Easter Day

 Sorry this posting is late.

Reading:

Matthew’s gospel, chapter 27: verses 62 to 66

Saturday

Reading:

Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28: verses 1 to 10

Sunday

Song: Low in the grave he lay

Low In The Grave He Lay - with Lyrics - Salvation Army Song Book # 148 (Easter Song) - YouTube

Prayer of praise

Son of God, you love each one of us as if there were just one of us; those who have striven hard to obey your commands,
those who have drifted here, unsure of the path they trod,
those who are here simply because of your grace, individuals, all of us.

Son of God you love each one of us as if there were just one of us,

Son of God you love each one of us, dying on the cross for each of us, dying for all of us

conquering the grave for each one of us, salvation open for all of us. How can we not sing your praises for all that you have done. Hell could not hold you, you arose to give us life eternal. Hallelujah. Amen.

Poem

Deep

Jesus we saw your hands that created and healed

scared with nails deep

We saw your head and your brow scared with thorns deep

we saw your feet that walked dusty roads and climbed mountains, scared with nails deep

Jesus we see you glorified risen saving grace of your love so deep.

What a Shock. As a child I played in the church yard and cemetery tidying old forgotten graves, some going back 200 years.

Names long forgotten, but every one known to God. Some times a bit of their life was written on the headstones. Other more famous had books written about them or they left a legacy of poems. Plays, music, or their literature, But the most famous which has stood the test of all generations is Jesus. Why? because he is still living and working through the power of the holy spirit, which lives with in each one of us that is why we are His followers His disciples.

As the stone rolled away from the tomb, our sins are rolled away from us. One of the symbols of having an Easter eggs is the way eggs roll. We kept hens for a while and I would collect the eggs, making sure they lay in a basket so they could not roll, and crack or break. At Jesus’s resurrection death hasa been cracked open never again to be made whole. Satan hads lost but he is still in the world. Christians live in this world but not of of this world. Resurrection hope is for all people who believe. How can the believe if they have not heard our calling?

Prayer:

Mighty God of Resurrection and Redemption, we offer our gifts alongside our Alleluias! We offer our hands and feet and voices to take the celebration out of this place into a world that needs hope so desperately! May we go into the world with such energy, excitement, and power that the ground shakes once again, that lightning flashes, and that people see in us your redeeming love and the triumph of light over darkness! In the name of

the risen Christ, hear our prayer. Amen.

Song: Christ The Lord is Risen to day, Hallelujah

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today (with lyrics) - YouTube

Reading:

Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28 verses 11 to 15

The Guards’ Report

Prayers:

Gracious Father, you sent your son to die and rise to new life in order that death might be brought to an end and that we might live a new life in Him. Yet we confess that we too often have chosen to remain captive to doubt and fear and ways that lead to death. By our thoughts, words, and actions, we have scorned your love, diminished the lives of others, and defaced your image in us. Father, forgive us for Jesus’ sake, and enable us by His resurrection power to live no longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again for us.

Father we Pray for all charities, for the fund raisers and volunteers. Pray for all the emergency services working over Easter, for those who are in poverty relying on food banks, for The Red Cross and all aid workers.

We pray for church outreach coordinators . We pray For our community for our friends and family for those who would like to be with us but are now unable, may they know we are holding them in our prayers, fill them with your love and peace. We ask that you peace floods the nations. Your peace fills our hearts, your peace of eternal life enriches us that we may ever live in you and you in us. Amen.

Reading:

Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28 verses 16 to 20

The great commission

Hymn 278 I know my redeemer lives.

I Know That My Redeemer Lives StF 303 - YouTube

New life for the world. It was transfiguration Sunday a couple of weeks ago, when Jesus changed and became full of shining glory in front of a small group of disciples.

New life for the world starts today, a new beginning, this is one of the other reasons we have an EASTER egg, a symbol of new life. So today I hope each one of you will take an egg home with you. and one for someone else to share the Easter story.

When Jamie our eldest son was at infant school his teacher, gave an egg in a mug to all her class.

The following year, the new head teacher gave cream eggs to each child, her husband worked for Cadbury’s. This was a new beginning for the school for it had been taken into special measures. The school is now thriving.

Jesus prayed for His disciples and for all who believed in him. This prayer is also for us today. Theologians, those who have studied the bible in depth, believe that after the resurrection Christ stayed on earth for around 40 days teaching and healing. These prayers recorded in Johns Gospel, were said before Jesus joined his Father in heaven, they are his Prayers, said for us today because as He said “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Reading: John’s gospel, chaqpter 17: verses 6 to 25

Jesus looked towards heaven and prayed for his disciples & all believers

HYMN 295 I serve a risen savour.

I Serve A Risen Saviour - YouTube

A Prayer of St Joseph

Lord, the resurrection of Your Son has given us new life and renewed hope.

Help us to live as new people in pursuit of the Christian ideal.

Grant us wisdom to know what we must do, the will to want to do it, the courage to undertake it, the perseverance to continue to do it, and the strength to complete it. Amen

HYMN 689 Thine be the glory.

Thine be the glory StF 313 (with lyrics for congregations) - YouTube

Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of the light of the world to you.

Deep peace of the risen Lord be upon you for ever more.

Amen