Easter at Home 2020
THE GATHERING
Find a candle to light. If possible, go out into the garden to worship.
Voice:
‘They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have laid him.’
Response:
Why are you looking for the living among the dead?
He is not here, he is risen.
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We light our candles
Hymn Thine Be the Glory.
1 Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry Thou o’er death hast won.
2 Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb.
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. [Refrain]
3 No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!!
Life is nought without Thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu’rors, through Thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above. [Refrain]
OPENING PRAYER
Risen Lord Jesus,
as Mary Magdalene met you in the garden
on the morning of your resurrection,
so may we meet you today and every day:
speak to us as you spoke to her;
reveal yourself as the living Lord;
renew our hope and kindle our joy;
and send us to share the good news with others. Amen.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Lord you are risen
Yet we doubt you
Lord have mercy
Christ you appear to us
Yet we fail to notice
Christ have mercy
Most glorious Lord of life
Have mercy upon us
Lord have mercy
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 GOSPEL READING
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
REFLECTION
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe. Amen
INTERCESSIONS
Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations,
and particularly to our nation at this time of trial and fear.
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, bread of life, as we remember those who are hungry,
we pray that all may be fed, in body and soul,
remembering those whose livelihoods are under threat at this time of crisis
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, our way, our truth, our life, be with us and all who seek to follow you.
Inspire the leaders of this and every nation with wisdom and strength
Bless your church with compassion, wisdom, grace and hope.
Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep, recover the straggler,
bind up the injured, the grieving and the broken,
strengthen the sick and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures.
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all those who have died and gone before us, setting us an example of faithfulness and goodness. We give thanks for the lives of Al Shove and Michael Dowie, praying for their loved ones and all who mourn them.
We remember also the many who have died from Covid-19.
Grant us, with them the eternal life to which you are raised on high.
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers, and be with us always. Amen.
THE PEACE
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then they were glad when they saw the Lord.
Share a sign of peace with those in your household.
If you are alone, picture your friends and loved ones and pray for God’s peace to rest upon them
Hymn: This Easter Celebration
This hymn has been written especially for this Easter. The tune is : AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D ("The Church's One Foundation"). The tune is here if you need reminding of it:
1.This Easter celebration is not like ones we've known.
We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone.
We're distant from our neighbours — from worship leaders, too.
No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.
2.No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead the way.
O God of love and promise, where's joy this Easter Day?
With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place
we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.
3. Our joy won't come from worship that's in a crowded room
but from the news of women who saw the empty tomb.
Our joy comes from disciples who ran with haste to see —
who heard that Christ is risen, and then, by grace, believed.
4. In all the grief and suffering, may we remember well:
Christ suffered crucifixion and faced the powers of hell.
Each Easter bears the promise: Christ rose that glorious day!
Now nothing in creation can keep your love away.
5.We thank you that on Easter, your church is blessed to be
a scattered, faithful body that's doing ministry.
In homes and in the places of help and healing, too,
we live the Easter message by gladly serving you,
Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 ("The Church's One Foundation") Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Used with permission
Conclusion
All our problems
we send to the cross of Christ.
All our difficulties
we send to the cross of Christ.
All our fears
we send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes
we set on the risen Christ.
May Christ, who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future,
fill you with his new life;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Christ is risen: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore, Amen.
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This order of service includes material from:
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, and Times and Seasons which is copyright © The Archbishops Council 2000
Hymns reproduced under CCLI 2261066