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 St Margaret's Church during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is sung by the St Margaret's Choristers and Consort.

Setting: Missa Aeterna Christi munera, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c 1525–94)

During the offertory hymn, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between West London Action for Children and the work of the Abbey. West London Action for Children provides free counselling and therapy for vulnerable families in Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.

This service will be live-streamed.

Order of Service

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

Forty days and forty nights
   thou wast fasting in the wild,
forty days and forty nights
   tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day,
   chilly dew-drops nightly shed,
prowling beasts about thy way,
   stones thy pillow, earth thy bed.

Let us thine endurance share,
   and awhile from joys abstain,
with thee watching unto prayer,
   strong with thee to suffer pain.

And if Satan, vexing sore,
   flesh or spirit should assail,
thou, his vanquisher before,
   grant we may not faint nor fail.

So shall we have peace divine,
   holier gladness ours shall be,
round us too shall angels shine,
   such as ministered to thee.

Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,
   ever constant by thy side,
that with thee we may appear
   at th'eternal Eastertide.

Words: 'As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing' Francis Pott (1832–1909) after verses by George Smyttan (1822–70)
Tune: 'Aus der Tiefe' 67 NEH attributed to Martin Herbst (1654–81)

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 Kyrie eleison

Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

All remain standing for the Collect

Let us pray.

All sit for the Reading, Genesis 2: 15–17; 3: 1–7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.'

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God say, "You shall not eat from any tree in the garden"?' The woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, "You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die."' But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

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

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

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

and all repeat

The Lord is a great God, O that today you would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts.

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

The reader announces the Gospel, Matthew 4: 1–11

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' But he answered, 'It is written,
"One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."'

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
"He will command his angels concerning you",
and "On their hands they will bear you up,
   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone."'

Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."'

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Jesus said to him, 'Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
"Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him."'

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

The Sermon by The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle KCVO MBE, Dean of Westminster

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

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

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

O for a heart to praise my God,
   a heart from sin set free;
a heart that always feels thy blood
   so freely spilt for me:

a heart resigned, submissive, meek,
   my dear Redeemer's throne;
where only Christ is heard to speak,
   where Jesus reigns alone:

a humble, lowly, contrite heart,
   believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor death can part
   from him that dwells within:

a heart in every thought renewed,
   and full of love divine;
perfect, and right, and pure, and good,
   a copy, Lord, of thine.

My heart, thou know'st, can never rest
   till thou create my peace;
till of mine Eden repossest,
   from self, and sin, I cease.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
   come quickly from above;
write thy new name upon my heart,
   thy new best name of love.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707–88)
Tune: 'Stockton' 74 NEH, Thomas Wright (1763–1829)

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. For in these forty days you lead us into the desert of repentance that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline we may grow in grace and learn to be your people once again. Through fasting, prayer, and acts of service you bring us back to your generous heart. Through study of your holy word you open our eyes to your presence in the world and free our hands to welcome others into the radiant splendour of your love. As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts and minds we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels 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.

Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.

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.

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
   and let my crying come unto thee.

Words: Psalm 102: 1
Music: Henry Purcell (1659–95)

All stand to sing the Hymn

Take up thy cross, the Saviour said,
   if thou wouldst my disciple be;
deny thyself, the world forsake,
   and humbly follow after me.

Take up thy cross; let not its weight
   fill thy weak spirit with alarm;
his strength shall bear thy spirit up,
   and brace thy heart, and nerve thine arm.

Take up thy cross then in his strength,
   and calmly every danger brave;
'twill guide thee to a better home,
   and lead to vict'ry o'er the grave.

Take up thy cross, and follow Christ,
   nor think till death to lay it down;
for only he who bears the cross
   may hope to wear the glorious crown.

To thee, great Lord, the One in Three,
   all praise for evermore ascend;
O grant us in our home to see
   the heavenly life that knows no end.
      Amen.

Words: 'Vision of Death' Charles Everest (1814–77)
Tune: 'Breslau' 76 NEH, from 'Hymnodus sacer' Leipzig, 1625, adapted from a tune in 'Lochamer Gesangbuch' c 1450

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion

Lord God, you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The president pronounces the Blessing

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; 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

Capriccio, John Ireland (1879–1962)

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

St Margaret's Choristers

If you have a daughter aged 10 or 11 who would like to sing with the St Margaret's Choristers, please contact Mr Greg Morris, Director of Music, St Margaret's Church, [email protected]. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey

If you have a son who enjoys singing, you can find out more information about our world-renowned Abbey Choir and its unique Choir School. Alternatively, please contact Dr Emma Margrett, Headteacher, Westminster Abbey Choir School, and Mr Andrew Nethsingha, Organist and Master of the Choristers, by emailing choristerrecruitment@westminster-abbey.org.

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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.