Easter Sunday – 12th April

Killiskey Parish

Sunday 12th April 2020 @ 11.00am

Easter Sunday

The Gathering of God’s People

GREETING Christ is risen!  The Lord is risen indeed, alleluia!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy we have been born again into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing  in the heavenly places.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

INTRODUCTION This is the day when our Lord Jesus Christ was raised gloriously from the dead, crushing the power of sin and destroying the sting of death. Throughout the world Christians celebrate the mighty power of God as Christ calls us out of darkness to share in his marvellous light. May we, and all Christ’s people, shine as lights in the world to the glory of God the Father.

The Easter candle is lit, and the minister says: May the light of Christ, rising in glory banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The light of Christ. Thanks be to God.

CONFESSION Christ died to sin once for all, and now he lives to God. let us renew our resolve to have done with all that is evil and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Romans 6: 10
Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

 We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen.

THANKSGIVING Christ has died;  Christ is risen;  Christ will come again.

The Risen Jesus was with the disciples. They were filled with joy when they realised that he was alive. The Risen Jesus is alive today and with us. Let us be full of joy as we say together:

The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us each and every day. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us when we play. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us when we work. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us among those whom we love. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us at school as we learn. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

He is with us as we gather together in church. The Risen Lord is alive and with us.

May we, like the disciples, recognise that the Lord Jesus is with us always. Alleluia! Amen.

Christ has died;  Christ is risen;  Christ will come again.

 Hymn of Praise: 91 “He is Lord”(vs 1, 2 and 4) He is Lord, he is Lord; he is risen from the dead and he is Lord; Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is love, he is love; he has shown us by his cross that he is love; all his people sing with one shout of joy that Jesus Christ is love.

He is King, he is King; he will draw all nations to him, he is King; and the time shall be when the world shall sing that Jesus Christ is King.

TODAY’S PRAYER Almighty God,  through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ  you have overcome death  and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:  Grant that, as by your grace going before us  you put into our minds good desires,  so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect;  through Jesus Christ our risen Lord  who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Ministry of the Word

The First Reading:  Acts 10: 34-43 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Psalm: Psalm 118: 1–2, 14–24 1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;• his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim,• ‘His mercy endures for ever.’ 14 The Lord is my strength and my song,• and he has become my salvation. 15 Joyful shouts of salvation• sound from the tents of the righteous: 16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds; the right hand of the Lord raises up;• the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’ 17 I shall not die, but live• and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has punished me sorely,• but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,• that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord;• the righteous shall enter through it. 21 will give thanks to you, for you have answered me• and have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected• has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing,• and it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made;• we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.

The Second Reading:  Colossians 3: 1-4 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn: CH373“To God be the glory”  To God be the glory! great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son; who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory! Great things he has done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood! to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus forgiveness receives.

Great things he has taught us, great things he has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; but purer, and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.

The Gospel Acclamation Jesus Christ is risen from the dead: Alleluia! He has defeated the powers of death: Alleluia! Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing; Alleluia! He has the words of eternal life; Alleluia!

The Gospel: John 20: 1-18 Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, according to St John chapter 20 beginning at verse 1 Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ

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 towards 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 round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ 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.

This is the Gospel of the risen Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

SERMON

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Christ died for our sins  in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; He was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles; this we have received, and this we believe. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-7

INTERCESSIONS We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations … Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry … and nourish us all with your word. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life, be with us and all who follow you in the way … Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep, recover the straggler, bind up the injured, strengthen the sick and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you … Raise us with them to eternal life. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers, and be with us always. Amen.

PEACE  The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,  Peace be with you. Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
John 20: 19, 20
The peace of the risen Lord be always with you and also with you.

Offertory Hymn: CH288 “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son” Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won; angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away kept the folded grave-clothes, where Thy body lay: Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;  lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;  let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,  for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life; life is nought without Thee: aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love: bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above. Celebrating at the Lord’s Table

AT THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE Be present, be present, Lord Jesus Christ, our risen high priest; make yourself known in the breaking of bread. Amen.

THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us therefore let us celebrate the feast.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING  – Prayer 2   The Lord is here. His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

All glory and honour, thanks and praise be given to you at all times and in all places, Lord, holy Father, true and living God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 For he is your eternal Word through whom you have created all things from the beginning and formed us in your own image. In your great love you gave him to be made man for us and to share our common life.

In obedience to your will your Son our Saviour offered himself as a perfect sacrifice, and died on the cross for our redemption. Through him you have freed us from the slavery of sin and reconciled us to yourself, our God and Father.

For he is the true Passover Lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death and by his rising to life  he has restored us to eternal life.

He is our great high priest whom you raised from death and exalted to your right hand on high where he ever lives to intercede for us.

Through him you have sent upon us your holy and life-giving Spirit and made us a royal priesthood called to serve you for ever.

Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Merciful Father, we thank you for these gifts of your creation, this bread and this wine, and we pray that we who eat and drink them in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in obedience to our Saviour Christ in remembrance of his death and passion may be partakers of his body and his blood, who on the night he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given you thanks he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
Take, eat. This is my body which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper, he took the cup, and again giving you thanks he gave it to his disciples, saying, Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. Father, with this bread and this cup, we do as our Saviour has commanded: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us; we proclaim his perfect sacrifice, made once for all upon the cross, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; and we look for his coming to fulfil all things according to your will.

Christ has died;  Christ is risen;  Christ will come again.

Renew us by your Holy Spirit, unite us in the body of your Son, and bring us with all your people into the joy of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom and in whom, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of never-ending praise: Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever.  Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say 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 BREAKING OF THE BREAD Jesus says, I am the bread of life, whoever eats this bread will live for ever: Lord, our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always.

THE GREAT SILENCE

When the minister has received communion, all keep silence for reflection.

The minister says Let us continue to reflect together.

Jesus is the bread of life. Whoever comes to him will never go hungry.

Whoever believes in him will never be thirsty.       cf. John 6: 35

Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats this bread will live for ever.      cf. John 6: 51

Jesus was alive and rose again through the will of his Father.

Those who feed on Jesus will live because of him and he will raise them up on the last day.      cf. John 6: 57, 40

Going Out as God’s People

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Living God,  for our redemption you gave your only-begotten Son  to the death of the cross,  and by his glorious resurrection  you have delivered us from the power of our enemy.  Grant us so to die daily unto sin,  that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Benediction Hymn: 271 “Jesus Christ is risen today”  Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia! our triumphant holy day, alleluia! who did once upon the cross, alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss. alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing,  unto Christ, our heavenly King,  who endured the cross and grave,  sinners to redeem and save.

But the pains which he endured,  our salvation have procured,  now above the sky he’s King,  where the angels ever sing.

DISMISSAL  God the Father, by whose love Christ was raised from the dead, open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. Amen.

God the Son, who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory, give you joy as you share the Easter faith. Amen.

God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower you and fill you with Christ’s peace. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in the peace of the Risen Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!  Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!