Three candles are already alight before the service begins. Four remain unlit.

Today is the fifth Sunday in Lent – the 40 days of preparation for Easter. Lent is a time to simplify our lives and reflect on their meaning. Our Lenten liturgy this year reflects on the question, “O who am I?” from Samuel Crossman’s hymn, “My song is love unknown”.

We remain seated as we sing hymn 277, verses one and five.

My song is love unknown,
my Saviour's love to me,
love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be.
O who am I,
that for my sake
my Lord should take
frail flesh and die?

They rise, and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of Life they slay.
Yet cheerful he
to suffering goes,
that he his foes
from thence might free.


A reading from Matthew’s gospel chapter 27 verses 21 to 26
‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. 22 ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ 23 ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ 25 All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’ 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Let us pray,

Lord, as we journey through Lent, help us to take time to reflect on who Jesus was and who he is for us now. We pray in his name, Amen.

At the end of the service, after the blessing, everyone remains standing in silence.
Someone walks forward slowly, extinguishes a candle and announces

We sing the last verse of hymn 277

Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine:
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like thine!
This is my Friend,
in whose sweet praise
I all my days
could gladly spend.