Today the Church remembers Christ's entry into Jerusalem. Six days later he was to be betrayed and to die. In this liturgy we celebrate the joy of his triumphal arrival in our procession and acknowledge in the singing of the Passion Gospel the darkness that was to come.

The Procession is the first action of Holy Week. We carry palms in procession to remind us of the first Palm Sunday. We sing the praises of Christ the King who will reign on the cross. We join with him, ready to take up our cross and follow, as we walk with him to suffering and death. We also remember that those who cry 'Hosanna' today shout 'Crucify' on Good Friday.

The Passion Gospel introduces us to Holy Week. The week's services are shaped by the events of the last week of Jesus's earthly life, remembered in light of the victory over sin and death that he won for all humankind.

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.

The service is sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.

Setting: Mass for four voices, William Byrd (c 1540–1623)

Following the service a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between The Queen's Commonwealth Trust International and the work of the Abbey. The Queen's Commonwealth Trust supports Young Leaders in the Commonwealth who are transforming their communities.

Order of Service

The choir sings the Antiphon

Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.

Words: Matthew 21: 9; Luke 19: 38; Mark 11: 10; Psalm 118: 1
Music: plainsong

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing ourselves to celebrate our Lord's death and resurrection. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration. With this procession of palms, we recall how Christ entered his own city to complete his work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us now go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings, we may share his risen life.

All hold up their palm crosses for the Blessing

God our Saviour, whose Son Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as Messiah to suffer and to die; bless these palms to be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The reader announces the Gospel, Mark 11: 1–11

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately." ' They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
'Hosanna!
   Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
   Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!'

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

The gospeller sings

All sing the Hymn during which the clergy, congregation, and choir process to places in the Abbey

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.

The company of angels
   are praising thee on high,
and mortal men and all things
   created make reply.

The people of the Hebrews
   with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
   before thee we present.

To thee before thy passion
   they sang their hymns of praise;
to thee, now high exalted,
   our melody we raise.

Thou didst accept their praises,
   accept the prayers we bring,
who in all good delightest,
   thou good and gracious King.

Do thou direct our footsteps
   upon our earthly way,
and bring us by thy mercy
   to heaven's eternal day.

Within that blessèd City
   thy praises may we sing,
and ever raise hosannas
   to our most loving King.

All glory laud and honour
   to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
   made sweet hosannas ring.

Words: 'Gloria, laus, et honor' attributed to Theodulf of Orleans (c 760–821) translated by John Mason Neale (1818–66)
Tune: 'St Theodulph' 509 NEH, Melchior Teschner (1584–1635)

The organist plays

Valet will ich dir geben BWV 735, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

All sing the Hymn

Ride on, ride on in majesty!
hark, all the tribes hosanna cry,
thy humble beast pursues his road
with palms and scattered garments strowed.

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.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!
the wingèd squadrons of the sky
look down with sad and wondering eyes
to see the approaching sacrifice.

Ride on, ride on in majesty!
thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;
the Father on his sapphire throne
awaits his own anointed Son.

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.

Words: Henry Milman (1791–1868) Canon of Westminster 1835–49
Tune: 'Winchester New' 511 NEH, adapted from 'Musicalisches Hand-Buch' Hamburg, 1690

The choir sings the Introit

Ingrediente Domino in sanctam civitatem, Hebraeorum pueri resurrectionem vitae pronuntiantes, cum ramis palmarum, Hosanna clamabant in excelsis. Cumque audisset populus quod Jesus veniret Jerosolymam, exierunt obviam ei. Cum ramis palmarum, Hosanna clamabant in excelsis.

While the Lord was entering the holy city, the children of the Hebrews, proclaiming the resurrection of life with branches of palms, were crying out, 'Hosanna in the highest.' And when the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went out to meet him. With branches of palms, they were crying out, 'Hosanna in the highest.'

Music: George Malcolm (1917–97)

All remain standing for the Collect

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All sit for the Reading from the Old Testament, Isaiah 50: 4–9a

The Lord God has given me
   the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
   the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
   wakens my ear
   to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
   and I was not rebellious,
   I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
   and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
   from insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me;
   therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
   and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
   he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
   Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
   Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
   who will declare me guilty?

The choir sings Psalm 31: 9–16

Antiphon But my trust is in you, O Lord. I have said, 'You are my God'.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in trouble;
   my eye is consumed with sorrow, my soul and my body also.
For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;
   my strength fails me because of my affliction, and my bones are consumed.
I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbours, an object of dread to my acquaintances;
   when they see me in the street they flee from me.
I am forgotten like one that is dead, out of mind;
   I have become like a broken vessel.
For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is on every side;
   they scheme together against me, and plot to take my life.
But my trust is in you, O Lord.
   I have said, 'You are my God.
My times are in your hand;
   deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
Make your face to shine upon your servant,
   and save me for your mercy's sake.'

The Epistle, Philippians 2: 5–11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
   and gave him the name
   that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
   every knee should bend,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
   that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

All remain seated. The choir sings

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

and all repeat

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Christ humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name.

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The choir sings the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mark 14: 32–50, 53–68a, 69—15: 39

Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to them, 'Sit here while I pray.' And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch.' And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will.' And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came a third time and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.'

And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve; and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign: 'The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and lead him away safely.' And when he came, he went up to him at once, and said, 'Master!' and he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, 'Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.' And they all forsook him and fled.

And they led Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders were assembled. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against him: 'We heard him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands."' Yet not even so did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, 'Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?' But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' 'I am; and
"you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Power",
and "coming with the clouds of heaven."'
And the high priest tore his mantle and said, 'Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?' And they all condemned him as deserving death. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike him, saying to him, 'Prophesy!' And the guards received him with blows.

And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came. And seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, 'You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.' But he denied it: 'I neither know nor understand what you mean.' And he went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, began again to say to the bystanders, 'This man is one of them.' But again he denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter, 'Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.' But he began to invoke a curse on himself, and to swear, 'I do not know this man of whom you speak.' And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept.

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole council held a consultation. And they bound Jesus, and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' 'The words are yours.' And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him' 'Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.' But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered.

Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, any one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison who had committed murder in the insurrection there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to do for them. And he answered them, 'Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?' For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, 'Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?' 'Crucify him!' 'Why, what evil has he done?' 'Crucify him!' So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the Praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

All stand.

And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry the cross. And they brought him to Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots for them to decide what each should take.

And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.' And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads: 'Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!' So also the chief priests mocked him to one another, with the scribes: 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.' Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' Which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' And some of the bystanders hearing it, said, 'Behold, he is calling Elijah.' And one ran and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink: 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.' And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last.

Silence is kept.

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he thus breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'

Music: Orlande de Lassus (c 1532–94)

All remain standing. The president introduces the Peace

Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ's blood, for he is our peace.

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

My song is love unknown,
   my Saviour's love to me,
love to the loveless shown,
   that they might lovely be.
O, who am I,
   that for my sake
   my Lord should take
frail flesh, and die?

He came from his blest throne,
   salvation to bestow:
but men made strange, and none
   the longed-for Christ would know.
But O, my friend,
   my friend indeed,
   who at my need
his life did spend!

Sometimes they strew his way,
   and his sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
   Hosannas to their King.
Then 'Crucify!'
   is all their breath,
   and for his death
they thirst and cry.

They rise, and needs will have
   my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
   the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he
   to suffering goes,
   that he his foes
from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,
   no story so divine;
never was love, dear King,
   never was grief like thine!
this is my friend,
   in whose sweet praise
   I all my days
could gladly spend.

Words: Samuel Crossman (1624–83)
Tune: 'Love Unknown' 86 NEH, John Ireland (1879–1962)

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

It is indeed right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as the time of his passion and resurrection draws near the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty. The power of the life-giving cross reveals the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. He is the victim who dies no more, the Lamb once slain, who lives for ever, our advocate in heaven to plead our cause, exalting us there to join with angels and archangels, for ever praising you and saying:

The choir sings Sanctus

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth, pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes 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.

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

Lord Jesus, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray, each in our own language,

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

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

O Domine Jesu Christe, adoro te in cruce vulneratum, felle et aceto potatum: deprecor te ut vulnera tua sint remedium animae meae.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I worship you, wounded on the cross, having drunk of gall and vinegar: I beseech you that your wounds might be the remedy of my soul.

Music: Francisco Guerrero (1528–99)

All stand to sing the Hymn

And now, O Father, mindful of the love
   that bought us, once for all, on Calvary's tree,
and having with us him that pleads above,
   we here present, we here spread forth to thee
that only offering perfect in thine eyes,
the one true, pure, immortal sacrifice.

Look, Father, look on his anointed face,
   and only look on us as found in him;
look not on our misusings of thy grace,
   our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim:
for lo, between our sins and their reward
we set the Passion of thy Son our Lord.

And then for those, our dearest and our best,
   by this prevailing presence we appeal:
O fold them closer to thy mercy's breast,
   O do thine utmost for their souls' true weal;
from tainting mischief keep them white and clear,
and crown thy gifts with grace to persevere.

And so we come: O draw us to thy feet,
   most patient Saviour, who canst love us still;
and by this food, so aweful and so sweet,
   deliver us from every touch of ill:
in thine own service make us glad and free,
and grant us nevermore to part from thee.

Words: 'The Eucharistic Presentation' William Bright (1824–1901)
Tune: 'Unde et memores' 273 NEH, William Monk (1823–89)

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion

Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The president pronounces the Blessing

May the Father, who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, bring you by faith to his eternal life. Amen.

May Christ, who accepted the cup of sacrifice in obedience to the Father's will, keep you steadfast as you walk with him the way of his cross. Amen.

May the Spirit, who strengthens us to suffer with Christ that we may share his glory, set your minds on life and peace. Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Music after the service

Valet will ich dir geben BWV 736, Johann Sebastian Bach

CHORISTERSHIPS AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Enquiries are welcomed at any time. 

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact the Director of Music at St Margaret's, Greg Morris (email). Further details can be found here.

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Dr Emma Margrett, Head, Westminster Abbey Choir School, Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3NY, 020 7222 6151 email

Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, The Chapter Office, 20 Dean's Yard, London, SW1P 3PA, 020 7654 4854 email

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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.