Worship for Easter Sunday, 17 April 2022

by Rev Jacky Quarmby and Andy Cokayne 17 April 2022

Welcome to worship on this glorious Easter Day. 

Opening Prayers – Including Lord’s Prayer (from Prayers for the People 9.18 & 9.23 adapted)
NF7ERI2_3IQOur God and Father, as this new morning breaks, and we see the full light of another resurrection day, we have come to worship you, the living God. Our hearts are warmed, as we recognise again the Lord Jesus risen from the dead. 
Living Lord Jesus we praise you.

We realise that we do not deserve all that you offer to us, for we have lived by our own strength, and not by the power that you offer through the resurrection. 
Living Lord Jesus we praise you.

As we consider this new day, we come in humble confession for all the sins that we have committed; the times that we have not lived according to the plan you have for us. We claim that forgiveness, that your sacrifice and death on the cross achieves for us, and this Easter celebrates.
Living Lord Jesus we praise you. 

We are amazed at those wonderful words, and claim them for ourselves ‘Your sins are forgiven’, we rejoice that through Easter we can know our sins forgiven and our relationship with you put right.
Living Lord Jesus we praise you. 

Let us share together in the prayer that Jesus taught us,

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.

Reading - Luke 24 v1-12

Internet Video Story of Easter

Hymn - He has Risen, He has Risen, Jesus is alive

Prayers – Intercession
Loving God, we worship you for the amazing fact that you made the impossible possible.  You won the greatest of victories by coming back to life and you are alive and with us today.  Whether we are feeling joyful, broken, weary, sad or hopeful this morning we pray that you will meet with each one of us in this moment…

 Thank you for dying and then rising from the dead so that we could know your forgiveness and hope.  

 

We pray today for those who haven’t yet discovered that Jesus is alive and pray that they will know the evidence of the empty tomb and meet with you.

We think of those who are at war and for the persecuted.  May you bring them your peace and may they find strength in the good news of Easter.  Please bring wisdom to our government and world leaders at this time.

 

We will spend a moment now thinking of people we know who need God’s love today…

Lord Jesus, we know that you suffered so much on the cross and we ask you to look with compassion on those we know who are ill or in need today.  For those who are worrying about money or feeling lonely.  Father, we pray that they would know your healing and your comfort.

 

 Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the victory and power that is in your name. Thank you that by your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have a new life with you. Lord, please help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, today and every day. Amen.

 

Short word - The Impossible Made Possible!
On the first Easter morning the impossible happened. 

• The massive stone that had been rolled in front of Jesus’ tomb had been moved away from the entrance. • Inside the tomb where Jesus’ body had lain, there was now no sign of it. 

• All that was left to see were the grave clothes. 

• Not only was the tomb empty but Jesus was walking around meeting Mary and later on his disciples, two days after being dead and buried! 

• Jesus had risen from the dead…and over the course of the next forty days many people saw him in his new resurrection body.

• Death could not hold Jesus in the grave.

 • It was defeated…..and Jesus was raised to life. 

The impossible was made possible on the first Easter day.

 

One of the first people who saw Jesus alive again was Mary. On meeting the risen Jesus, Mary’s life was transformed.

Instead of being really sad, • Mary was now full of joy.

Instead of feeling confused about Jesus,• Mary was now full of love for Jesus.

Instead of being in despair, • Mary was now full of hope. 

So what does Jesus rising from the dead mean for us today?

Forgiveness
We, who have rebelled against God, ignored his commands and deserved to be punished for our sins, can now be forgiven.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Friends 
We, who have rejected God and ignored Him can now be friends with God.  That is possible because the sin that came between us has been dealt with.

“You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:13-15

Follow 
We are invited to follow Jesus and be part of His mission in the world.

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Fantastic hope
Death is not the end for us. We are offered a fantastic hope for the future.  One day our bodies will be resurrected too and we will live forever with God in a place where there is no suffering or pain.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Faith
God who has the power to bring Jesus back to life has the same power today to help us and answer our prayers.  He can still make the impossible possible!

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.””  Mark 10:27

Song - Good News 

Holy Communion
This is the table of the Lord and Jesus invites all who love him to sit with him and share in this joyful feast.

On the night before Jesus died when darkness was beginning to fall He sat at table with the disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem.

At this last supper, he broke bread and took wine nd told his disciples to remember him 
by following his example.

Today we gathered here, are his disciples and we are glad to do what he has told us.

 

As the Lord Jesus took bread, I take this bread and this wine
To be set apart for this holy use
And as he gave thanks, we too will give our thanks 
and praise, as we sing together …

Hymn: All Heaven Declares

Loving God,
Today we celebrate, for as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of Christ.

Gather us who share this feast into the kingdom of your glory, that with all your people in every time and place we may praise and worship you for ever.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

The Lord Jesus took bread
And when he had given thanks, he broke it
And said, “This is my body, which is broken for you.
Do this to remember me.”

In the same way he took the cup
Saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood.
Drink from it all of you.
Do this to remember me.”

Alleluia!  Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us
Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia! 

The bread and wine are shared

Final prayer 
Loving God,
We thank you for our communion with the risen Christ
And with all who love him in earth and heaven.
We pray that strengthened by his grace,
We may serve you faithfully all our days.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

Hymn:  Thine be the glory

Blessing

God the Father, By whose glory Christ was raised from the dead strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; And may Almighty God bless you,  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen
Alleluia! Go in joy and peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ.  Alleluia!