Worship @ Home Easter Sunday

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you know, due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 it is currently advised that public worship should be postponed. So, as we gather in our individual homes this Easter, please feel free to use these resources to guide your Worship @ Home.

from St John’s Worship Team.

Growing in faith; reaching out in love

Sunday 12 April – Easter Sunday

Opening Movie

Opening Words

Christ is risen. Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Christ has trampled down death by his death,and has brought light to those in the grave.
And to us he has given eternal life.
Thanks be to God!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Song – Sing along with this great Easter hymn

Bible Reading

John 20:1-18  “The Empty Tomb”

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,  as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Reading and Confession of faith

Acts 10:34-43

       ‘Peter Proclaims the Resurrection of Jesus    (NIV)

Then Peter began to speak:

“I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism

but accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

You know the message God sent to the people of Israel,

telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

You know what has happened throughout Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power,

and how he went around doing good

and healing all who were under the power of the devil,

because God was with him.

“We are witnesses of everything he did

in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They killed him by hanging him on a tree,

but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—

by us 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 whom God appointed 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.”

Pastor’s Message

Prayer 

We pray for the church, for ourselves and the world
On this day of resurrection, let us pray that the light of Christ may rise over the whole world.
Creator God, we ask that the light of Christ would shine in the church, so that all may see it and be drawn to faith in God.
May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
Redeeming God, we pray that the light of Christ would shine in our community, so that our friends and neighbours may know with us the joy of new life.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Loving God, we ask that the light of Christ would shine into the darkness of despair, to lift up all who are grieving, lonely, suffering, or without hope.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Saviour God, we pray that the light of Christ would shine into the darkness of human hearts, wherever deeds of greed, oppression and injustice are being planned.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Risen God, we ask that the light of Christ would shine in the darkness of the grave and tomb, and that all who have died in Christ may rise to life again.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

Lord of all creation, we thank you for the gift of light, which you created in the beginning by the power of your word. Shine the light of Christ upon us and all the world, so that we may come to feast with you in eternal light; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our light and our life,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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

 

Blessing

If you are with your family, take turns to give each other the mark of the cross on your foreheads.

As you draw the cross on someones forehead say: He is risen!

As someone draws the cross on your forehead, respond with: He is risen indeed!

If you are by yourself, simply say these words again.

Final Song: Our church choir had been preparing a Hallelujah medley for this Sunday. We hope to share it with you when we get back together. In the meantime, please enjoy…

Feel free to stand, dance, sing along, or simply close your eyes and listen!

Every blessing to you this most Holy of Days.