The Eucharist

Martin of Tours · Armistice Day Wednesday 11 November 2026 12.45pm

Welcome to Southwark Cathedral.

When it comes to the time of Communion please form a single line down the centre of the nave. Communion is in one kind only and will be given in silence. You may come for a blessing, which will also be given in silence. After receiving the host please return to your seat via the side aisles.

You are most welcome and thank you for joining us.

The words in bold are said by all.

The Greeting

The President says

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit All: Amen.

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

Prayers of Penitence

The President invites the congregation to call to mind their sins and their need of God's forgiveness with these or other words

Let us confess our sins to Almighty God in penitence and in faith

All: Almighty God, our 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.

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.

Kyrie Eleison

May be said.

Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy All: Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy All: Lord have mercy

The Absolution

The President declares God's forgiveness.

The Gloria

Said on major feast days.

All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

The President collects together the intentions of the people with a special prayer for the day or the week.

The Liturgy of the Word

The First Reading: Deuteronomy 15.7, 8, 10, 11

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbour. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbour in your land.’

At the end, the reader says

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

The Gospel: Matthew 25.34-40

The Lord be with you All: and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

At the end, the reader says

This is the Gospel of the Lord. All: Praise to you, O Christ.

Prayers of Intercession

Each section of the prayers ends with

Lord, in your mercy All: hear our prayer.

Lord, hear us. All: Lord, graciously hear us.

The President concludes the prayers with these or other words

Merciful Father, All: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

The President introduces the peace and then says

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

The Preparation of the Table

As bread and wine are placed on the altar, the President may use prayers which conclude with the following response

All: Blessed be God for ever.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you All: and also with you. Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

The President prays the preface, after which we all say

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Eucharistic Prayer continues. One of the following Acclamations may be used

Great is the mystery of faith: All: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus: All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life: Lord Jesus, come in glory.

At the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, the congregation says

All: Amen.

All: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. All: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Agnus Dei

May be said.

All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

All: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

The Invitation to Communion

The President invites the congregation to make their communion using these words

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Prayer after Communion

A brief silence is kept. The President then prays a Post Communion prayer, after which the following prayer may be said

All: Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Dismissal

The President pronounces God's blessing and the congregation replies