Easter Day 2020

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly… [Luke 24:1-4]

We have never experienced an Easter like this one. Nothing is the same. But for the women who went to the tomb, nothing would ever be the same. Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

The first part of this page is for the early morning and/or to prepare your heart for worship. The service itself starts further down.

 early in the morning

You might like to light a candle and pray this prayer:

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him, and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever. Amen.

At 6am Fi Iddon will stream a short video from her garden, as she lights an Easter fire. You can watch it on our Facebook page by clicking on this link.

here are two videos to bring joy to your heart

The first imagines the moment Jesus came to life.

The second is a song that takes us from Jerusalem, where Jesus died, to the New Jerusalem our eternal home.

Easter Day Service

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” [Luke 24:4-6]

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.

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us: ♦
so let us celebrate the feast,

not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness: ♦
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Christ once raised from the dead dies no more: ♦
death has no more dominion over him.

In dying he died to sin once for all: ♦
in living he lives to God.

Count yourselves therefore as dead to sin: ♦
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ has been raised from the dead: ♦
the first fruits of those who sleep.

For as by man came death: ♦
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;

for as in Adam all die: ♦
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

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.

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Confession

Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from the grave
and crowned him Lord of all.
We confess that we have not bowed before him
or acknowledged his rule in our lives.
We have gone along with the way of the world
and failed to give him glory.
Forgive us and raise us from sin,
that we may be your faithful people,
obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who rules the world and is head of the church, his body. Amen.

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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

bible readings

Luke 24:13-25

Read it in your Bible. Or read it online at Bible Gateway. Or watch the following video.

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

Our next hymn reminds us of that glorious truth: Death is dead, Love has won, Christ has conquered!

Next we have our Easter Day sermon. Get hold of a Bible and turn to Psalm 16. Take a moment to ask God to speak to you and show you more of Jesus.

We have not sung this next song at St George’s before, though it is now a modern classic. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 103:1-2 we sing about the many reasons we have to worship the living God.

faith and prayer

We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as the Lord;
all creation worships you, the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

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

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,
the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the King of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free
you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
Govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you. We praise your name for ever.

Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy,
for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope: let us never be put to shame.
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 forever.
Amen.

further prayer:

Please continue in prayer at home. By the Holy Spirit you have access to God the Father through Jesus Christ his Son. So you can pray wherever you are.

• Give thanks to God. Take time to list the ways he has blessed you today.

• Pray for others in our St George’s church family.

• Pray for our parish and your community.

• Pray for all who are “Key workers” including those in the NHS.

• Pray for those whose struggle with mental health is particularly difficult right now.

• Pray for the persecuted church.

• Pray for our nation and our leaders.

When you have finished, use this prayer:

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

As a final hymn, what else could we have but “Thine be the glory”!

blessing

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 among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

You are invited to join our Zoom meeting at 5pm. Use the Meeting ID and Password for the “Evening Prayer” meeting, as sent out in the most recent Pastoral Letter. If you are not on our list of church members, but have used this service today, then please contact us via this page. We would love to send you an invitation to join the 5pm Zoom meeting today.

Do you want to explore more of the Easter message?

Perhaps you enjoyed Andrew Peterson’s videos on Good Friday’s “Hour At The Cross”?

Something for all ages! 2pm today at the Faith in kids page on Facebook.