 The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia Notices:
Jesus was dead, laid in a tomb. But the stone is rolled away. Hallelujah Morning has broken, the tomb now empty. Hallelujah! Christ is risen! A new day has come, life is not undone Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Come and worship, the Lord is here! Hymn 410 – Jesus Christ is risen today Prayers of Adoration and Confession Risen Lord, we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. We are the Easter people come to worship, released from tombs of pain and doubt and fear and death into the freedom of this new day, and its promise of hope fulfilled. We are the Easter people, Emerging into the brightness of faith, Blinking, questioning, wondering, hoping. Come to us, into the garden of our lives, and touch all that is barren, and wasted and dried with Your healing hand. Forgive our half-lived lives, our broken promises, and our failed kindness. Call to us by our name, that we might turn from all that limits and burdens us, and lift us up into forgiveness and freedom. Open the gateways of our hearts and minds, and call us out into Your world to be embraced by Your unfailing and renewing mercy. Today, in silence, prayer and song, may we encounter Jesus and His grace. For we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. Lord’s Prayer Hymn 404 – I danced in the morning Readings – John 20:1–18 Weekly Prayer The hymns we sing echo the joy we feel today, as together we celebrate the glorious resurrection, reminding us that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name. May our Easter exhilaration continue throughout the rest of our lives and show in the way that we live it out. Amen Reflection Do you like board games? I know that scrabble is quite popular among some. When I was at secondary school, the playground could be a dangerous place if you were of a shyer disposition. Those who played in the brass band could escape to practice during the interval or lunchtime, but for those of us who didn’t play an instrument, there was only one option. The chess club. So I joined, and later the teacher who ran the club would colourfully write for my Duke of Edinburgh award that I played at county level – i.e. I jumped on the school minibus to play at schools at Ayr and Kilmarnock. I seemed to draw a lot and lose a lot, but there was always something wonderful in suddenly seeing checkmate opening up. The Persian poet Hafiz lived in the Middle Ages, but became popular in the 19th century, and Sherlock Holmes even quoted him. In one poem he wrote: What is the difference between your experience of Existence and that of a saint? The saint knows That the spiritual path Is a sublime chess game with God. And that the Beloved has just made Such a Fantastic Move That the saint is now continually tripping over with joy And saying ‘I surrender’. Whereas, my dear, I am afraid you still think You have a thousand serious moves. Hafiz wasn’t Christian, but we look at the Easter story and see that God makes such a fantastic move, catching everyone by surprise, confounding the world, with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The game is always God’s. Sin, death, decay may think they hold sway, but can never have the last word or last move. The stone has been rolled away. We look at our world and see destruction and death in the Ukraine and Yemen; we see the morality of politicians on both sides of the Atlantic questioned. We see tensions rise in the Holy Land with suspicion and blame the name of the game. The Lutheran Bishop of the Holy Land wrote in his Easter message this week that too many people know the pain of the cross and the tomb and it causes them to turn inward to hatred rather than love, fear rather than hope. But the good news of Easter is that life conquers death, and that resurrection still happens today. God’s justice conquers all injustice, checkmates all injustice he could have said. Mary in the garden was utterly bereft, as her world was shattered, the man who had changed her life had died on the cross and his body lay in the tomb. But he calls her name, says ‘Mary’, and suddenly the garden is filled with new life. She wanted things to be the same as before, she tried to cling on, but Jesus propels her into something new- resurrection living. As he does us. We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song. The stone has been rolled from the tomb, and new life and new hope breaks out, not just once a year at Easter, but every day. For every day we are transformed by God and every day God’s new life can be renewed in us. We know ourselves loved for who we are and are empowered to live resurrection lives of love and grace, to roll back the stone, to break barriers down, to wipe tears from eyes and to live as an Easter people. Alleluia, He is risen indeed. Hymn 417 – Now the green blade riseth Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of Resurrecting Hope, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ, and what his gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. God of new beginnings, Break into your church with resurrecting power and re-energize our commitment to you. Bless the Church throughout the world this Easter Day, and especially where your people are persecuted. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new possibilities, Break into our relationships with resurrecting power. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture and sustain them. Where they are marked by memories of hurt or current misunderstanding, refresh them with forgiveness and reconciliation. Where they are neglected or taken for granted, open eyes to the great gift we offer each other. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new opportunity, Break into the governance of your world with resurrecting power. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for justice, understanding and the equitable sharing of resources. We continue to pray for the world. For places at war, for tensions in the holy Land and even here in Scotland. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new life, Break into situations of illness, pain, grief and loss with resurrecting power. Where there is sickness of body, mind, or spirit, bring healing and hope. Where people mourn the loss of relationships or dreams, bring comfort and courage to go on. Where those who serve and care and maintain our common life are exhausted, bring rest and renewal. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of Easter Day, In silence we bring before you the prayers of our hearts. Silence Resurrect, renew and revive our spirits. Hear our prayer. Amen Hymn 419 – Thine be the glory Benediction God of new possibilities, new beginnings, new hope, Bless us now with your resurrection life! Jesus calling us each by name Bless us now with your resurrection life! Spirit equipping and energizing us, sending us out Bless us now with your resurrection life! And may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and with those whom you love, wherever they may be, now and always. Amen
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