 The Lord is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. Come, people of God, let us worship together this Easter Day Notices:
Call to Worship 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 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 Talk – Fairtrade Easter Eggs Readings – Acts 10:34–43 John 20:1–18 Hymn 416 – Christ is alive Weekly Prayer Hallelujah Christ is Risen, and the power of His resurrection fills the world today with new life, hope and expectation and so we bring to Him our praise and worship. Faithful God, we join with your universal church celebrating the resurrection and unite with all believers trusting in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. May the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, be made known throughout our world. Amen Reflection Such is the scale of consumerism that enormous ships sail the seas to bring us goods and commodities from afar. But a gigantic ship skews itself in the Suez Canal, and world trade almost grinds to a halt. I am sure you were watching this story. Apparently a sandstorm, and probably human error too, played its part in the ship running aground and blocking the canal, stopping all the other ship from passing. Every day, with bated breath, we wondered what would happen, as experts arrived from round the world. Then at last on Monday evening, we heard the ship had been freed. Back to normal again, and there was a sense of relief. Certainly, after these long months of lockdown we need good news. But the vaccination programme is good news; restrictions seem to be easing, and that has brought smiles to the faces of TV presenters; and daffodils and forsythia are blooming, and it has given everyone a bit of a lift. And we have Easter – and Easter is the Good News story par excellence. For, as Peter told Cornelius and his family in our Acts reading, it is right at the heart of the Gospel message, and Gospel of course, means Good news. Going through the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, our emotions are wrung ragged, but think of the disciples, for them to see Jesus dying on the cross, they were absolutely devastated. But it is the women who go back to the tomb to anoint the body; and in John’s Gospel it is Mary Magdalene alone, who goes – maybe simply to be at the tomb, to feel the comfort of being close to the body. So Imagine how she must have felt to see the tomb gaping open, the stone blocking the entrance dislodged. Recently some of the stones in our cemeteries were pulled down to the upset of the villages. There is a similar thing here, and Mary in her distress runs to tell the disciples, and we have this strange race between Peter and John, to see who could get to the tomb first. But it is Mary who remains, who lingers at the tomb. There is a place in Jerusalem today called the Garden Tomb. Many pilgrims find it a deeply meaningful place, as there is a 1st century tomb there, like the one Jesus would have been laid in. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and even though it is bang next to a bus station, it is a place of peace. The tomb would have been in a garden area, and when Mary hears someone behind her, she thinks it is the gardener, and it is only when he says her name, Mary, she realises with joy that it is Jesus. My Teacher, she says. There are two points here: firstly, the story of Adam and Eve was set in a garden, with humanity disobeying and falling away from God. But here in a garden, humanity rans to God and encounters the Risen Jesus, redeeming the world. But secondly, Jesus is standing behind Mary, waiting to be noticed. How long has Jesus been standing in our lives, in our churches, in our world, just waiting to be noticed? Jesus sees Mary in her distress and reassures her. Might it not be that Jesus, standing, is also seeing us this Easter Day? Then He says her name. Might it not be that Jesus, standing, and seeing us, might also say our name this Easter Day? The hymn we just heard has the verse, ‘Christ is alive, no longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving healing, here and now…’ The Risen Jesus is with us in the here and now, still ready to address our needs. Mary returns to the disciples and announces ‘I have seen the Lord!’ We take up her cry of faith and proclaim the one who has triumphed over death and sin and who offers good news to the world. We are an Easter people, and our song is Alleluia. 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. Where congregations have drifted apart through months of distancing, re-energize the connections and commitment needed for ministry. 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. Where the pandemic presents new problems and complicated decisions, bring wisdom, compassion and cooperation to all in authority. 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 Go in peace to be the Easter people in the world and may the blessing of God, Creator, Son and Spirit, be with you, and among you, and go with you wherever you go, now and always. Amen
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