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Hymn 240 Cross of Jesus

Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,

which before the cross I spend,

life and health and peace possessing

from the sinner’s dying Friend.

Here I find my hope of Heaven,

while upon the Lamb I gaze;

loving much, and much forgiven,

let my hearts o’erflow with praise.

For thy sorrows we adore thee,

for the pains that wrought our peace;

gracious Saviour, we implore thee,

in our souls thy love increase.

Lord, in ceaseless contemplation

fix our hearts and eyes on thee,

till we taste thy full salvation,

and thine unveiled glories see.

Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Psalm 118

1  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦︎

   his mercy endures for ever.

2  Let Israel now proclaim, ♦︎

   ‘His mercy endures for ever.’

19  Open to me the gates of righteousness, ♦︎

   that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.

20  This is the gate of the Lord; ♦︎

   the righteous shall enter through it.

21  I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me ♦︎

   and have become my salvation.

22  The stone which the builders rejected ♦︎

   has become the chief cornerstone.

23  This is the Lord’s doing, ♦︎

   and it is marvellous in our eyes.

24  This is the day that the Lord has made; ♦︎

   we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25  Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. ♦︎

   Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.

26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; ♦︎

   we bless you from the house of the Lord.

27  The Lord is God; he has given us light; ♦︎

   link the pilgrims with cords

      right to the horns of the altar.

28  You are my God and I will thank you; ♦︎

   you are my God and I will exalt you.

29  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦︎

   his mercy endures for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:

world without end. Amen.

A reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians.

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.

This is the word of the Lord.                           Philippians 2: 5-11

Thanks be to God

Hymn 244 – Tune, Horsley

There is a green hill far away,
without a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven and let us in.

O dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.

We listen to the Gospel reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, ‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.                         Matthew 21: 1-11

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn 238 – Tune, Winchester New

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
Hark! all the tribes hosanna cry.
0 Saviour meek, pursue thy road,
With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
0 Christ, thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on, ride on, in majesty!
The angel armies 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
Expects 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, 0 Christ, thy power and reign.

What do we believe? (we say together)

We believe in God the Father, the source of all life, by whom every family in heaven and earth has been created.

We believe in God the Son, our friend and brother Jesus, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with his power, and makes Jesus known in the world.

We believe and trust in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

We say our prayers

Intercessions

Almighty and everliving God, hear the prayers which we offer in faith and love on this day of celebration. We pray for peace among nations, and for your glory to be known throughout the world.

Lord, in your mercy  …

We pray for the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, and for the unity of all Christian people; for all who serve and lead in your Church, especially for bishops, priests and deacons.

Lord, in your mercy  …

We pray for those in authority, particularly for our President Michael D Higgins, and for all who have been entrusted with the responsibility of government, that they may work for peace, justice and righteousness throughout the world.

Lord, in your mercy  …

We pray for all your people, especially for those who gather in this parish church.  May the visitors and pilgrims to this place also join us in our Passiontide prayers.

Lord, in your mercy  …

We pray for families, and for those who live alone; for all who are sick, and for those who care for them for those who have any special need; and for all who suffer danger, violence, captivity, or oppression, wherever they may be.

Lord, in your mercy  …

We pray for all who have recently lost those they love. We rejoice in the fellowship of your holy apostles and martyrs, and of all your servants departed this life in your faith and fear; and we commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to you, Lord God.

Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Hymn 88  – omit v. 4 –  alt. to fit tune, Bunessan (58)

Fairest Lord Jesus,

Lord of all nature, 
Jesus, of God and Mary the Son; 
you will I cherish, you will I honour, 
you are my soul’s delight and crown. 

Fair are the meadows,

fairer the woodlands, 
robed in the blooming garb of spring: 
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer 
he makes the saddest heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,

fairer the moonlight, 
and all the twinkling starry host: 
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines clearer 
than all the stars that heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty,

heavenly and earthly,

wondrously, Jesus, in you I see;

none can be nearer, fairer or dearer,

than you, my Saviour, are to me.

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.

Christ draw you to himself

and grant that you find in his cross

a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope,

and the assurance of sins forgiven:

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

Irish Times Church Notices Saturday 12 April 2025

St Audoen Cornmarket, 9.30 Bellringing, 10.00 Eucharist (every Sunday), with hymns and Anglican chant, Palm Sunday. Access through the main entrance. Cars may be parked between Francis Street and Christ Church.

St Catherine & St James Donore Avenue, 11.30 Service of the Word, Palm Sunday. Organist, Olesia Borsuk. Cars may be parked in the Churchyard.