 
himself the firstborn, he freely offered his life. 
 
At supper with his disciples, 
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying:

 ‘Take, eat. This is my Body: it is broken for you.’ 

After supper, he took the cup,
he offered you thanks, and gave it to them saying:
‘Drink this, all of you.

This is my Blood of the new covenant;

it is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.’
 
We adore you, O Christ and we bless you,

because by your cross and passion

you have redeemed the world. 
 
Hear us, most merciful Father,
and send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and this wine,
that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,
they may be the Body and Blood of your Son,
and we may be kindled with the fire of your love
and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.
 
As once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel,

so accept our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,

that we may be one with you,

and with the saints, Apostles, martyrs and all the company of the blessed.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honour and glory be to you, Lord of all ages,  

world without end. Amen.
 
 THE FRACTION
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
 
LORD’S PRAYER
As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us,  
we are bold to say:

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
 
AGNUS DEI
 
 
COMMUNION 
 
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER 

Faithful God,
whose Son bore our sins in his body on the tree
and gave us this sacrament to show forth his death until he comes:
give us grace to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for he is our salvation, our life and our hope,
who reigns as Lord, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
BLESSING  
Christ crucified draw you to himself,
to find in him a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen. 
 
FINAL HYMN 
 
1 Ride on, ride on in majesty!
Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry,
Thy humble beast pursues his road
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

2 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.

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

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

5 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.
 
ORGAN VOLUNTARY 
 

 

 

 

​