¶    The Gathering

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
All   Amen.

Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’

Matthew 16.24,25

Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace.

Ephesians 2.13,14

A brief moment of silence follows.

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All   Amen.

All   Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

¶    The First Reading

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,    my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him;    he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice,    or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break,    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;    he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed    until he has established justice in the earth;    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord,    who created the heavens and stretched them out,    who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it    and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,    I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people,    a light to the nations,    to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,    from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name;    my glory I give to no other,    nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass,    and new things I now declare; before they spring forth,    I tell you of them.

Music for reflection, today’s variation on Bach’s Passion Chorale:

¶    The Second Reading

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

¶    The Reflection

¶    The Conclusion

Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom
in the words our Saviour taught us.

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.
All   Amen.

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
All   Amen.

To him who loves us
and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
and made us a kingdom of priests
to stand and serve before our God;
All   to him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour, glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

May God bless us,
that in us may be found love and humility,
obedience and thanksgiving,
discipline, gentleness and peace.
All   Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006.