S T .

T H O M A S ’ C AT H E D R A L
MUMBAI
Established 1718

The Church of North India

A member of the worldwide Anglican Communion
Sundays 7 am Eucharist (said) † 8.45 am Eucharist (sung)
Weekdays 7 am to 6 pm for a time of quiet prayer and reflection

Palm Sunday
The Sunday of the Passion

Choral Eucharist
with blessing of palms and procession
Sunday 24 th March 2024 ● 8.45 a.m.
 Welcome to St Thomas’ Cathedral for this service

We are the mother church of the Diocese of Bombay in the Church of

North India, a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. For over
300 years, the people of St. Thomas’ Cathedral have sought to be a body
through which the light of Christ is seen, his life is shared, and his work is
done.

The basis for our worship is the Book of Common Prayer , our common li-
turgical heritage with Anglicans across the world (all churches descended
from the Church of England). We are rooted in tradition but celebrate the
richness and diversity of the Communion. Music and hymnody represent
the best of the Anglican choral tradition.

Follow the readings and the Order of Service for the Lord’s Supper
from The Book of Common Prayer (refer page numbers).
The hymns can be found in The English Hymnal.
The choral setting for the Eucharist is by John Merbecke and Martin Shaw.

We kindly request that you do not take photographs,

or video or sound recording in the cathedral at any time during services.
You are welcome to take photographs at any other time.

Please t ake this order of service away

Bank details to make your online offering and payment of subscription.

Name: Society of St Thomas’ Cathedral
Account no.: 917010054452406 Bank: Axis Bank Ltd
IFSC code: UTIB0000004 Branch: Fort, Mumbai - 400 001

This order of service is printed on sustainably-produced paper. Worship material has

been drawn from the Book of Common Prayer and https://www.churchofengland.org.
Some material in this service is copyright: Common Worship © 2000 The Archbishops’
Council and Common Worship.

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 The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: Palm Sunday

Today’s liturgy marks the beginning of Holy Week. In this Palm Sunday service
we journey with Jesus as he is welcomed in triumph upon entering Jerusalem and
then utterly rejected and crucified at Golgotha outside the gates of the city.
Today’s reading of Christ’s passion sets forth the central act of God’s love for
humankind. We are not just observers but are part of the passion of Christ and
through it we come to know the reality of God’s saving action in our lives. Holy
Week will culminate in the celebration of the Triduum—the Sacred Three Days
of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection.

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 Order of Service
The congregation is asked to join in all text printed in bold.

The Gather ing

Voluntary
Valet will ich dir geben
(‘Farewell, I gladly bid thee’), BWV 735 Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685 - 1750

Welcome
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing by
works of love and self-sacrifice for the celebration of our Lord’s death and
resurrection.
Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the
Church throughout the world. Christ enters his own city to complete his
work as our Saviour, to suffer, to die, and to rise again.
Let us go with him in faith and love, so that, united with him in his sufferings,
we may share his risen life.

The congregation gathers in the porch. Carry this service booklet with you.

Commemoration of the Lord’s

entry into Jerusalem
All repeat after the Cantor

Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel.

Blesséd is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Words: St. Matthew 21:9 Music: Harrison Oxley, 1933 - 2009

Presbyter Blessèd is the One who comes in the name of the Lord:
All Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
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 The Blessing of Palms
All hold up palms or branches while this prayer is said by the Presbyter

† Bless, we beseech Thee, O Lord,

these branches, and crosses of palm;
and grant that, as Thy people do on this day
outwardly venerate Thee,
they may inwardly love Thee
with such devotion that their love
may be shown forth in good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with Thee and the Holy Spirit
liveth and reigneth for ever.
Amen.
The Palm Gospel
Mark 11. 1 - 11
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus and his disciples were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage

and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples
and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as
you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden;
untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, Why are you doing this? just
say this, The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ They
went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As
they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are
you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and
they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and
threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their
cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut
in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were
shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
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Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had
looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Betha-
ny with the twelve.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Let us go forth praising Jesus our Messiah.
Hosanna in the highest.

All join in singing the hymn

Hymn at the Procession

All glory, laud, and honour,

To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
2
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.
3
The company of Angels
Are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
4
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before Thee we present.
5 6
To Thee, before Thy passion, Thou didst accept their praises;
They sang their hymns of praise; Accept the prayers we bring,
To Thee, now high exalted, Who in all good delightest,
Our melody we raise. Thou good and gracious King.

Words: Theodulph of Orleans (750 - 821); Tune: ST THEODULPH

trans. by John Mason Neale (VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN)
Melchior Teschner c. 1613;
harmonised by J. S. Bach

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All take their places and join in singing
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Give me joy in my heart, I pray;
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Keep me praising till the break of day:
Refrain Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King of kings.
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
Sing hosanna to the King.
2
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Give me peace in my heart, I pray;
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Keep me loving till the break of day
3
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Give me love in my heart, I pray;
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Keep me serving till the break of day:

Please be seated

The Liturgy of the Word

The Collect for Purity | page 260

The Collects for the Day | pages 373 & 357

Read by the Presbyter

Old Testament Reading | page 373

Zechariah 9. 9 -12

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah.

At the conclusion of the reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.

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 Psalm
Sung by the choir to a chant by Macfarren 57: 1 - 6

Miserere mei, Deus

BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth
in thee : and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this
tyranny be over-past.
2
I will call unto the most high God : even unto the God that shall
perform the cause which I have in hand.
3
He shall send from heaven : and save me from the reproof of him that
would eat me up.
4
God shall send forth his mercy and truth : my soul is among lions.
5
And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire : whose
teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
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Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens : and thy glory above all the
earth.
All stand Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.

All sit

The Epistle | page 374

Philippians 2. 5 - 11
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
At the conclusion of the reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.

All stand and join in singing the gradual hymn

Gradual Hymn | # 102

O sacred head, sore wounded v.v. 1, 2 & 4 Tune: PASSION CHORALE

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 The Passion of our Lord

Narrator The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.

And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a

consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole
council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him
over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,
Pilate ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’
Jesus ‘You say so.’
Narrator Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate
asked him again,
Pilate ‘Have you no answer?
See how many charges they bring against you.’
Narrator But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them,
anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas
was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder
during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to
ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he
answered them,
Pilate ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’
Narrator For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief
priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up
the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.
Pilate spoke to them again,
Pilate ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the
King of the Jews?’
Crowd (ALL) ‘Crucify him!’
Pilate ‘Why, what evil has he done?’
Crowd (ALL) ‘Crucify him!’

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Narrator So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas
for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be
crucified. Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of
the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they
called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a
purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown,
they put it on him. And they began saluting him,
Crowd (ALL) ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’
Narrator They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt
down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped
him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him.
Then they led him out to crucify him.
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the
country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the
father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to
the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).
And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did
not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes
among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him.
The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of
the Jews.’ And with him they crucified two bandits, one on
his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided
him, shaking their heads and saying,
Crowd (ALL) ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build
it in three days, save yourself, and come down from
the cross!’
Narrator In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes,
were also mocking him among themselves and saying,
Crowd (ALL) ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself.
Let the Messiah, the King of Israel,
come down from the cross now,
so that we may see and believe.’

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Narrator Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until
three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with
a loud voice,
Jesus ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’
Narrator which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
Crowd (ALL) ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’
Narrator And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on
a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,
Bystander ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him
down.’
Narrator Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that
in this way he breathed his last, he said,
Centurion ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’

A moment of silence is kept.

All sing Majesty, worship His Majesty;

unto Jesus be glory, honour, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
flows from His throne unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus,
magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship HIs Majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
Jack Hayford, 1934 - 2023

Remain standing for the Creed and all recite together.

The Nicene Creed | page 265

Please be seated.

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 Sermon
The Reverend Avinash Rangayya, Cathedral Presbyter

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

All stand
The Peace
The Celebrant offers a greeting of peace.

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.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.

Members of the congregation greet one another.

Remain standing to sing the offertory hymn.

At this time the altar is set with the gifts of bread and wine and the
gifts of the people are gathered and presented. Thank you for your generosity.

All join in singing Hymn at the Offertory | # 94

The royal banners forward go Tune: HURSLEY

See inside front cover for bank details to make your offering.

All say Offertory Prayer | page 270

Please be seated

Anthem
Sung by the choir

O Saviour of the world, who by Thy Cross and precious Blood hast re-
deemed us: Save us, and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.
Words: Collect for the visitation of the sick Music: Sir John Goss, 1800 - 1880

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Kneel as able or remain seated.
Litany for Holy Week
Intercessor We stand with Christ in his suffering.
For forgiveness for the many times we have denied Jesus,
let us pray to the Lord.
All Lord, have mercy.
For grace to seek out those habits of sin which mean
spiritual 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 disunity
there 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 for justice 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. Continued. Turn over.
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Intercessor That we, with those who have died in faith,
may find mercy in the day of Christ,
let us pray to the Lord.
All Lord, have mercy.

Trisagion

All Holy God,

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

T h e G e n e r a l C o n f e s s i o n & A b s o l u t i o n | pages 275, 276

T h e C o n s e c r a t i o n | page 277
T h e C o m m u n i o n | page 284
Proceed to the High Altar for receiving Communion.

During the administration of Communion, while seated we sing

Hymn at the Communion

A crown of thorns adorns His brow

Yet in His heart He feels for us
Hanging from that wooden Cross
Bearing all our sin and dross.
2
His eyes with tears so filled with pain
Of all the torture and the shame
He looks upon us so sinful stained
Suffering for all what we will gain.
3
His hands were pierced with iron nails
Stretched in love for us today
Leading us in our earthly sway
Carrying us on our homeward way.
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 4
His feet with those deep nail marked scars
Marking his footsteps next to ours
And when the rough storms come our way
It’s only his steps our eyes will lay.
5
And as we live our lives each day
Seeking our Lord’s rough narrow way
In faith we tread to our heavenly shore
Salvation gained for our weary soul.
Sebastian Anchees, b. 1953

All stand and say

Prayer after Communion

Faithful God,
may we who share this banquet
glory in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
our salvation, life and hope,
who reigns as Lord now and for ever.
Amen.

All sing

It is a thing most wonderful,

Almost too wonderful to be,
That God's own Son should come from heaven,
And die to save a child like me.

I sometimes think about the Cross,

And shut my eyes, and try to see
The cruel nails and crown of thorns,
And Jesus crucified for me.
Words: Bishop W. W. How, 1823 - 97 Tune: HERONGATE
English traditional melody

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 The Blessing
The Presbyter

May the Spirit,

who strengthens us to suffer with Christ
that we may share his glory,
set your minds on life and peace.
And the blessing of God almighty,
† the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

All join in singing Hymn at the Closing | # 620

Ride on! ride on in majesty! Tune: WINCHESTER NEW

From the West Door, the Presbyter says: The Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All In the name of Christ. Amen.

Postlude
March from Athalie … … Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, 1809 - 1847

Please stay back after the service for a time of fellowship over a cup of coffee.
Introduce yourself to the Presbyter if you are worshipping with us for the first time.

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 Birthdays this week
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10

Mr. Jeffry Frazer (24), Dr. Malathy Samuel (25), Mrs. Omana Mathew (25),
Mr. Rohit Jacob (25), Yohan Gupte (25),
Mr. Shantha Kumar (27), Mrs. Ria George (28)

Notices
 There will be daily services during the course of Holy Week. All are warmly
encouraged to attend. A detailed listing of services is given overleaf.
 We express our thanks to all the speakers who led online Bible study during
the Lenten season this year.
 Our thanks to Godrej gardens for supplying palm fronds this morning.
 Please remember to pay your annual subscription before 31st March 2024.

Holy Saturday 30th March, 2024

8 pm

The Great Vigil of Easter is one of the oldest liturgies of the

the Church. A deeply moving service with the lighting of
the Easter fire. The service begins in darkness as we pro-
cess in to the Cathedral. The light of Christ is spread from
the newly lit Paschal candle. We hear God’s word and cele-
brate the first Eucharist for Easter.
All are welcome.

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 HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2024

PALM SUNDAY 8.45 am Eucharist (choral) with Procession

th
24 March and the Blessing and Distribution of Palms

Monday in Holy Week 6.30 pm Holy Week Meditation

25th March in Word and Organ Music

Tuesday in Holy Week 6.30 pm “Hymns of the Faith”

26th March Passiontide hymns with reflection on
the stories of the hymn writers

Wednesday in Holy Week 6.30 pm Holy Week Meditation

27th March in Word and Organ Music

MAUNDY THURSDAY 6.30 pm Eucharist (choral)

28th March with Washing of Feet and Stripping of
the Altar followed by Vigil

GOOD FRIDAY 9 am to 12 noon Meditation on the Seven Words

29th March from the Cross

THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER 8 pm Lighting of the Paschal Candle

Holy Saturday 30th March and the First Eucharist of Easter
EASTER DAY 9 am A joyful sung service of Holy Eucharist
Sunday 31st March with canticles, hymns, readings and sermon

Cathedral ministries… …. Get involved!

 Sunday School Sunday morning during term time

 Women’s Fellowship 2nd Sunday of the month 10.45 am
 Youth Fellowship 2nd & 4thSunday of the month 10.45 am
 Choir Sunday 10.45 am & Saturday 5.30 pm

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 Tuesday in Holy Week 26th March
6.30pm
Hymns of the Faith
We hear inspirational stories
behind some of the well-loved hymns
we like to sing.

In story, song and scripture we

prepare ourselves for the journey to Calvary.
All are welcome

The Donkey
by G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry

And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.

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 Pray with us
† THE WORLD This week we focus on the Asia Pacific region. We pray
for the people of Myanmar as the military plans to enforce conscription ● As the
UN calls for donations to provide food and aid, our prayers continue that the needs
of more than a million Rohingya refugees received by Bangladesh can be met ●
Our continued and fervent prayers for lasting peace in the Holy Land and an end
to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
† OUR COUNTRY Pray for our country in the run-up to general elections.
Remember the Election Commission and the enormous responsibility they have.
† OUR CITY Pray for the newly appointed Municipal Commissioner of Mum-
bai, Mr. Bhushan Gagrani. We give thanks for the leadership (particulary during the
difficult months of the pandemic) of the outgoing Comimssioner Mr. Iqbal Chahal.
† THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH For the Church universal as we prepare for
our journey to Calvary during Holy Week ● In the Anglican Communion for The
Church of the Province of West Africa and the Most Reverend Cyril Smith.
† THE CHURCH IN INDIA The Diocese of Sambalpur and the Right Rever-
end Dr. Pinuel Dip ● The Diocese of Coimbatore and the Right Reverend Timo-
thy Ravinder.
† THE DIOCESE OF BOMBAY This week for St. Thomas’s Church, Amber-
nath and the Reverend Samson Balid.
† OUR CATHEDRAL For all church services during Holy Week ● All senior citi-
zens and those who are unwell. Pray for their care providers ● All pupils writing
their std X and XII board examination ● We pray for God’s comforting presence to
be with the families of Mr. Premanand Telgote whose mother passed away last Sun-
day and Mrs. Mary (Shoba) Abraham whose father passed away the week before.

ST. THOMAS’ CATHEDRAL

3 Veer Nariman Road, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001
Presbyter-In-Charge: The Revd. Avinash T. Rangayya
Telephone: (Vestry) 2283 9783, (R) 2207 1275, 98207 50090
Contact the Presbyter for pastoral visits and administering Communion to the house-bound.
FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. PLEASE SHARE THIS SERVICE BOOKLET WITH A FRIEND.
Website http://stthomascathedralmumbai.com
Subscribe to the Cathedral’s YouTube channel

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