Easter Sunday, 12 April 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit, be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Easter Song – The California Baptist University Choir and Orchestra

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matt 28:1-10 (NLT)

The Resurrection

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Zephaniah 3:12-20 (NLT)

The Faithful Remnant

Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.

The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another. They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster. On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,

“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

“I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more. And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed. On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
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Raise a Hallelujah -Bethel Music

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Easter Prayer:  [Prayers for Easter Sunday by Richard Ledger]

‘God is unchanging.
Let nothing disturb you, nothing alarm you;
while all things fade away, God is unchanging.
Be patient and you will gain everything: for with God in your heart,
nothing is lacking. God meets your every need.’
(St Theresa of Avila)

‘Tell of that glorious Easter morn: empty the tomb for He was free.
He broke the power of death and hell
that we might share his victory.’
(verse from the hymn by Edward J Burns)

Lord, we praise you for today, the ultimate game-changer with the world turned – upside -down by the resurrection of Jesus which seals the ultimate victory of love and light over hatred and darkness.

We pray for the Church, that all Christians may be aware of your rich presence in our lives. We pray for every scattered  congregation and thank you for the compassion and web of calls that keep us connected to each other and to you and shed light and hope in our hearts.

Christ Jesus, risen in glory
Scatter the darkness from our hearts and from your world.

Lord Jesus, we bring to you all leaders and their advisers at this uncertain time for the whole world. We pray for our President and all government officials and advisers. Equip them to lead and to listen and to act honestly and with humility and compassion as they seek to cope with the present and plan for the future.

Christ Jesus, risen in glory
Scatter the darkness from our hearts and from your world.

We pray, loving Lord, for all who serve us – all the key workers from delivery drivers and shelf stockers to those who work in our health care system as well as research scientists. As they seek in different ways to bring hope and healing we ask that you will continue to encourage and energize them as they go ‘above and beyond’ on our behalf.

Christ Jesus, risen in glory
Scatter the darkness from our hearts and from your world.

Risen Lord, we bring to you our loved ones. For many of us there is fear, doubt and uncertainty just as there was for your disciples. You came to them, risen, alive to offer them peace. Thank you that your peace reaches out to us today even in life’s fiercest storms. May we all know that we are always held in the embrace of your love.

Christ Jesus, risen in glory
Scatter the darkness from our hearts and from your world.

Finally, we rejoice in the glory of our Risen Lord and give thanks for all the Saints who have shared in his victory over the grave and death. Jesus is the light of the world: a light which eternally shines and brings hope, that no darkness can extinguish We commend all who have died to your eternal love and care, remembering especially all victims of this pandemic.

Christ Jesus, risen in glory
You turn our darkness into light: in your light shall we see light.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

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

A Reading from the Epistles: Romans 6:3-11 (NLT)

Have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that s (2013)in might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
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Messiah Hallelujah -Flash Mob at Brent Cross Shopping Centre

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Closing: Romans 6:9-11 (NLT)

Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen