Easter Sunday
Click here if you want to download the service sheet, or just follow from this page.
Noli me tangere (1368-70), Jacopo di Cionie
The Day of Resurrection! We have arrived at the end of our Passiontide journey and it is time to rejoice in the new life that Christ holds out for us.
To participate in our service today, you will need a candle, any bells you have lying around (not in any way essential!), a small bowl of water, and an Easter egg.
If there is more than one of you, you can share out leading, and the readings; but it is perfectly possible to participate just on your own.
The Service of Light
Do not light your candle yet! We begin in darkness, before dawn. The Easter fire is lit, and blessed, and the new Paschal (Easter) candle, representing Jesus Christ, is marked with the cross, the letters alpha and omega, and the numerals of the year. Then the candle receives the studs which contain grains of incense, representing Christ’s wounds.
Please click on this link to participate in the beginning of the liturgy
As the candle is processed into the dark church (usually!), the deacon sings ‘The Light of Christ’, and the people answer ‘Thanks be to God’. The congregation’s candles are lit when this is sung for the second time, so why not join in with the singing, and light your candle then.
Traditionally, the deacon sings the Easter Proclamation, called The Exsultet. Please click on the link to hear this.
The Vigil
We hear readings from the Hebrew Bible, describing God’s saving deeds throughout history, and the promise of redemption in the sending of his Son, Jesus.
Reading 1: Extract from Genesis 1, read by Jenna, Luke and Harry
Afterwards, pray the response: ‘Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth’.
Reading 2: Exodus 14.10-end, read by Taro
Afterwards, pray the response: ‘I will sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously’.
Reading 3: Jeremiah 31.31-34, read by Laura
Afterwards, pray the response: ‘Make me a clean heart, O God’.
Reading 4: Ezekiel 37.1-14, read by Michael
Afterwards, pray the response: ‘The Lord has done great things for us’.
After the final reading, please STAND UP and proclaim, loudly and confidently,
ALLELUIA. CHRIST IS RISEN!
HE IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA!
If you have bells, now is the time to ring them! We usually do this during the Gloria when all the lights are switched on in the church, and the veils removed from the statues and crosses. But instead we are going to sing the hymn, ‘Jesus Christ is Risen Today’. Please click on the link:
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluya!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluya!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluya!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluya!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluya!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluya!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluya!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluya!
But the pains that he endured, Alleluya!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluya!
Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluya!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluya!
Please pray the Collect, the prayer for the 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 bind together and to heal;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
Amen.
Gospel Reading
Mthr Cynthia will proclaim the Gospel on Easter Day, which is John 20.1-18. Please click on:
Homily
Mthr Helen visits some characters from our Gospel reading in the vicarage garden!
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Easter is the time when we renew our baptismal vows and re-affirm our faith. In church, we do this around the font and sometimes there are baptisms. We pray for the two children who would have been baptised this morning, if the church was open: Aurelien Boursier, and Eva Smethurst.
Lead
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?
All
I reject them.
Lead
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
All
I renounce them.
Lead
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
All
I repent of them.
Lead
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
All
I turn to Christ.
Lead
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
All
I submit to Christ
Lead
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
All
I come to Christ.
Let us affirm the beliefs of the Christian faith
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 again 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.
Now’s the moment for that bowl of water. Dip your finger in and make the sign of the cross of your forehead to remind you of your baptism. Sprinkling yourself and others with the water is also permissible!
Song
To lead into our time of prayer, let’s listen to Catherine singing ‘This Joyful Eastertide’.
The Prayers
The Woods family are going to lead us in prayer on this Easter Sunday. The intercessions can be found here:
As we finish our prayers, let us say together the Lord’s Prayer, and then our Coronovirus prayer:
Almighty God, our Shield and our Defender,
guide and protect us at this time.
We pray for our loved ones, our neighbours,
our key workers, and our country in this time of health emergency.
Deliver us from harm, and may your love and care ever grow in our community.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen
Hymn
Time to sing the hymn you have been waiting for! Sadly no trumpeter this year – you will have to imagine that.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Chorus
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Chorus.
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Chorus.
The Blessing
Mthr Helen will give the Easter blessing:
Jonathan’s closing voluntary for Easter Day is Chopin’s Polonnaise in A Major.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Easter!
If you are a regular you will know that the vicar always has a big basket of Easter Eggs to hand out after the service. Sorry that I can’t do that this year, but I hope you have one to hand that you can crack open now...