11.04.2020
Resources for Sunday 12 April, Easter Day – The First Sunday of Easter
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Resources. Where there are two or more praying together, it is suggested that before commencing you decide on who will lead which parts of the service. Please note that words in bold indicate the responses and refrains at various parts of the service and words otherwise said together as a group. In today’s service, the parts to be allocated are: 1. A person to lead the Preparation Section, the Affirmation of Faith and the Dismissal. 2. A person to read or sing the Psalm and Hymns. 3. A person to read the Scriptures. 4. A person to lead the Prayers. Where there are less than four people present, roles may be combined. You can find below the full text of a Service of the Word:
EASTER DAY – THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EASTER
Preparation
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.
A candle is lit, and all say:
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: CH283 “The Day of Resurrection”
Listen to and sing along with this hymn at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIx_0jhW1Y
The Day of Resurrection,
earth, tell it out abroad –
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God!
From death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over,
with hymns of victory.
Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light:
and, listening to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and, hearing,
may raise the victor–strain.
Now let the heavens be joyful,
let earth her song begin,
the round world keep high triumph,
and all that is therein;
let all things seen and unseen
their notes of gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord is risen,
our joy that has no end.
John of Damascus (c.675 – c.750)
tr. John Mason Neale (1818–66) altd.
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
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
The reading below may be read, or an audio version listened to at
https://www.biblica.com/bible/niv/acts/10/
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of 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 cross, 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.”
The Psalm: Psalm 118: 1–2, 14–24
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
The reading below may be read, or an audio version listened to at
https://www.biblica.com/bible/niv/colossians/3/
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Hymn: 260 “Christ is alive! Let Christians sing”
Listen to and sing along with this hymn at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-M3cuTAINo
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky. Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love, drowned in death, shall never die.Christ is alive! No longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving, healing, here and now, and touching every place and time.In every insult, rift, and war where colour, scorn or wealth divide, Christ suffers still, yet loves the more, and lives, where even hope has died.Women and men, in age and youth, can feel the Spirit, hear the call, and find the way, the life, the truth, revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Brian Wren (b. 1936)
The Gospel: John 20: 1–18
The reading below may be read, or an audio version listened to at
https://www.biblica.com/bible/niv/john/20/
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 12 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.” 14 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.
SERMON
Archbishop Michael Jackson has prepared a sermon podcast which you may listen to at:
https://www.dublinandglendaloughsermons.com/sermons/the-last-lap-archbishop-michael-jackson
COLLECT OF THE READINGS
Glorious Lord of life,
by the mighty resurrection of your Son
you overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we,
who celebrate with joy Christ’s rising from the dead
may be raised from the death of sin
to the life of righteousness:
through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. Amen.
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.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Trusting in the power of the living Christ,
and seeking God’s will on earth,
we pray in the power of the Spirit:
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 for ever. Amen.
Dismissal
Benediction Hymn: 271 “Jesus Christ is risen today”
Listen to and sing along with this hymn at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMwPEmUMP7U
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, alleluia! unto Christ, our heavenly King, alleluia! who endured the cross and grave, alleluia! sinners to redeem and save. alleluia! But the pains which he endured, alleluia! our salvation have procured, alleluia! now above the sky he’s King, alleluia! where the angels ever sing. alleluia!
Anon., Lyra Davadica (1708)
based on a 14th century MS altd.
Those present accompany the first three responses with a sweep of the arm towards a cross, or behind them, as if throwing the objects pf prayer; the final response is a sweep of the arm towards the light or towards heaven. The responses are declared firmly.
All our problems
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our difficulties
We send to the cross of Christ.
All the devil’s works
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes
We set on the risen Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Be with us and remain with us,
This Easter Day and always. Amen.
We go in the peace of the Risen Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Other Resources are:
1. The text of today’s service may be downloaded here.
3. On Easter Day, Archbishop Jackson will preside at the Easter Eucharist in Christ Church Cathedral at 11.00 am. This may be viewed at:
https://christchurchcathedral.ie/worship/video-stream-1/
Due to the current public health situation, Christ Church Cathedral remains closed to the public until further notice. It continues to hold Ireland, our healthcare workers, our leaders, those suffering from coronavirus, and the world in its prayers.
4. Many local parishes are providing online resources via YouTube, Facebook and video conferencing. Details may be found on this website here.
5. Archbishop Michael Jackson has recorded a series of reflections for Holy Week and Easter Day entitled ‘The Last Lap’. You can watch the final installment on the diocesan YouTube channel – The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough.
6. Canon Patrick Comerford has produced a blog commenting on the Easter Day readings which may be found at:
https://cmelimerick.blogspot.com/2020/04/readings-hymns-and-sermon-ideas-for.html
7. Fr Kieran O’Mahony, a former ecumenical Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin also produces a weekly written commentary and a related podcast. These may be found at:
https://www.tarsus.ie/resources/PDF-2020/Easter-1A20.pdf and
https://soundcloud.com/user-679942596/easter-1a20