Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in the Abbey during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

During the Abbey Choir's vacation we welcome visiting choirs from the United Kingdom and beyond to lead the music at our services. The service is sung by Winchester College Chapel Choir.

Setting: Collegium Regale, Herbert Howells (1892–1983)

Following the service a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between The Honeypot Children's Charity and the work of the Abbey. Honeypot works to enhance the lives of young carers aged 5–12 years by providing respite breaks and ongoing outreach support.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter, and to sing the Hymn

At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his piercèd side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred blood for wine,
gives his body for the feast,
Love the victim, Love the priest.

Mighty victim from the sky,
hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light.
Now thy banner thou dost wave,
conquering Satan and the grave.
see the prince of darkness quelled;
heaven's bright gates are open held.

Paschal triumph, Paschal joy,
only sin can this destroy;
from sin's death do thou set free
souls re-born, dear Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory, songs of praise,
Father, unto thee we raise;
risen Lord, all praise to thee,
ever with the Spirit be.

Words: after a Latin breviary hymn, translated by Robert Campbell (1814–68)
Tune: 'Salzburg' 104 NEH, from Jakob Hintze (1622–1702)

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

All remain standing. The president introduces the Prayers of Penitence, after which all say

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.

The president gives the Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The choir sings Gloria in excelsis Deo

Glory be to God on high,

All sit

and in earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

All stand for the Collect

Let us pray.

All sit for the Reading from the New Testament, Acts 3: 12–19

Peter addressed the people: 'You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

'And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.'

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

The choir sings Psalm 4

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness;
   you set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
How long will you nobles dishonour my glory;
   how long will you love vain things and seek after falsehood?
But know that the Lord has shown me his marvellous kindness;
   when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Stand in awe, and sin not;
   commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness
   and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many that say, 'Who will show us any good?'
   Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
   more than when their corn and wine and oil increase.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for it is you Lord, only, who make me dwell in safety.

The Epistle, 1 John 3: 1–7

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

All stand for the Procession of the Gospel. The choir sings

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

and all repeat

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!

The reader announces the Gospel, Luke 24: 36b–48

Jesus himself stood among the disciples and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.' And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, 'These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.' Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.'

The Sermon by The Reverend Robert Latham, Sacrist

All stand to say the Creed

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.

All remain standing for the Prayers of Intercession. At the end of each petition there is said

The intercession ends

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The president introduces the Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia!

All may greet one another with the words Peace be with you.

All remain standing to sing the Hymn during the Preparation of the Altar. A collection will be taken. Alternatively, cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door

Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest;
   nay, let us be thy guests; the feast is thine;
thyself at thine own board make manifest,
   in thine own sacrament of bread and wine.

We meet, as in that upper room they met;
   thou at the table, blessing, yet dost stand:
'This is my body': so thou givest yet:
   faith still receives the cup as from thy hand.

One body we, one body who partake,
   one church united in communion blest;
one name we bear, one bread of life we break,
   with all thy saints on earth and saints at rest.

One with each other, Lord, for one in thee,
   who art one Saviour and one living Head;
then open thou our eyes, that we may see;
   be known to us in breaking of the bread.

Words: Gilbert Briggs (1875–1959)
Tune: 'Song 4' 279 NEH, Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623–25

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal Father, and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works. For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son, has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men and women the image of your glory. He has placed them once more in paradise and opened to them the gate of life eternal. And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

The choir sings Sanctus

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The president continues the Eucharistic Prayer

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

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

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of [N and] all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

All remain standing. The president introduces the Lord's Prayer

In union with the risen Christ, so we say, each in our own language, the prayer that Jesus Christ 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.

All remain standing for the Breaking of the Bread

The congregation is invited to sit as the president and other ministers begin the distribution of Holy Communion. Those wishing to receive come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please refrain from dipping the wafer in the chalice. Those who do not wish to receive communion are invited to come for a blessing; please bow your head as you approach. The minister says to each communicant

The body of Christ. Amen.

The blood of Christ. Amen.

During the giving of communion, the choir sings Agnus Dei and the Motet

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.

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,
   ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.

As the deer longs for the water brooks, so longs my soul for you, O God.

Words: Psalm 42: 1
Music: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c 1525–94)

All stand to sing the Hymn

Go forth for God; go forth to the world in peace;
   be of good courage, armed with heavenly grace,
in God's good Spirit daily to increase,
   till in his kingdom we behold his face.

Go forth for God; go forth to the world in strength;
   hold fast the good, be urgent for the right,
render to no man evil; Christ at length
   shall overcome all darkness with his light.

Go forth for God go forth to the world in love;
   strengthen the faint, give courage to the weak,
help the afflicted; richly from above
   his love supplies the grace and power we seek.

Go forth for God; go forth to the world in joy,
   to serve Christ's brethren every day and hour,
and serving Christ, his every gift employ,
   rejoicing in the Holy Spirit's power.

Sing praise to him who brought us on our way,
   sing praise to him who bought us with his blood,
sing praise to him who sanctifies each day,
   sing praise to him who reigns one Lord and God.

Words: John Peacey (1896–1971) and editors of 'The New English Hymnal' 1986
Tune: 'Magda' 321 NEH, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion

The president pronounces the Blessing

May Christ, who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future, fill you with his new life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Music after the service

Incantation pour un jour saint, Jean Langlais (1907–91)

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Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.