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: Western Wind Mass, John Sheppard (c 1515–58)

During the offertory hymn, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between the Commonwealth Foundation and the work of the Abbey. The Commonwealth Foundation is the Commonwealth's agency for civil society, supporting people's participation in democracy and development.

Order of Service

All stand as the choir and clergy enter. The choir sings the Lent Prose

Refrain Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us : for we have sinned against thee.

To thee, Redeemer, on thy throne of glory lift we our weeping eyes in holy pleadings: listen, O Jesu, to our supplications.

O thou chief Corner-stone, Right Hand of the Father, Way of Salvation, Gate of Life Celestial; cleanse thou our sinful souls from all defilement.

God, we implore thee, in thy glory seated, bow down and hearken to thy weeping children: pity and pardon all our grievous trespasses.

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.

Music: plainsong

All remain standing for the Collect

Let us pray.

All sit for the Reading from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 26: 1–11

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, 'Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: 'A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.' You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

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

The choir sings Psalm 91: 1–11

Antiphon For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
   and abides under the shadow of the Almighty,
shall say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my stronghold;
   my God, in whom I put my trust.'
For he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
   and from the deadly pestilence.
He shall cover you with his wings,
   and you shall be safe under his feathers;
   his faithfulness shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,
   nor of the arrow that flies by day,
of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
   nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.

Though a thousand fall at your side,
   and ten thousand at your right hand,
   yet it shall not come near you.
Your eyes have only to behold
   to see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
   and the Most High your stronghold,
there shall no evil happen to you,
   neither shall any plague come near your tent.

The Epistle, Romans 10: 8b–13

'The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart'
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

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

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

and all repeat

I am the light of the world, says the Lord, whoever follows me will have the light of life.

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

The reader announces the Gospel, Luke 4: 1–13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.' Jesus answered him, 'It is written, "One does not live by bread alone."'

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, 'To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.' Jesus answered him, 'It is written,
"Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him."'

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
"He will command his angels concerning you,
   to protect you",
and
"On their hands they will bear you up,
   so that you will not dash your foot against a stone."'
Jesus answered him, 'It is said, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."' When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The Sermon by The Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Canon Theologian and Almoner

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 via the Great West Door

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 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 and Benedictus

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.

O Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not,
   neither chasten me in thy displeasure.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak;
   O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.
My soul also is sore troubled,
   but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

O save me for thy mercy's sake.

Words: Psalm 6: 1–3, 4b
Music: Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1623–25

All stand to sing the Hymn

O Jesus, I have promised
   to serve thee to the end;
be thou for ever near me,
   my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
   if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
   if thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me hear thee speaking
   in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
   the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
   to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
   thou guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, thou hast promised
   to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory
   there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
   to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
   my Master and my Friend.

O let me see thy footmarks,
   and in them plant mine own;
my hope to follow duly
   is in thy strength alone;
O guide me, call me, draw me,
   uphold me to the end;
and then in heaven receive me,
   my Saviour and my Friend.

Words: 'Hymn for the Newly Confirmed' John Bode (1816–74)
Tune: 'Wolvercote' 420 NEH, William Ferguson (1874–1950)

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Prayer after Communion

The president pronounces the Blessing

Music after the service

Passacaglia in D minor BuxWV 161, Dieterich Buxtehude (c 1637–1707)

Choristerships at Westminster Abbey

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.

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, stmargaret.choristers@westminster-abbey.org. Find out more about Music at St Margaret's Church.

Sunday Lunch

Come and enjoy Sunday lunch at the Cellarium

The Cellarium Café and Terrace serves a traditional roast lunch, with a selection of starters and desserts. From £20.00 per person. Open from noon.

If you attend worship at the Abbey regularly, you may like to add this page to your home screen for easy access to our orders of service.

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.