Read by Nick

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. Amen.

Read by Jonathan

Jesus, Lord of the Journey, we thank you that you set your face firmly towards Jerusalem, with a single eye and pure intention, knowing what lay ahead but never turning aside.

Jesus, Lord of the Palms, we thank you that you enjoyed the Hallelujahs of ordinary people, living fully in that moment of delight and accepting their praise.

Jesus, Lord of the Cross, we thank you that you went into the heart of our evil and pain, along a way that was both terrible and wonderful, as your kingship became your brokenness and your dying became love's triumph.Amen.

Read by David

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Read by Andrea

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake. Amen.

God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain, knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.
Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read by Lynne

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read by Eileen

O God, help me to trust you, help me to know that you are with me, help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read by Jonathan

We are not people of fear: we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity.
We are your people God, giving and loving, wherever we are, whatever it costs For as long as it takes, wherever you call us. Amen.

Read by Jonathan

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

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

Read by Colin

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow
which was brought upon me,
which the Lord inflicted on the day of his fierce anger.

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

O my people, O my Church,
what have I done to you,
or in what have I offended you?
Testify against me.
I led you forth from the land of Egypt,
and delivered you by the waters of baptism,
but you have prepared a cross for your Saviour.

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

I led you through the desert forty years,
and fed you with manna.
I brought you through tribulation and penitence,
and gave you my body, the bread of heaven,
but you prepared a cross for your Saviour.

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

What more could I have done for you
that I have not done?
I planted you, my chosen and fairest vineyard,
I made you the branches of my vine;
but when I was thirsty, you gave me vinegar to drink,
and pierced with a spear the side of your Saviour.

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

I went before you in a pillar of cloud,
and you have led me to the judgement hall of Pilate.
I scourged your enemies and brought you
to a land of freedom,
but you have scourged, mocked and beaten me.
I gave you the water of salvation from the rock,
but you have given me gall and left me to thirst.

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

I gave you a royal sceptre,
and bestowed the keys of the kingdom,
but you have given me a crown of thorns.
I raised you on high with great power,
but you have hanged me on the cross.

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

My peace I gave, which the world cannot give,
and washed your feet as a sign of my love,
but you draw the sword to strike in my name,
and seek high places in my kingdom.
I offered you my body and blood,
but you scatter and deny and abandon me.

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

I sent the Spirit of truth to guide you,
and you close your hearts to the Counsellor.
I pray that all may be one in the Father and me,
but you continue to quarrel and divide.
I call you to go and bring forth fruit,
but you cast lots for my clothing.

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

I came to you as the least of your brothers and sisters;
I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not clothe me,
sick and in prison and you did not visit me.

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

click to go to the Stations of the Cross

Read by Andrea

And the people stayed home.
And read books,
and listened,
and rested,
and exercised,
and made art,
and played games,
and learned new ways of being,
and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated,
some prayed,
some danced.
Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant,
dangerous,
mindless,
and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed,
and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses,
and made new choices,
and dreamed new images,
and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,
as they had been healed.

Kitty O'Meara

Read by Andrea

Read by Eileen

Let us bring to the Father our prayers of intercessionthrough Christ who gave himself for the life of the world.

For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For grace to seek out those habits of sin which meanspiritual death,and by prayer and self-discipline to overcome them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For Christian people,that through the suffering of disunitythere may grow a rich union in Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who make laws, interpret them, and administer them,that our common life may be ordered in justice and mercy,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who still make Jerusalem a battleground,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who have the courage and honesty to work openly forjustice and peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those in the darkness and agony of isolation,that they may find support and encouragement,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who, weighed down with hardship, failure, or sorrow,feel that God is far from them,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who are tempted to give up the way of the cross,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

That we, with those who have died in faith,may find mercy in the day of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

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

Read by Auriel

Let us pray to God, who alone makes us dwell in safety: For all who are affected by coronavirus, through illness or isolation or anxiety, that they may find relief and recovery:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who are guiding our nation at this time, and shaping national policies, that they may make wise decisions:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For doctors, nurses and medical researchers, that through their skill and insights many will be restored to health: Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the vulnerable and the fearful, for the gravely ill and the dying, that they may know your comfort and peace: Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Read by Auriel

Let us pray to the Lord, who is our refuge and stronghold. For the health and well-being of our nation, that all who are fearful and anxious may be at peace and free from worry:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the isolated and housebound, that we may be alert to their needs, and care for them in their vulnerability:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For our homes and families, our schools and young people, and all in any kind of need or distress:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For a blessing on our local community, that our neighbourhoods may be places of trust and friendship, where all are known and cared for:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Read by Colin

God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being.
We praise and bless you, Lord.

We recall those who need our prayers,
near to us and far away.

Lord, grant your healing graceto all who are sick, injured or disabled, that they may be made whole.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who are lonely, anxious or depressed a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who minister to those who are suffering wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Mend broken relationships, and restore to those in distress soundness of mind and serenity of spirit.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Sustain and support those who seek your guidance and lift up all who are brought low by the trials of this life.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to the dying peace and a holy death, and uphold by the grace and consolation of your Holy Spiritthose who are bereaved.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Restore to wholeness whatever is broken, in our lives, in our nation, and in the world.
Hear us, Lord of life.
You are the Lord who does mighty wonders.
You have declared your power among the peoples.
With you, Lord, is the well of life
and in your light do we see light.
Hear us, Lord of life:
Heal us, and make us whole.

A period of silence follows.

O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.