Fifth Sunday of Lent

6th April 2025

WELCOME

Welcome to our service for the Fifth Sunday of Lent – a week before Palm Sunday when we begin our Holy Week commemorations. All are invited.

COLLECT

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 hit 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.

FIRST READING Isaiah 43:16-21

A reading from the book of the prophet tsaiah

Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior, they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick Do not remember the forther things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? 1 will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches, for i give water in the widermess, rivers in the desert, to give

GOSPEL John 12:1-8

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

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 denari and the money given to the poor?”

He this because he cared not 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 along. 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.”