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Opening Music
Played by Andrea Board, Organist for Cowley parish church
‘Thine be the glory’ by Edmond Louis Budry
Welcome
Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
All - and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
In your resurrection, O Christ,
All – Let heaven and Earth rejoice.
A prayer of thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As once you ransomed your people from Egypt
and led them to freedom in the promised land,
so now you have delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.
May we, the first fruits of your new creation,
rejoice in this new day you have made,
and praise you for your mighty acts.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All Blessed be God for ever.
1 Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us: ♦
so let us celebrate the feast,
2 not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness: ♦
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians 5.7b, 8
3 Christ once raised from the dead dies no more: ♦
death has no more dominion over him.
4 In dying he died to sin once for all: ♦
in living he lives to God.
5 See yourselves therefore as dead to sin: ♦
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6.9–11
6 Christ has been raised from the dead: ♦
the first fruits of those who sleep.
7 For as by man came death: ♦
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;
8 for as in Adam all die: ♦
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15.20–22
All 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.
Word of God
The Gospel according to St John 20: 1-18
20 Now on 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. 2 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.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 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. 13 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.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 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.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
a time of silence
Reflection
Prayers
The Collect for Easter Sunday
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
All Amen.
For hospital staff and medical researchers
Gracious God,
give skill, sympathy and resilience
to all who are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
A prayer of confidence in God
We are not people of fear: we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbours.
We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity.
We are your people God, giving and loving,
wherever we are, whatever it costs
For as long as it takes wherever you call us.
All Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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,
And the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever,
Amen
Blessing for Easter Sunday
The God of peace who brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the eternal covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,
and the blessing of the living God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be among you and remain with you always
All Amen.
Closing Music
Played by Andrea Board, Organist for Cowley parish church
'La Rejouissance' by Handel