INTRODUCTION
Happy Easter to you all and I hope you have a lovely time with family or friends as we celebrate the news of Christ’s resurrection.
I am very happy to be back after my placement, it has been very interesting seeing other practises and some different traditions, indeed it has been a very busy Holy Week with a service every day either in the morning or evening and a procession of witness with other churches on Good Friday.
I met Rev Jan Ainsworth at the renewal of vows and blessing of oils at the Cathedral on Monday, as I collected our Chrism oil for the year. She was asking how we all were and asked to send her kind regards and love to us all.
We have some challenges over the next few months, as the disciples had after Jesus’ death and resurrection, but I know we can get through them together as we always do, hopefully with a well recovered Peter once again at our helm in the future.
The intercessions are from myself and Rev Peter has written us a personal Easter letter which I have inserted as the reflection, our prayers are with him during this difficult time and I’m sure we all send him our love and prayers.
Happy Easter to you all
Jan B.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope. He has raised Jesus from the dead.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed Alleluia.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, your Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence. Give us new hearts and constant wills to worship you in spirit and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
God of mercy, we acknowledge that we are sinners. We turn from the wrong that we have thought and said and done, and are mindful of all we have failed to do.
For the sake of Jesus, who died for us, forgive us for all that is past, and help us to live each day in the light of Christ our Lord.
Amen.
THE GLORIA
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 Highest, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING
ACTS 10. 34-43
Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you O Lord.
MATTHEW 28. 1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
The Easter festival is made-up of several different events: the intimate meal on Maundy Thursday with the sharing of the bread and wine and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples; the trial, the persecution, the crucifixion of Jesus outside the city on the Friday; the quiet of the Saturday, the Sabbath, when the world rested, albeit in a most peculiar way. For most people it was just another Saturday or Sabbath; it was the day that the world was desolate, but like the first Sabbath, the task was “finished” in time.
And then, as the women go to the tomb in the early morning, they discover the tomb is empty, the grave clothes left behind and Jesus is nowhere to be seen, (it seems!). It is our well-known story, yet I hope not well-worn.
For me this Lent has been dominated by the Ash Wednesday phrase – “Remember you are dust”. A diagnosis of cancer cuts through the facades very quickly, and fast-deteriorating health maybe even more so. We all have to face mortality, and for some this Lent has been a Lent of real grief and mourning, not just diagnosis. We are all fragile, mortal, human; BUT as we have followed Lent through we have met Nicodemus, who wanted to know about eternal life (He was a bit confused as we are often), and we have met Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha, whose real grief at real mortality is changed to joy. Lazarus died and was buried, in his grave-clothes, just as Jesus would be; Lazarus was brought back to life, hence wrapped in grave-clothes, but Jesus was raised to new life, the life he tried to explain to Nicodemus, and the truth of his statement to Martha – “I am the Resurrection and the Life”.
I am writing this early this year as I don’t know how I will be feeling in the run-up to Easter: I have my first chemo session. Easter for me will not be a big celebration of feeling good and fit and joyous; it will be a quiet reminder that despite our mortalities and the cancers of body, soul, society and the world, new life is offered, new life is there for us – gifted to us at our baptisms – “the sign and seal of new birth” – but requiring us to accept this gift and live as those who believe in the Resurrection of the body, the Communion of Saints and the life everlasting.
Easter and new life is a gift for each of us to receive – not an automatic sprinkling system. This Easter do we rejoice to receive this gift, and do we nourish and delight in this gift. The cost of this gift is seen on Good Friday – the self-giving of God, in Jesus; it is seen on Maundy Thursday in Jesus washing the feet of his disciples; it is seen in Jesus sharing our earthly life, weeping with Mary and Martha (in their grief) at the sorrow within the world. God is not immune to the suffering and hardship.
The reality of this gift is seen on Easter Morning when Jesus greets a different Mary by name – not some big crowd event, but personal to her and so to each of us. The risen Jesus greets us each by name – because, as Ash Wednesday also reminded us, God is rich in mercy – and in that mercy, God offers me new life, not because I deserve it, but because God made me to find my fullness in him, God desires not the death of a sinner, but that all should find life. Hallelujah!
Rev Peter.
AFFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ/
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
During the intercessions, we pray for the church, our country, our government, people in difficulty and those who have died. You can use your own prayers or if you prefer here are some on today’s theme.
Blessed are you Lord our God, by whose power Jesus is raised from the dead. In your presence is earthly life and eternal life, you have conquered death and opened the gate to heaven. We feel joy in your presence. Blessed are you Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Lord make us aware that you are in our lives and that our worship is worthy of your love and care. May we rejoice in your presence and tell the world of your good news. Bless our churches and all who preach your word and lead us in worship and prayer.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus as we rejoice in your risen presence, we pray that the world may know your peace. May leaders guide with vision and care and not power and greed. May we rise above evil doings and your victory over darkness and death may be known to all in the world. Lord show us the peace we should give, and the peace we should share, to enable others to follow our example and make the world a better place.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Risen Lord you appeared to the two Marys and sent them to tell your disciples. Help us to show your presence in our own homes, and walk in your presence with our loved ones. We ask your blessing upon all our families and friends and keep us in your love.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We remember all those who walk in darkness or are burdened by stress, lack of hope or loneliness. We pray for those that feel lost and who despair about their life. We pray for those that are ill especially Thomas Causton and Rev Peter Reiss, we pray for their families, for nurses doctors and carers who strive to make them better.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Risen Lord, we ask that we might share in your resurrection and triumph over darkness and death. We ask for your blessing upon all our friends and loved ones who are departed from us especially from our book of remembrance George Maycraft, Thomas Albert Humphreys, Alison Davis and Philip Clift. May they share with your saints in glory. This day we rejoice that death is conquered; we are free, for Christ has won the victory
Merciful father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 BLESSING
May God the Father by whose glory was raised from the dead, strengthen us to walk with him in his risen life and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be with us at this Easter time and forever more. Amen
