Saint Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen
Morning Prayer (2) on Palm Sunday 13th April 2025

Hymn: 326 Blessed city

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE

Beloved in Christ,
we come together to offer to Almighty God
our worship and praise and thanksgiving,
to confess our sins and to receive God’s forgiveness,
to hear his holy word proclaimed,
to bring before him our needs and the needs of the world,
and to pray that in the power of his Spirit
we may serve him and know the greatness of his love.

Let us confess our sins to God our Father

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;
by what we have done
and by what we have failed to do.
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 Absolution
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stand
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.

Canticle: 710 Sing to God

The First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-9a
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.
The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Psalm: 118: 1,2, 19-29 page 730 (450)
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.

The Second Reading: Luke 19: 28-40
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Hymn: 695 God of Mercy, God of Grace

Apostles Creed

Responses

The Collect page 265 (177)
Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Morning Collects

Prayers led by the young people

Address

Distribution of Sunday School Gifts

Offertory Hymn: 222 Here is love

The Blessing 

Hymn: 259 Christ triumphant

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday 6th April
Churchwardens
We wish to thank our outgoing Churchwardens, Dwayne Nixon and Ann Little for their support and dedication over the past year and welcome our new Churchwardens Graham Irvine and Audrey Hopkins. Graham and Audrey will take up their roles on Sunday 4th May.
Bishops’ Appeal supports Christian Aid’s response to S E Asia Earthquake.
Following the devastating earthquake last Friday (28th March) in South East Asia in which over two thousand lives have been lost, the Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee is sending emergency assistance of €10,000 (currently equivalent to £8,400) to Christian Aid’s appeal for Myanmar. Bishops’ Appeal envelopes are available in the porch if anyone would like to make a contribution.
Lenten Lunches
Fermanagh Churches Forum invite you to a Lenten lunch on Wednesday 16th April, at 12.30pm in the Hilliard Room, St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall. A light lunch is provided followed by reflections.
Fermanagh Choral Society Palm Sunday Concert
Fermanagh Choral Society are having their annual concert this evening, Sunday 13th April at 7.30pm in St Michael’s Church. Tickets are £10 and available from Helen and David Burton or pay at the door. All are welcome.
Mothers’ Union
The next meeting is on Monday 14th April when members will attend church for the Holy Week service at 7.30pm.
Tuesday Club
Tuesday Club meet on 15th April at 2.00pm in the Hilliard Room. The Dean will celebrate Holy Communion for all the members and especially those who are unable to attend Church. The minibus will collect anyone who needs transport, please contact the Cathedral Office tomorrow morning.
Charity Easter Market on Saturday 26th April
Enniskillen Sarcoidosis Support Group and Pulmonary Fibrosis NI invite you to a table top market in St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Further information from Wendy on 07811537563 or Clare on 07787428602. All welcome.
Blood Transfusion Service
Book now for your local community blood donation session in St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall on Wednesday 30th April between 1.00 and 8.00pm or Thursday 1st May between 12.30 and 7.30pm. Giving blood saves lives! Please see the attached poster. Want to know if you can give blood?  Check out their eligibility quiz here:
https://nibts.hscni.net/donating-blood/can-i-donate/
Adult Confirmation
A service to confirm adults will take place in the Cathedral on Ascension Thursday (29th May) at 7.30pm.  Adults throughout the Diocese are welcome to be confirmed at this service – please contact the clergy or the Parish Office and a member of the Clergy will contact you.
Appeal for Books for Oxfam Charity Shop
Oxfam Charity Shop would appreciate donations of books. If you can help, please leave at the shop, 29 Townhall Street, Enniskillen, or in the Cathedral Office.
Mid Week Services
Thursday 17th April at 11.00am – Holy Communion
Sunday 20th April - The First Sunday of Easter - Easter Day
9.00am – Holy Communion  
11.00am – Holy Communion