Easter Day

The Easter Day service can be viewed here

Music may be played

¶ Welcoming the Easter Candle

The ministers gather at the back of the church.

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.

A minister brings in the lit Easter Candle and

proclaims

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The minister may repeat the acclamation, getting louder each time.

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.

Music may be played

The minister holding the Candle says or sings

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

At the Easter Garden, the minister holding the Candle says or sings

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

¶ Prayers at the Easter Garden

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.’ Matthew 28.5,6

The president says

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To you be glory now and for ever.
In your great mercy you have given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
By your blessing, may we who have prepared this garden in celebration of his victory
be strengthened in faith,
know the power of his presence,
and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory.
Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever.

Risen Lord Jesus,
as Mary Magdalene met you in the garden
on the morning of your resurrection,
so may we meet you today and every day:
speak to us as you spoke to her;
reveal yourself as the living Lord;
renew our hope and kindle our joy;
and send us to share the good news with others.

Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

The Prayers of Penitence may take place at the Easter Garden.

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. cf 1 Corinthians 5.7,8

Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Like Thomas in the upper room,
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

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.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The ministers move from there to the place where the Liturgy of the Word is celebrated. The minister holding the Candle says

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

¶ Gloria in Excelsis

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the

Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray that we may reign with the risen Christ in glory.

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.

¶ The Liturgy of the Word

Reading

Acts 10:34-43

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Music may be played

Gospel Reading

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Alleluia.
He has defeated the powers of death.

Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.

Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.

Alleluia.

When the Gospel is announced the reader says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Mark 16:1-8

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Re-affirmation of Baptismal Vows

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?

I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

Music may be played

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

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.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

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.

Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized in your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Jesus, our exalted Lord, has been given all authority. Let us seek his intercession that our prayers may be perfected by his prayer.

Jesus Christ, great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us, pray for the Church, your broken body in the world …

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, King of righteousness,
enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high, pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule …

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Son of Man,
drawing humanity into the life of God,
pray for your sisters and brothers in need, distress, or sorrow …

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus, pioneer of our salvation,
bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection, surround with your saints and angels those who have died trusting your promises …

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ, Lord over all things,
ascended far above the heavens and filling the universe, pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service …

Silence is kept.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Jesus Christ,
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

¶ The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia. John 20.19, 20

The peace of the risen Christ be always with you

All and also with you. Alleluia.

Music may be played

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Lord of life,
with unbounded joy we offer you our sacrifice of praise.
As we are fed with the bread of heaven
may we know your resurrection power;
through Christ our risen Lord.

Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

The president praises God for his mighty acts and all respond

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The president recalls the Last Supper,

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.

The Prayer continues and leads into the doxology, to which all respond boldly

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

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.

Breaking of the Bread

Jesus says, I am the bread of life,
whoever eats this bread will live for ever.

Lord, our hearts hunger for you;
give us this bread always.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The president says, ‘The body of Christ’, all who intend to receive respond ‘Amen’.

Please sanitise your hands before coming forward to receive

The host is placed into the hands of each communicant in silence

Step away from the celebrant, remove face covering, consume, re-cover face.

We return to our seats via the Lady Chapel

Music may be played

Prayer after Communion

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.

Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Acclamation

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

The Dismissal Gospel

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’ John 11.25,26

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

The 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 …

The Dismissal
He is not here. He is risen.
Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Music may be played

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