Sunday 15th March 2026
othering Sunday
Readings:
2 corinthians 1. 3 - 7
john 19. 25b - 27
Holy Communion
The Gathering
Hymn
The presiding priest may say:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Greeting
The presiding priest greets the people:
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
The prayer of preparation may be used.
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of Penitence
A minister uses these or other suitable words:
The sacrifice of God is a humble spirit;
a humble and contrite heart God will not despise.
Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,
and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith.
A short silence follows offering space for reflection.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy,
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
Kyrie Eleison
The words may vary slightly when sung rather than said.
Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy
The presiding priest says:
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 Collect
Let us pray
The Collect is preceded by a short period of silent prayer.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Reading
Please sit.
At the end:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
A Hymn or Psalm may be sung
Gospel Reading
Please stand. We turn to face the reader.
The Lord be with you,
and also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N
Glory to you, O Lord
At the end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
A short period of silence for reflection may follow the sermon.
The Creed
We stand to affirm our faith
using the words of The Nicene 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.
Prayers of Intercession
Please sit or kneel as we pray.
One of the responses below may be used at the end of each prayer.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
(or)
Lord of compassion,
in your mercy, hear us.
And at the end:
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
Please stand as the presiding priest introduces the Peace with these words:
Christ is our peace.
He has reconciled us to God
in one body by the cross.
We meet in his name and share his peace.
(or)
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has given us access to his grace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you;
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
We share a sign of peace.
Hymn
Preparation of the Table
The altar table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
The presiding priest takes the bread and wine and praises God.
God of mercy and compassion,
your Word calls us home
to faith and love.
Accept all we offer you this day;
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer [Eucharistic Prayer E]
The presiding priest says:
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
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 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 singing:
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.
We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before he died, he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
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.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.
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.
Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Saint George, Saint John and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
We sing or say the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) as the bread is broken.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.
The Lord's Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we
pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Alternative Agnus Dei
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.
Giving of Communion
The presiding priest says this invitation to communion:
God’s holy gifts
for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The presiding priest and people receive communion with these words
The body of Christ. Amen.
The blood of Christ. Amen.
We warmly invite those who are not baptised, or who do not wish to receive
communion, to come up for a prayer of blessing, keeping hands lowered.
Alternatively, you may wish to remain seated.
Hymns may be sung during the distribution of communion.
Prayer after Communion
Silence is kept. The presiding priest says a Post Communion Prayer.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Hymn
The Blessing
The presiding priest uses this or another suitable 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 the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
May God the Father,
who does not despise the broken spirit,
give to you a contrite heart.
Amen.
May Christ,
who bore our sins in his body on the tree,
heal you by his wounds.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
who leads us into all truth,
speak to you words of pardon 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.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.