Worshipping at Home Easter
Easter Service April 2020 

Opening Comments
The First Hymn

Worshipping at Home
12th April - Easter Sunday

Easter Day arrives. We make our song ‘Alleluia’ even if we do so with tears in our eyes. Our sorrow is deep for all who are suffering and grieving, and yet our profound joy in our faith is unquenchable. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Psalm 100: 1-3

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Easter Acclamation

Alleluia. Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Praise be to the God and Father 
of our Lord Jesus Christ!
 
In his great mercy he has given us new birth 
into a living hope 
through the resurrection 
of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The Collect Prayer

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

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God; In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. 

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life. 

(At this point please think of others and in your heart send them the message: Peace be with you.)
Bible Reading

John 20: 1-18

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.


Thought for the Day

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most extraordinary and amazing event in all history. The significance of his rising can never be understated. The consequences of Jesus’ resurrection are universal. How would you have stage managed Jesus’ return from the dead? Would you choose emotive music, bright lights and an audience of astounded people? It’s tempting. Now, it’s true that the gospels do talk of an earthquake and angels but the focus is something very different. In his gospel, John records for us that after the initial flurry of activity there follows a gentle and intimate moment. Jesus meets Mary Magdalene and he lifts her out of her sorrow with a wonderfully personal calling of her name. Later on in the day Jesus meets the disciples in another deeply personal encounter in which he stills their grief and fear with a message of peace. Shall we reconsider the way we would stage manage the resurrection! Not so much bright lights and drum rolls but more a heartwarming unutterable joy. 

Easter is indeed the most extraordinary and significant event in history. For this reason its details have been poured over, investigated and debated. However, once all the discussions are over, you and I are left with something very personal. Putting the world to one side for a moment, we kneel at Jesus’ feet with Mary Magdalene. We hear Jesus calling us by name and we respond from the depths of our heart as we dare to utter his name: Jesus, my Lord, my Life!

Now we have a special video: Easter Communion

Please have some bread and wine ready as we share in an Easter Communion 
Lets us Pray

Heavenly Father we truly give thanks for that day when love overcame, emerging from a cold tomb. We give thanks for all the truth, majesty and creativity of a living God who transformed a broken heart, making a quiet return in a still and sorrowful garden. We give thanks for the gravestone rolled away and the outpouring of redemptive love that comforted a weeping woman, spoke with travellers on a journey and met with faithful friends. Reach out to us now as we bow down before Christ alive and acknowledge him as our Saviour. Help us to spread the word that Christ is alive and that the extraordinary transformation of heaven and earth is complete. Amen.

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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.

(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.)

The Blessing
Our Second Hymn
Bible Readings for the week:

Monday: Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21; Colossians 3:5-11
Tuesday: Exodus 15:1-18; Colossians 3:12-17
Wednesday: Joshua 3:1-17; Matthew 28:1-10
Thursday: Song of Solomon 2:8-15; Colossians 4:2-5
Friday: Song of Solomon 5:9-6:3; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Saturday: Song of Solomon 8:6-7; John 20:11-20

If you have any concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent/ Priest in charge

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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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