Worshipping at Home 4th April 2021
Home Worshipping 

Easter Sunday 2021                           4th April 2021

The Service

The above video is 14 minutes 57 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Easter Day arrives and the Church shouts ‘alleluia’! Traditionally, our Services refrain from using the word ‘alleluia’ during Lent. Its use on Easter Day creates a contrast between the somber days of Lent and the joyous days of Easter. We move in the Gospel Story from conflict to victory. And all this drama invites us to experience the renewal of faith and hope!


Psalm 118: 19-24 

Open to me the gates of righteousness that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Acclamation

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.
God has claimed us 
as his own.
He has brought us 
out of darkness.
He has made us 
light to the world!

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.)

Henley in Arden Church Choir

Bible Reading

John 20:1-18 (Jesus, risen from the dead.)


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. So 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." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.


But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and 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. They 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." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" 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." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus 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.'"


Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Thought for the Day

At Easter time we Christians greet one another with a grin on our face and a lightness in our voices. We call out to one another ‘Happy Easter’! Our expressions and our greetings convey the fact that we are thoroughly chuffed about something. 

During Lent we have been reminded of Jesus’ mission – his confrontation with the abusers of power in the palace, the temple, business and home. We have heard again his challenge to us all to live in harmony with one another, recognizing each other’s worth, excluding or overlooking no-one, being compassionate and forgiving as a way of life. Jesus had championed the single most important truth that only actions motivated by love achieve anything worthwhile. And on Easter Day we are chuffed to bits because everything about Jesus is vindicated through his resurrection. His truth is the eternal truth. The Wisdom of God endures forever. 

For many Easter is a celebration of the victory of gentleness over violence. As predicted in the Song of Mary, Jesus’ resurrection lifts the lowly. And as stated in Jesus’ Sermon of the Mount, those blessed are the meek, the pure in heart and the peacemakers. 
We are also full of joyous alleluias because Easter is the Feast of everlasting Life. The vast and overwhelming majority of people in the world believe that our mortal death is not the end of our existence. In the Easter Gospel we have extraordinary evidence that, by the grace of God, after death comes resurrection. 

Easter is a heady celebration of heaven, not only as our eventual destination but also as an experience for today. We refer to heaven on earth as ‘paradise’ – the place where we walk with our God in love and friendship in the pursuit of justice and peace for all. It’s about the here and now and the forever. 
And so let the alleluias ring! Let the Easter Bunny hop, and the Easter Chick hatch – not because they have anything to do with Easter, but because we are just so very happy! Happy Easter!

P.S. If there is anyone out there who thinks they are excluded from all this joy because of the burden of some sin or guilt, be brave enough to seek forgiveness and reconciliation for ‘Today, you too shall be in paradise’. 

Henley in Arden Church Choir

Let us Pray

Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. 

Lord of life, we pray that we may bring your word of life as a light to those in darkness; we pray that we may bring your word of peace to those enslaved by fear; we pray that we may bring your word of love to those in need of comfort. Lord of love and Lord of peace, Lord of resurrection life, be known through our lives and through your power. 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

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Genesis 1:1-19; 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Tuesday: Genesis 1:20-2:4a; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Wednesday: Song of Solomon 3:1-11; Mark 16:1-8

Thursday: Daniel 1:1-21; Acts 2:42-47

Friday: Daniel 2:1-23; Acts 4:23-31

Saturday: Daniel 2:24-49; John 12:44-50

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

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

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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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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