EasterSunday–Heisrisen!Hallelujah!

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GATHERINGINGOD’SPRESENCEIfyouwouldfindithelpful,lightacandleduringourcalltoworshipasasymbolofJesus’resurrection.Youmightliketoplaceacrossonatablewithawhiteclothunderneath,orperhapsavaseofflowersifyouhaveone.CalltoworshipTherisenChristcameandstoodamongthemandsaid:‘Peacebewithyou.’ThenthedisciplesrejoicedwhentheysawtheLord.Christisrisen!Heisrisenindeed.Hallelujah!(BasedonJohn20:19-20)Suggestedhymns:See,whatamorning(StF309)(14/09)1See,whatamorning,gloriouslybright,withthedawningofhopeinJerusalem;foldedthegraveclothes,tombfilledwithlight,astheangelsannounceChristisrisen!SeeGod'ssalvationplan,wroughtinlove,borneinpain,paidinsacrifice,fulfilledinChrist,theMan,forhelives:Christisrisenfromthedead!2SeeMaryweeping,'Whereishelaid?'asinsorrowsheturnsfromtheemptytomb;

hearsavoicespeaking,callinghername;it'stheMaster,theLordraisedtolifeagain!Thevoicethatspanstheyears,speakinglife,stirringhope,bringingpeacetous,willsoundtillheappears,forhelives:Christisrisenfromthedead!3OnewiththeFather,AncientofDays,throughtheSpiritwhoclothesfaithwithcertainty;honourandblessing,gloryandpraisetotheKingcrownedwithpowerandauthority!Andweareraisedwithhim,deathisdead,lovehaswon,Christhasconquered;andweshallreignwithhim,forhelives:Christisrisenfromthedead!

StuartTownend(b.1963)andKeithGetty(b.1974)WordsandMusic:©2003,ThankyouMusic.Administeredbyworshiptogether.comSongs,

excludingUK&Europe,administeredbyKingswaysongs,adivisionofDavidCCook<tym@kingsway.co.uk>Usedbypermission.

OpeningPrayerJesusChrist,wegreetyou!Yourhandsstillhaveholesinthem,yourfeetarewetfromthedew;andwiththememoryofournamesundimmedbythreedaysofdeathyoumeetus,risenfromthegrave.Wefailtounderstandhow;wepuzzleatthereasonwhy.Butyouhavecome:nottoanswerourquestions,buttoshowusyourface.Youarealiveandtheworldcanrejoiceagain.Hallelujah!*

WELISTENFORGOD’SWORDJohn20:1-181Earlyonthefirstdayoftheweek,whileitwasstilldark,MaryMagdalenecametothetombandsawthatthestonehadbeenremovedfromthetomb.2SosheranandwenttoSimonPeterandtheotherdisciple,theonewhomJesusloved,andsaidtothem,‘TheyhavetakentheLordoutofthetomb,andwedonotknowwheretheyhavelaidhim.’3ThenPeterandtheotherdisciplesetoutandwenttowardsthetomb.4Thetwowererunningtogether,buttheotherdiscipleoutranPeterandreachedthetombfirst.5Hebentdowntolookinandsawthelinenwrappingslyingthere,buthedidnotgoin.6ThenSimonPetercame,followinghim,andwentintothetomb.Hesawthelinenwrappingslyingthere,7andthecloththathadbeenonJesus’head,notlyingwiththelinenwrappingsbutrolledupinaplacebyitself.8Thentheotherdisciple,whoreachedthetombfirst,alsowentin,andhesawandbelieved;9forasyettheydidnotunderstandthescripture,thathemustrisefromthedead.10Thenthedisciplesreturnedtotheirhomes.11ButMarystoodweepingoutsidethetomb.Asshewept,shebentovertolookintothetomb;12andshesawtwoangelsinwhite,sittingwherethebodyofJesushadbeenlying,oneattheheadandtheotheratthefeet.13Theysaidtoher,‘Woman,whyareyouweeping?’Shesaidtothem,‘TheyhavetakenawaymyLord,andIdonotknowwheretheyhavelaidhim.’14Whenshehadsaidthis,sheturnedroundandsawJesusstandingthere,butshedidnotknowthatitwasJesus.15Jesussaidtoher,‘Woman,whyareyouweeping?Forwhomareyoulooking?’Supposinghimtobethegardener,shesaidtohim,‘Sir,ifyouhavecarriedhimaway,tellmewhereyouhavelaidhim,andIwilltakehimaway.’16Jesussaidtoher,‘Mary!’SheturnedandsaidtohiminHebrew,‘Rabbouni!’(whichmeansTeacher).17Jesussaidtoher,‘Donotholdontome,becauseIhavenotyetascendedtotheFather.Butgotomybrothersandsaytothem,“IamascendingtomyFatherandyourFather,tomyGodandyourGod.”’18MaryMagdalenewentandannouncedtothedisciples,‘IhaveseentheLord’;andshetoldthemthathehadsaidthesethingstoher.ATimeofReflection

1. WhatsurprisesyouaboutthereactionofMaryandtheotherdisciples?2. HowdoyouimagineMaryfelttobethefirsttoseetherisenJesus?3. WhatdoesJesus’resurrectionmeanforyouthisEaster?4. Ifyoufeelcreative,whynotdrawapicturetoreflectyourthoughtstoday.

Asyoureflectonthesewordsyoumightliketolistentothefollowingpieceofmusic:‘TheHallelujahChorus’from‘TheMessiah’byG.F.Handelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5cATimeofPrayerWegreetyou,risenChrist–ourhopeintimesofdespair.Weprayforthoseindespairtoday:

worriedaboutfutureemployment;

worriedaboutwherethenextmealiscomingfrom;worriedaboutarelativeinisolation.

Turntheirdespairintoresurrectionhope.Wegreetyou,risenChrist–ourpeaceintimesofconflict.Weprayforthoseinconflicttoday: forthoseinwarzonesinYemen,Syria,

andotherunknownplacesthatnevermakethenews;forthosefleeingwar,seekingrefugeinGreeceandthroughouttheworld;forthosefeelingunsafeintheirownhomes.

Turntheirconflictintoresurrectionpeace.Wegreetyou,risenChrist–ourhealingintimesoftrouble.Weprayforthoseinanykindoftroubletoday: forthosewhoarephysicallyunwell; forthosestrugglingwiththeirmentalhealth; forthosefacingtheirownmortalityandthosewhocareforthem;

forthosewhogrieve.Turntheirtroubleintoyourresurrectionhealing.Wethankyou,Lord,thatthroughyoursacrifice,youhavetriumphedoverdeath,openingthewaytonewlifeforall.Andsowethankyouforallthosewhobringglimmersofnewlife: forallcareworkers; forouremergencyservices; forthosewillingtoworktokeepusfed; forthosewhosecreativityisbringinglife

tovulnerablepeopleandinremoteplaces;forthose,suchasoureducators,willingtogotheextramile.

Yourresurrectionhopeisallaroundus–evennow.Thanksbetoyou,Risen,LordJesusChrist.Amen.TheLord’sPrayerOnthisdayofcelebration,whynotsingtheLord’sPrayer?AversioncanbefoundtoaccompanythesewordsatStF763(31/14)OurFatherinheaven,hallowedbeyourname,yourkingdomcome,yourwillbedone,onearthasinheaven.Giveustodayourdailybread.Forgiveusoursinsasweforgivethosewhosinagainstus.Saveusfromthetimeoftrialanddeliverusfromevil.Forthekingdom,thepowerandthegloryareyours,Nowandforever.Amen.

Suggestedhymn:Thinebetheglory(StF313)(13/13)1Thinebetheglory,risen,conqueringSon,endlessisthevictorythouo'erdeathhastwon;angelsinbrightraimentrolledthestoneaway,keptthefoldedgrave-clotheswherethybodylay:Thinebetheglory,risen,conqueringSon,endlessisthevictorythouo'erdeathhastwon.2Lo,Jesusmeetsus,risenfromthetomb;

lovinglyhegreetsus,scattersfearandgloom;lettheChurchwithgladnesshymnsoftriumphsing,forherLordnowliveth,deathhathlostitssting:3Nomorewedoubtthee,gloriousPrinceofLife;lifeisnaughtwithoutthee:aidusinourstrife;makeusmorethanconquerorsthroughthydeathlesslove;bringussafethroughJordantothyhomeabove:

EdmondBudry(1854-1932)translatedbyRichardBirchHoyle(1875-1939)

SENDINGOUTHallelujah,GodourCreator–alllifestemsfromyou!Hallelujah,GodourSaviour–newlifespringsfromyourdeath!Hallelujah,GodourSustainer–lifeiscontinuallyrenewedinyou!Hallelujah,Father,SonandHolySpirit!Blessustodayandalways,mayyournewlifeflowthroughusintoyourworld.Amen.

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