ST. MAXENTIUS WORSHIP AT HOME – Sunday 17th April- Easter Sunday

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.We have our Easter Egg hunt for the children after the service today and of course our Easter Egg raffle will be drawn, so don’t lose those tickets (it’s ok even if you did as we have written names on the back, so we’ll get them to you).

A few of us from St.Maxentius and Christ Church went to the cathedral in Manchester to the service of “ Sung Eucharist with the Blessing of Oils and Renewal of Vows” on Monday Morning. It was a beautiful service and we were able to get some more Chrism Oil used at baptisms, which should last us for the next year. Priests, Deacons and ALM’s were able to renew their vows during the service. All three of our Bishops were there and it was a very moving service, with some lovely hymns.

Our reflection today is written by Rev Peter and the intercessions by Chris Sutcliffe, many thanks to them both.

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 Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

THE COLLECT

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell:

fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE NEW TESTAMENT READING

ACTS 10. 34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. I am the first and the last says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Alleluia

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you O Lord.

LUKE 24.1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

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

REFLECTION

Easter – some of us have heard the Easter “story” too often maybe and it has lost its thrill – like a t-shirt that has faded, so the message is still readable but it does not stand out. Can we recover it and make it sparkle again?!

We know the “ending” but for a moment can we put ourselves in the sandals of Mary, desperate, disconsolate, hoping she might be able to tend the body of the man she so loved and admired, but who had been brutally killed. We have seen pictures of Ukrainians tending a rough grave – that could have been Mary. This is a woman who is grieving, whose heart hurts.

The men did not expect anything – they were back at the house – they had to be summoned. But when they came, something began to dawn on one of the disciples – the grave-cloths were lying as if a body had risen through them. It seems that they may have decided Jesus was raised, but the men went “home” or more probably to their place of lodging.

And then we get one of the great “but”s of the Bible. The men had seen something and maybe had understood something. BUT Mary, Mary remained and in her grief and in her tears, and in the half-light of morning, she sees someone, maybe the gardener and maybe he knows where the body has been put.

And then she hears – she hears her name called by what must be Jesus, and suddenly she knows, she knows this is Jesus; not just that the Resurrection is true, but she has met the risen Jesus and he has met her.

And Jesus does not let her stay, but sends her out to tell the disciples, to pass on the good news; she must risk not seeing him again. She has not had long with him, she has so many questions, no wonder she wants to hold him. But he sends her away with a message and a task.

Again put yourself in the sandals of Mary, John and Peter have been to the tomb, they have then left. How will her message be received? Might it be a trick of the light? – it is after all dawn.

And so for us, who have heard the story many times.

I notice the difference between the men who believe and make some sense of it and Mary who has an actual encounter with Jesus. I hope our faith is based not just on the truth (though how important that is when we feel wobbly), but also on an encounter with God through his Spirit, even if that is only fleeting, and we now get on with the tasks we are given to share this good news. Let us pray for an encounter with God, not just an engagement with the story.

I notice too that sharing this good news is risky – there is not much to back it up; Mary would have much preferred to have stayed with Jesus in the garden. How will we share the truth, the wonder, the good news of Resurrection with others?

I notice too that the deepest experience is given to the one who was weeping. May the risen Jesus be particularly close to those who struggle and suffer at the moment. Christ is risen, Christ is alive, Christ is with us. Alleluia! – 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.

It is true. Jesus is alive for all time. The Lord of life cannot be held by death. God’s victory over sin and death means that new life for us is a reality.

Life- giving God, in rising from the dead you bring a hope that reaches beyond this life.

Fill your church with this vibrancy that it may proclaim anew your salvation.

Raise our sights beyond the limits of our expectation. We pray for all Christians rejoicing today in the wonder of the Resurrection.