Please join in saying the words and singing the hymn 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.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Following the service a collection will be taken. The money from today's services will be divided equally between the Trussell Trust and the work of the Abbey. The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks, providing emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaigns for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Introit

It was in that train I heard the call to give up all and follow him into the slums, to serve him amongst the poorest of the poor, purely for the love of God.

Words: Mother Teresa (1910–97) as noted in Malcolm Muggeridge's Something Beautiful for God
Music: Barry Ferguson (b 1942) from the song-cycle That Passing Train

All stand as the choir and clergy enter

All remain standing as the officiant introduces the Confession

Beloved, we are come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now.

All kneel or sit to say together

O God, our Father, we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved thee with all our heart; we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. Have mercy upon us, we beseech thee; cleanse us from our sins; and help us to overcome our faults; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The officiant gives the Absolution

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant unto you pardon and remission of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All say together the Lord's Prayer

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 stand. The officiant and choir sing the Responses

Music: Philip Radcliffe (1905–86)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 55: 13–23

Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me : for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him.
But it was even thou, my companion : my guide, and mine own familiar friend.
We took sweet counsel together : and walked in the house of God as friends.
Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell : for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
As for me, I will call upon God : and the Lord shall save me.
In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly : and he shall hear my voice.
It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me : for there were many with me.
Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down : for they will not turn, nor fear God.
He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him : and he brake his covenant.
The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart : his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee : and shall not suffer the righteousness to fall for ever.

All stand

Chants: Joseph Barnby (1838–96) and John Goss (1800–80)

All sit for the first Lesson, Lamentations 3: 40–51

Let us test and examine our ways,
   and return to the Lord.
Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands
   to God in heaven.
We have transgressed and rebelled,
   and you have not forgiven.

You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us,
   killing without pity;
you have wrapped yourself with a cloud
   so that no prayer can pass through.
You have made us filth and rubbish
   among the peoples.

All our enemies
   have opened their mouths against us;
panic and pitfall have come upon us,
   devastation and destruction.
My eyes flow with rivers of tears
   because of the destruction of my people.

My eyes will flow without ceasing,
   without respite,
until the Lord from heaven
   looks down and sees.
My eyes cause me grief
   at the fate of all the young women in my city.

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Short Service, Thomas Weelkes (c 1576–1623)

All sit for the second Lesson, Galatians 6: 11–end

See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Short Service, Thomas Weelkes

All face east to say together the Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:

and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Let us pray.

All kneel or sit. The officiant and choir sing the Lesser Litany, the Lord's Prayer, and the Responses

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

The officiant sings the Collects; of the day, of Lent, for peace, and for aid against all perils

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels and all just works do proceed: Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Music: Philip Radcliffe

The officiant says the Prayers; for the Royal Family, and for the Members of the Order of the Bath

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Charles, Camilla the Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family: endue them with thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God save our Gracious Sovereign, and all the Members of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath living and departed. Amen.

All sit. The choir sings the Anthem

Timor et tremor venerunt super me, et caligo cecidit super me: miserere mei Domine, miserere mei, quoniam in te confidit anima mea.

Exaudi Deus deprecationem meam quia refugium meum es tu et adjutor fortis: Domine invocavi te non confundar.

Fear and trembling come over me, and shadows fall upon me: Lord have mercy on me, since it is in you that my spirit trusts:

Lord hear my prayers since you are my refuge and my strong helper. Lord I have called upon you, do not let me be confounded.

Music: Orlande de Lassus (c 1532–94)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions, at the end of which all say

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

All stand to sing the Hymn

It is a thing most wonderful,
   almost too wonderful to be,
that God's own Son should come from heaven,
   and die to save a child like me.

And yet I know that it is true:
   he chose a poor and humble lot,
and wept, and toiled, and mourned, and died
   for love of those who loved him not.

But even could I see him die,
   I could but see a little part
of that great love, which, like a fire,
   is always burning in his heart.

It is most wonderful to know
   his love for me so free and sure;
but 'tis more wonderful to see
   my love for him so faint and poor.

And yet I want to love thee, Lord;
   O light the flame within my heart,
and I will love thee more and more,
   until I see thee as thou art.

Words: Walsham How (1823–97)
Tune: Herongate 84 NEH, Essex folk song

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Those who wish to may sit for the remainder of the organ voluntary

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