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 Lay Vicars.

Following the service a collection will be taken at the Great West Door. The money from today's services will be divided equally between the Cardinal Hume Centre and the work of the Abbey. The Cardinal Hume Centre, based in Westminster, supports families and young people facing poverty and homelessness by helping them to thrive.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Introit

Hear the voice and prayer of thy servants, that they make before thee this day. That thine eyes may be opened toward this house night and day, ever toward this place, of which thou hast said, 'My name shall be there'. And when thou hearest have mercy on them.

Words: after 2 Chronicles 6: 19–21
Music: Thomas Tallis (c 1505–85)

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

Composer: William Byrd (c 1540–1623)

All sit. The choir sings Psalm 119: 113–128

I hate them that imagine evil things : but thy law do I love.
Thou art my defence and shield : and my trust is in thy word.
Away from me, ye wicked : I will keep the commandments of my God.
O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live : and let me not be disappointed of my hope.
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe : yea, my delight shall be ever in thy statutes.
Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes : for they imagine but deceit.
Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross : therefore I love thy testimonies.
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee : and I am afraid of thy judgements.

I deal with the thing that is lawful and right : O give me not over unto mine oppressors.
Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good : that the proud do me no wrong.
Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health : and for the word of thy righteousness.
O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy : and teach me thy statutes.
I am thy servant, O grant me understanding : that I may know thy testimonies.
It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand : for they have destroyed thy law.
For I love thy commandments : above gold and precious stone.
Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments : and all false ways I utterly abhor.

All stand

plainsong

All sit for the first Lesson, Jeremiah 1: 4–10

The word of the Lord came to me saying,
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'
Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.' But the Lord said to me,
'Do not say, "I am only a boy";
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
          says the Lord.'
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
'Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.'

Here ends the first lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Magnificat

Magnificat anima mea Dominum,
   et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo Salutari meo;
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae.
   Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes;
quia fecit mihi Magna qui potens est,
   et sanctum nomen eius.
Et misericordia eius, a progenie in progenies
   timentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
   dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede
   et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bonis
   et divites dimisit inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum suum,
   recordatus misericordiae suae.
Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros,
   Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto;
sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Magnificat secundi toni, William Mundy (c 1529–91)

All sit for the second Lesson, Matthew 10: 16–22

Jesus said to the twelve, 'See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.'

Here ends the second lesson.

All stand. The choir sings Nunc dimittis

Lord, let thy servant now depart in peace,
   according to thy promise.
For mine eyes have seen the Saviour sent from thee,
   whom thou hast prepared before the face of thy people.
A light to lighten the gentiles,
   to be the glory of thy people of Israel.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, and is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Alway so be it.

Christopher Tye (c 1505–c 73)

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, for peace, and for aid against all perils

O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee: grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. 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.

Robert Quinney b 1976)

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

Manus tuae fecerunt me et plasmaverunt me;
   da mihi intellectum et discam mandata tua.
Qui timent te videbunt me et laetabuntur,
   quia in verba tua supersperavi.
Cognovi Domine quia aequitas iudicia tua,
   et veritate humiliasti me.
Fiat misericordia tua ut consoletur me
   secundum eloquium tuum servo tuo.
Veniant mihi miserationes tuae et vivam,
   quia lex tua meditatio mea est.
Confundantur superbi
   quia iniuste iniquitatem, fecerunt in me
   ego autem exercebor in mandatis tuis.
Convertantur mihi timentes te,
   et qui noverunt testimonia tua.
Fiat cor meum inmaculatum in iustificationibus tuis,
   ut non confundar. Amen.

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgements are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame. Amen.

Words: Psalm 119: 73–80
Music: Robert White (c 1538–74), Organist of Westminster Abbey 1570–74

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

Jesu, my Lord, my God my all,
hear me blest Saviour when I call;
hear me, and from thy dwelling place
pour down the riches of thy grace:
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore,
O make me love thee more and more.

Jesu, too late I thee have sought,
how can I love thee as I ought?
And how extol thy matchless fame,
the glorious beauty of thy name?
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore,
O make me love thee more and more.

Jesu, what didst thou find in me,
that thou hast dealt so lovingly?
How great the joy that thou hast brought,
so far exceeding hope or thought!
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore,
O make me love thee more and more.

Jesus, of thee shall be my song,
to thee my heart and soul belong;
all that I am or have is thine,
and thou sweet Saviour, thou art mine.
Jesus, my Lord, I thee adore,
O make me love thee more and more.

Words: Henry Collins (1827–1919)
Tune: Stella 384 NEH, Henry Collins

All remain standing as the choir and clergy depart

Music after the service

Fantasia in A minor, William Byrd

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

CHORISTERSHIPS AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Enquiries are welcomed at any time. If you have a son who enjoys singing, and would like further details of the world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique choir school, please visit www.abbeychoirschool.org

Mr Mark Mitchell, Acting Headmaster, Westminster Abbey Choir School, Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3NY, Tel 020 7222 6151 [email protected]
Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, The Chapter Office, 20 Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3PA, Tel 020 7654 4854 [email protected]

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