©Roots for Churches Ltd

 

Bursting through locked doors and closed minds

 

Welcome and introduction by Revd Don Dowling

 

This is the first time I have used this technology in worship,  and I trust it  will work for you! However, the text is downloadable and printable so you should be able is access this either on your computer or laptop or from a printed copy. If it helps a small table with a candle/cross might help you with focus. If you wish during the communion to have a piece of bread and a glass each with wine/grape juice. Please have these ready in advance. It might help to remind you that we are celebrating with millions of other Christians even if most of us are behind “locked doors”.

 

The service includes preparation with confession, absolution and  the collect; then comes the gospel reading, a short address and an affirmation of  faith; this will be followed by an invitation to prayer followed by silence.

I will then set up the table, say the Peace and then an Easter Eucharistic prayer followed by the Lord’s Prayer the breaking of bread and an invitation to communion after we will say a prayer of thanksgiving and service will end with a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Service

Opening Hymn The God of Abraham, praise

1 The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of Love; Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed; I bow and bless the sacred name forever blest.	3 The heavenly land I see, with peace and plenty blest; a land of sacred liberty, and endless rest. There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, and trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned.
2 The great I AM has sworn; I on this oath depend. I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to heaven ascend. I shall behold God’s face; I shall God’s power adore, and sing the wonders of God’s grace forevermore.	4 The God who reigns on high the great archangels sing, and “Holy, holy, holy!” cry “Almighty King! Who was, and is, the same, and evermore shall be: Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM, we worship thee!”

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

 

Greeting and Welcome

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

 

Easter Anthems

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us:

so let us celebrate the feast,

 

not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

 

Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:

death has no more dominion over him.

 

In dying, he died to sin once and for all:

in living he lives to God.

 

See yourselves therefore as dead to sin:

and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ has been raised from the dead:

the first fruits of those who sleep.

 

For as by man came death:

by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;

 

for as in Adam all die:

even so in Christ shall all be made alive

 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now

and shall be forever. Amen

 

Let us confess our sins to Almighty God

(A time for reflection)

 

Absolution

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Hear then the word of grace and the assurance of pardon

Your sins are forgiven for his sake. Amen

 

Collect

Risen Christ,

for whom no door is locked, nor entrance barred;

open the doors of our hearts,

that we may seek the good of others.

And walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,

to the praise of God the Father. Amen

 

Psalm 16

R O Lord, you are my portion and my cup.

Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, my good above all other.’ 2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who are noble among the people. R

But those who run after other gods shall have their troubles multiplied. Their libations of blood I will not offer, nor take the names of their gods upon my lips. R

O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; it is you who uphold my lot.  My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; indeed, I have a goodly heritage. R

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me, night after night. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not fall. R

My heart, therefore, is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body also shall rest in hope. For you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy one see the Pit. You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. R

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever

Gospel Hymn All my hope on God is founded

1 All my hope on God is founded; he doth still my trust renew. Me through change and chance he guideth, only good and only true. God unknown, he alone calls my heart to be his own.	4 Daily doth th’ Almighty giver bounteous gifts on us bestow; his desire our soul delighteth, pleasure leads us where we go. Love doth stand at his hand; joy doth wait on his command.
2 Human pride and earthly glory, sword and crown betray his trust; what with care and toil he buildeth, tower and temple, fall to dust. But God’s power, hour by hour, is my temple and my tower.	5 Still from earth to God eternal sacrifice of praise be done, high above all praises praising for the gift of Christ his Son. Christ doth call one and all: ye who follow shall not fall.
3 God’s great goodness aye endureth, deep his wisdom, passing thought: splendour, light, and life attend him, beauty springeth out of naught. Evermore from his store new-born worlds rise and adore

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #584

 

Hear the GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John 20.19–31

Almighty God, it is hard to keep faith in these difficult times. There are so many things to be anxious about. We might catch the disease; those we love may catch the disease; we may be unable to buy the food and/or the medicines we need. We may have money worries of our own, or for those we love. There seems to be no certainty about when it will all end, and what life will be like when it’s all over. We hear about difficult economics, with companies maybe going out of business. So Lord, please give us Thomas-like courage, to face doubt, but to believe when we have evidence.
And there is evidence, of good will, of pulling together, of generosity and of love; for which we give you thanks
Lord, in your mercy . . .
Hear our prayer

But some have died, indeed many have died. We pray for the souls of all who have died, from the virus or anything else. We pray for all who grieve
Lord, in your mercy . . .
Hear our prayer

We give you thanks for the appointment of Jess as our new Vicar. We ppray for her as she completes her curacy in these difficult circumstances, and we pray that the diocese will soon make plans for the necessary ceremonies, so that we can soon know when she will join us
Lord, in your mercy . . .
Hear our prayer

We pray that we, with all who have died, will share in your everlasting kingdom
Merciful Father
Accept these prayer for the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ

The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples saying:

Peace be with you.

Then they were glad when they saw the Lord

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

.

 

Offertory hymn Immortal Love forever full

1 Immortal Love for ever full, for ever flowing free, for ever shared, for ever whole, a never-ebbing sea.	5 The healing of his seamless dress is by our beds of pain; we touch him in life’s throng and press, and we are whole again.
2 Our outward lips confess the name all other names above; love only knoweth whence it came and comprehendeth love.	6 Through him the first fond prayers are said our lips of childhood frame; the last low whispers of our dead are burdened with his name.
3 We may not climb the heavenly steeps to bring the Lord Christ down; in vain we search the lowest deeps, for him no depths can drown:	7 Alone, O Love ineffable, thy saving name is given; to turn aside from thee is hell, to walk with thee is heaven.
4 But warm, sweet, tender, even yet a present help is he; and faith has still its Olivet, and love its Galilee.

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #675

Easter Eucharistic prayer

The Lord is here

His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

always and everywhere to give you thanks

almighty and eternal Father,

and in these days of Easter

to celebrate with joyful hearts

the memory of your wonderful works.

For by the mystery of his passion

Jesus Christ your risen Son,

has conquered the powers of death and hell

and restored in men and women the image of your glory.

He has placed us once more in paradise

and opened to them the gate of life eternal.

And so in the joy of this Passover,

earth and heaven resound with gladness,

while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation

sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

 

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.

 

Accept our praises, heavenly Father,

through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and as we follow his example and obey his command,

grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit

these gifts of bread and wine

may be to us his body and his blood;

 

who in the same night he was betrayed,
took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to this disciples saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way after supper,

he took the cup,
and gave you thanks saying:
Drink this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins;
Do this, as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of me.

 

Therefore heavenly Father,

we remember his offering of himself

made once for all upon the cross;

we look for the coming of your kingdom,

and with this bread and this cup

we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord,

 

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.

 

Accept through him our great high priest,

this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,

and as we eat and drink these gifts

in the presence of your divine majesty,

renew us by your Spirit,

inspire us with your love

and unite us in the body of your Son

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, and with him, and in him,

In the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you Father almighty in songs of everlasting praise. Amen

 

Pause for reflection 

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

                         Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

                         Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

 

Giving of Communion

Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink
in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.

 

 

Closing Prayer and Dismissal

 

Living God,
May we open the doors of our lives
and be people of faith.
May we open the doors of our hearts
and be people of compassion,
that we may witness to your love and your generosity.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.          

                                    © Roots for Churches Ltd adapted

Final Hymn O Praise ye the Lord

 

 

Blessing

Copyright:  Some of this material is copyright Common worship Archbishop’s Council ©2000

Some of the text is copyright © 2015 Archbishop’s Council and Roots for Churches Ltd

 

 

Thought for the Week

Question: Where is God in this?

He is there in the darkness as he was on Good Friday, as he is in our suffering, as he will be in the end when darkness is turned to the light.