The Passion of the Lord, 2011

St Anthony's Church, Scotland Road
Ps 30: Father, into your hands – Plainsong
Praise to you, O Christ – James Walsh
Passion Chorale – JS Bach
O Lord, hear us – Christopher Walker
This is the wood of the Cross – Paul Inwood
When I survey the wondrous Cross
Jesus, remember me – Taizé
Soul of my Saviour
Ave Verum – WA Mozart
My Song is Love Unknown

Despite being on "Scottie", one of Liverpool's busiest roads, inside St Anthony's Church you could almost hear the silence as the ministers processed to the altar, making the first words, the opening prayer, really ring out. The first piece of music was an unaccompanied psalm and the organ didn't sound a note until the Gospel greeting.

We followed our custom of kneeling at Jesus's death and then, after two minutes of silence, we sang Bach's Passion Chorale. This is the eighth consecutive year we've sung Paul Inwood's This is the wood of the Cross. We sing the initial invitation and refrain three times as the Cross is carried through the assembly and then reprise it with the verses during the veneration. And the people really raised the roof as they processed down the aisle. Jesus, remember me wasn't planned – and wasn't on the service sheet – but, despite the fine weather, we had a larger congregation than usual and veneration took longer.