Service of LightLighting of the Easter CandleWith the building in darkness, the ministers go in silence to the main entrance carrying the unlit Easter Candle. The president says: This is the night in which our Lord Jesus Christ passed over from death to life. The Church invites her members throughout the world to gather in prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord through which we share in his victory over death.A minister prays: Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.A minister reads these verses: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. Genesis 1.1A new fire is lit and the Easter Candle is lit. The president says: Eternal God, who made this most holy 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.Marking of the Easter CandleChrist 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.By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard and keep us. Amen.Procession into ChurchAt the entrance the minister bearing the Candle lifts it and says: The light of Christ.Further into the building the minister bearing the Candle repeats: The light of Christ.At the centre the minister bearing the Candle says: The light of Christ.Then the Easter Candle is placed on a stand. Exsultet - Led by a deacon.Choirs of angels, stars and planets: All creation, Church of God: We praise you Lord of life and death: we glorify your name: This is the night you set us free, bringing us home in love; holy night, when you led your people through the fearsome sea: This is the night you brought your Son through the doors of death; O holy night, when death takes flight and hope is born again: This is the night our tears of sadness turn to shouts of joy; holy night, when the choirs of earth sing the songs of heaven: This is the night when Christ our Light makes the darkness bright: Christ is the life that knows no end. Christ is the love that burns within. Christ is the peace that floods the world. Christ is the Lord who reigns on high. Amen.The Easter AcclamationThe president says: Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.A joyful fanfare may be played, bells rung, cymbals clashed, noise made.Gloria in ExcelsisChurch candles are lit from the Easter Candle and Church lights are switched on as we pray: Glory be to God in Heaven, and to all on earth his peace. Lord and Father, King in glory, gifts of praise in us release, then the worship and thanksgiving from our hearts will never cease. Christ incarnate, sent by Father to redeem, renew, restore; Risen Lamb, in glory seated, hear our prayers, Lord, we implore. Now to Father, Son and Spirit, Be all glory evermore. The CollectGod of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.Gospel ReadingAlleluia, alleluia. I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Alleluia, Alleluia. Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.Year B: Matthew 27v57-end.At the end: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.The DismissalAlleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.The BlessingGod the Father, by whose love Christ was raised from the dead, open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. God the Son, who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory, give you joy as you share the Easter faith. God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower you and fill you with Christ’s peace. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.
Holy SaturdayWelcome & Opening Prayer On Holy Saturday when we remember that after His death, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb whilst his friends and family stayed at home and kept the Sabbath.Let’s hear what from John 19v38-end (NRVSA): Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. SilenceLet us pray: From the depths we cry to you, Lord God: give light to our darkness and bring us out of the prison of our sin and despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenLords’ prayer 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. AmenThe Grace May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMENThank you for joining us today. I hope you can join us again for Easter Day as we complete our Holy Week journey.
Good FridayWelcome & Opening Prayer Good Friday is the day we remember that even though Jesus was: betrayed, deserted and denied by His friends; maliciously accused, unfairly tried and spitefully beaten by those who opposed him; and sent out to die a horrible death; Jesus continued his mission and fulfilled all the scriptures even as he hung and died on the cross.Let’s hear the last seven things Jesus said:1st in Luke 23v34 : Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’2nd in Luke 23v43: Then Jesus said, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’3rd in John 19v26-27: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.4th in Mark 15v34: At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’5th in John 19v28: After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’6th in John 19v30: When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.7th & final in Luke 23v46: Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. SilenceLet us pray: Eternal God, in the cross of Jesus, we see the cost of sin and the depth of your love: in humble hope and fear may we place at his feet all that we have and all that we are, for the love of Jesus. AmenLords’ prayer 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. AmenThe Grace May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMENThank you for joining us today. I hope you can join us again for Holy Saturday as we continue our Holy Week journey.Holy SaturdayWelcome & Opening Prayer On Holy Saturday when we remember that after His death, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb whilst his friends and family stayed at home and kept the Sabbath.Let’s hear what from John 19v38-end (NRVSA): Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. SilenceLet us pray: From the depths we cry to you, Lord God: give light to our darkness and bring us out of the prison of our sin and despair; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenLords’ prayer 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. AmenThe Grace May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMENThank you for joining us today. I hope you can join us again for Easter Day as we complete our Holy Week journey.Easter DayWelcome & Opening Prayer Today is Easter Day when we celebrate and give thanks that even though Jesus died and was buried, he rose again from the dead and was seen by many.Let’s hear what happened from Mark 16v1-7 (NRSVA): When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. Very early, on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. He said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ SilenceLet us pray: God of Life, who for our rescue and liberation, gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross. We give you thanks that by his glorious resurrection you have delivered us from the power of our enemy. Grant us the grace, from this day forth, to die daily to sin, and evermore live with your son, in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AmenLords’ prayer 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. AmenThe Grace May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMENThank you for joining us. Happy Easter – Jesus is Risen
Maundy ThursdayWelcome & Opening Prayer On Maundy Thursday when we remember that when Jesus ate his last meal with his disciples and instituted the memorial of His Last Supper; he also washed the disciples’ feet and gave them a new commandment.Let’s hear what happened from John 13 v3- 5 & v12-15 & v34-35 (NRSVA) During supper, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. For, by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ SilenceLet us pray: God our Father, you have invited us to share in the supper, that your Son gave to his Church, to proclaim his death until he comes: may he nourish us by his presence, and unite us in his love. AmenLords’ prayer 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. AmenThe Grace May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore. AMENThank you for joining us today. I hope you can join us again for Good Friday as we continue our Holy Week journey.
