St Clement Church
Easter Day Community Service
Good morning
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Shouldn’t we start each day with that, not just Easter Day?
Wouldn’t it be a wonderful way to start each day?
It would remind us of the promise, hope, call of the Easter message.
My love to you all
Liz
Gracious God, on this glorious Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. As the sun rises, may the light of His victory shine in our hearts. Fill us with joy and gratitude for the hope and new life found in Him.
Amen
We say together:
Lord God, you loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice.
Let us have eyes that look upon Your grace and rejoice in our salvation.
Help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world.
All for your glory do we pray, Lord.
Amen
Hymn: 130 Hail the day that sees him rise (omit verses 3, 4, 5)
Our Prayer of Penitence:
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.
Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
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.
Amen
The Collect for Easter Day
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. Amen
Readings:
Isaiah 65. 17 – 25
Acts 10. 34 - 43
Hymn: 110 Jesus Christ is risen today
Gospel: Luke 24. 1 - 12 (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had accompanied Jesus came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.
While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
The women were terrified and bowed 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, but has risen.
Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’
Then they remembered Jesus’ words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
There are two possible readings for today – one in John’s gospel, which includes Mary Magdalene thinking Jesus was the gardener, and this one in Luke, which is read less often.
Why have I chosen this one? Not because it is a shorter reading, but because there is something very ‘human’ about it. Luke is the only one of the gospel writers to say that the women’s news of Jesus being raised from the dead, sounded to the apostles like “an idle tale.”
One can’t blame them – their experience of death, and indeed ours, doesn’t make this a likely story, does it?
I wonder if we often misunderstand this story as being unique and exclusive to Jesus. What if it was never intended to be primarily about Jesus? Maybe this story is as much or more about what is happening to us as it is what happened to Jesus.
We don’t know exactly what happened that first Easter Day. We don’t know how whatever did happen, happened, but what if this story is less about explaining, understanding, making sense of, or even believing what happened that day, and more about experiencing what that day means for you and me today.
So, there are three things I think this story means for us.
First, it means a promise. It promises a future. The promise means we can never say about our life, ‘This is it,’ or ‘This is all there is,’ or ‘This is how it will always be.’ Our resurrection is not a future event, something yet to happen; it is a present, and every-day reality, that promises us a future and the chance that this moment will be transformed and changed. Alleluia! Christ is risen
Second, it means we have hope. It means we have hope for our lives and the lives of those we love. We have hope ‘for something absolutely new,’ a new birth, a new life. We have hope that our lives matter. It means we have hope in the midst of our doubts and uncertainties, despite the riskiness of life, and when nothing makes sense and the odds are against us. This hope means that we live with a great ‘perhaps’ and openness to the future. We hope against hope for the unexpected ‘possibility of the impossible.’
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Third, it means a call. The resurrection is a calling on our lives, and this call awaits our response. We are being called to ‘believe in life because life is precious beyond belief.’ We are being called to appreciate the opportunities of every moment given us and to neither waste or take for granted, a single one. We are being called to live more fully alive and take the risk that there is always more life awaiting us even when it is unimaginable, unforeseeable, and seemingly impossible. The resurrection is drawing us in, calling us into life, more life, a new life. It is God’s “Yes” to us and it asks us to answer, to act, to respond and take the beautiful risk of saying, “Yes!” – ‘Yes’ to life; ‘Yes’ to more life; ‘Yes’ to a new life.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
A promise, a hope, a call – that’s what our resurrected life looks like.
What is the promise giving you today? In what ways is it opening your life?
What is your hope today, that deep hope against hope? What are you hoping for that seems too good to be true and against all odds?
What is life calling for and asking from you today? What do you need to do, or change, in order to say, ‘Yes.’
I can’t answer these questions for you or tell you how you should answer. This is your resurrection. This is your Easter. This is your feast day. That is true for every one of us. Regardless of who we are, what we’ve done or not done, what has or not happened in our life, what we believe or don’t believe, the promise remains, hope abides, and the call persists.
So, back to where we started. Is today’s story true or is it just ‘an idle tale?’ I think that’s up to us. It’s as true as we’ll let it be. Every time we claim the promise, hope against hope, and say ‘yes’ to life, this story is no longer ‘an idle tale.’ It becomes the truth of our lives, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, not because we can prove, understand, or explain it, but because we are living it right here, right now. That’s what I want, don’t you?
I want to live this story. I want to do the truth of this story every day. I want to be the truth of this story – don’t you?
This is our day for a new life, for more life. And there is nothing holding us back. The tomb is empty, and ‘he is not here, but has risen.’
So, let’s leave this place as excited people possessed by life. Let’s seize the day.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen
Hymn: 113 Love’s redeeming work is done
Our Intercessions by Daphne Hawkins
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Merciful Father, as we gather together this joyful Easter morning, we praise your holy name. We thank you, Lord, through your death and resurrection you have opened for us the way to eternal life. I pray our Lenten journey to the cross has strengthened our faith and renewed our trust and hope for peace in our troubled world.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father, we pray for your Church throughout the world. Those of other faiths and no faith at all, we need to love and accept them all. May we find in our hearts mutual respect and break down barriers with humility and understanding.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for Reverend Diane and Liz. We thank you for all their care and devotion and commitment to St Clement Church and our community. Please give them the health and strength enabling them to lead us in our worship, to guide our Christian lives, to give to our congregation and our community help in troubled times and warmth and joy in good times.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for King Charles and Queen Camilla and the royal family. We pray for his health and that of the Princess of Wales. May they all be blessed as they carry out their daily state duties.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayers
Merciful Father, hatred, violence and greed has brought war to our wonderful world; our nation has worked to keep peace, a peace we pray for every day. We ask that political leaders negotiate an end to the wars that are bringing so much pain and suffering to so many innocent people. We pray for the heads of state of those who perpetuate the fighting come to realise that not only are they inflicting pain and suffering on their enemies, they are punishing their own people and denying little children a life. Please Lord, we pray for peace.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful Father, in our lovely, peaceful county, it is hard to come to terms with some of the hardship, problems, and trouble that is going on around us in the world. We know we have our share of poverty, abuse, homelessness, and lack of vital services, but on the whole, there is help at hand. May we always be grateful for our more gentle, tranquil way of life and do what we can for those who need a helping hand.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray Easter time will bring us joy sharing with family and friends. May we welcome the visitors to our county to share the beauty of our countryside and coast.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful Father, may we bring to you all those who face illness, trouble, heavy burdens that life can bring, those who have lost faith, those with no one who even cares about them, many whose names we do not know.
We pray for our priest Reverend Diane, Ken always by her side, May, her dear mother and our dearest friend, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Carrie and John Paul, Nan, Barry, and Paul.
Lord, we pray you will be with all who need you at this time. Lay your healing hands on the sick and bring comfort, light and hope this Easter time to all in need.
Lord, welcome through the heavenly gates all whose journey on earth has ended. May they find rest and peace in your eternal kingdom.
May those who have gone before be with you in paradise. We remember at this time: Loved and never forgotten.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We thank you, dear Father, for Sundays. We thank you because it is our Christian Sabbath, the day of rest when we can lay aside our daily tasks, rest our minds and bodies, and meet with our Lord, at church and gain refreshment of spirit. We especially thank you today, Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection when we celebrate our Lord’s triumph. Let Sunday always be for us a special day, a joyful day, our Lord’s Day. Amen
Rejoicing in the fellowship of At Allen, St Andrew, St Clement and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we commend ourselves and all who stand for truth, love and peace to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen
We say together:
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
Easter by Susan Noyes Anderson
Because of Christ, we know a love
that fills the earth and sky –
a selfless and redeeming love
the world cannot deny.
Because of Him, what’s wrong on earth
will, one day, be made right.
His path is ours to understand
the Way, the Truth, the Light.
He is the hope in faithful hearts,
the glow in love-lit eyes.
Our Saviour is God’s gift to us
In Him, our spirits rise.
He sacrificed his life to
satisfy our deepest need.
By Him, all wounds are bound, each
weary soul lifted and freed.
Forever cleansed and grateful,
we draw comfort from His grace,
surrender tears and sorrow to
the One who took our place.
Gladly, He laid His body down
to raise our bodies up.
He sank beneath all men and chose
to drink the bitter cup.
On Easter, we remember what
He bought, and what He paid.
Because of Him, mankind can live
unblemished, unafraid.
His blessings are eternal ones.
His promises are real.
What promise will we offer Him?
What will our lives reveal?
The Peace
Lord Jesus, we pray for peace in our hearts and in the world. May the joy of your resurrection fill us with hope and love.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 120 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son
The Blessing
Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen. Eternal God, who made Easter night to shine with the brightness of your one true light: set us aflame with the fire of your love, and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen