Order of Service
Today's services
Sunday, 10th August 2025
11:15
Eighth Sunday after TrinitySung Eucharist
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 offertory hymn, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between St Andrew's Youth Club and the work of the Abbey. Established over 150 years ago, St Andrew's provides a sense of belonging, fun, and informal education to over 500 members each year.
Setting: Communion Service in A minor, Harold Darke (1888–1976)
Visiting Choirs
When the Abbey Choirs are on holiday, the Abbey welcomes visiting choirs, upholding the Abbey's pattern of choral services. This is an important aspect of worship at Westminster Abbey, and choirs are received both at the invitation of the Minor Canons and Music Departments and via online applications. More information and details on how to apply can be found here. Today, the Abbey is pleased to welcome the Choir of St Luke's Church, Chelsea, who are singing the choral services today.
Order of Service
All stand as the choir and clergy enter, and to sing the Hymn
Thy hand, O God, has guided
thy flock, from age to age;
the wondrous tale is written,
full clear, on every page;
our fathers owned thy goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both of this bear witness:
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.
Thy heralds brought glad tidings
to greatest, as to least;
they bade men rise, and hasten
to share the great King's feast;
and this was all their teaching,
in every deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.
Through many a day of darkness,
through many a scene of strife,
the faithful few fought bravely
to guard the nation's life.
Their gospel of redemption,
sin pardoned, man restored,
was all in this enfolded,
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.
And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict,
and cast away our crown?
Not so: in God's deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.
Thy mercy will not fail us,
nor leave thy work undone;
with thy right hand to help us,
the victory shall be won;
and then, by men and angels,
thy name shall be adored,
and this shall be their anthem,
one Church, one Faith, one Lord.
Words: Edward Plumptre (1821–91)
Tune: 'Thornbury' 485 NEH, Basil Harwood (1859–1949)
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.
Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we beseech you to direct, sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 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, Genesis 15: 1–6
The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, 'Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.' But Abram said, 'O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abram said, 'You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.' But the word of the Lord came to him, 'This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.' He brought him outside and said, 'Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The choir sings Psalm 33: 12–21
Happy the nation whose God is the Lord,
and the people he has chosen for his own.
The Lord looks down from heaven,
and beholds all the children of earth.
From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze
on all who dwell on the earth—
he fashions all the hearts of them,
and understands all their works.
No king is saved by the might of his host;
no warrior delivered by his great strength.
A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
for all its strength it cannot save.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him,
on those who wait in hope for his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
and to feed them in time of famine.
Our soul waits longingly for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him;
in his holy name have we put our trust.
The Epistle, Hebrews 11: 1–3, 8–16
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, 'as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.'
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
All stand for the Procession of the Gospel. The choir sings
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
and all repeat
We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The reader announces the Gospel, Luke 12: 32–40
Jesus said, 'Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
'Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
'But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.'
The Sermon by The Reverend Robert Latham, Precentor
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
God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.
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
We hail thy presence glorious,
O Christ our great high priest,
o'er sin and death victorious,
at thy thanksgiving feast:
as thou art interceding
for us in heaven above,
thy Church on earth is pleading
thy perfect work of love.
Through thee in every nation
thine own their hearts upraise,
offering one pure oblation,
one sacrifice of praise:
with thee in blest communion
the living and the dead
are joined in closest union,
one body with one head.
O living Bread from heaven,
Jesu, our Saviour good,
who thine own self hast given
to be our souls' true food;
for us thy body broken
hung on the cross of shame:
this bread, its hallowed token,
we break in thy dear name.
O stream of love unending,
poured from the one true vine,
with our weak nature blending
the strength of life divine;
our thankful faith confessing
in thy life-blood outpoured,
we drink this cup of blessing
and praise thy name, O Lord.
Words: Richard Parsons (1882–1948)
Tune: 'Offertorium' 310 NEH, after Michael Haydn (1737–1806)
All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says
Father, we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put an end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:
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
As we join our prayers with those of the Church Universal, 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
because we all share in one 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.
Ave verum corpus natum
Ex Maria Virgine
Vere passum immolatum
In cruce pro homine.
Cujus latus perforatum
Unda fluxit sanguine.
Esto nobis praegustatum
In mortis examine.
O clemens, O pie, O dulcis Jesu fili Mariae.
Hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary, who truly suffered upon the cross for mankind: from whose pierced side there came forth water and blood; give us now, and at the time of our death, yourself to be our food.
O gentle, holy Jesus, Son of Mary.
Words: attributed to a 'Pope Innocent', 14th century
Music: Edward Elgar (1857–1934)
All stand to sing the Hymn
The Lord will come and not be slow,
his footsteps cannot err;
before him righteousness shall go,
his royal harbinger.
Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
shall bud and blossom then;
and justice, from her heavenly bower,
look down on mortal men.
Rise, God, judge thou the earth in might,
this wicked earth redress;
for thou art he who shalt by right
the nations all possess.
The nations all whom thou hast made
shall come, and all shall frame
to bow them low before thee, Lord,
and glorify thy name.
For great thou art, and wonders great
by thy strong hand are done:
thou in thy everlasting seat
remainest God alone.
Words: John Milton (1608–74), paraphrases on verses from Psalms 85, 82, 86
Tune: 'St Stephen' 15 NEH, William Jones (1726–1800)
Let us pray.
All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion
Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that have taken holy things; may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute; may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit; may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope; and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life; glory to you for ever. Amen.The president pronounces the Blessing
The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; 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
Pomp and Circumstance March Op 39 no 5, Edward Elgar, arranged by Iain Farrington (b 1977)
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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.
The Abbey is grateful for your support. Cash and contactless donations may be given as you leave via the Great West Door and will be divided equally between the work of the Abbey and the charities it supports.
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Today's Services
Sunday, 10th August 2025 | ||
---|---|---|
Eighth Sunday after Trinity | ||
8.00am | Holy Communion | Nave |
The Book of Common Prayer; said | ||
10.00am | Morning Prayer | Quire |
said with hymns | ||
View Order of Service | ||
11.15am | Sung Eucharist | Quire |
sung by the Choir of St Luke's Church, Chelsea | Darke Communion Service in A minor Preacher: The Reverend Robert Latham Precentor |
|
View Order of Service | ||
3.00pm | Evensong | Quire |
sung by the Choir of St Luke's Church, Chelsea | Clucas Responses Preacher: The Right Reverend Anthony Poggo Secretary General, Anglican Communion |
|
View Order of Service | ||
5.00pm | Organ Recital | Nave |
given by Julie Pinsonneault, Universitätskirche, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany | Laurin Prélude (Symphonie I) |
|
6.00pm | Holy Communion | St Margaret's Church |
said with hymns | Preacher: The Reverend Robert Latham Precentor |
|
View Order of Service | ||