Marshfield Benefice Easter Celebration Service With Spiritual Communion

Music Candle Lighting The Greeting Alleluia! Christ is risen: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

The Stone was rolled away… A reflection, read by Rev. Lynne Godfrey

Proclamation of Praise

The Risen Lord be with you And also with you

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!

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayers of Penitence

God shows His love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Let us turn to the Lord our God and say to him:

Father, we have sinned against heaven and against you. We are not worthy to be called your children. We turn again to you. Have mercy on us, bring us back to yourself as those who were once dead, but now have life through Christ our Lord. Amen

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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 Easter Collect 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

Bible Readings Acts 10 v 34 – 43 (read by Phil Collis) Colossians 3 v 1 – 4 (read by Bruce Finnamore)

This the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Hymn - Jesus Christ is Risen Today! Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia, our triumphant holy day, Alleluia, who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia, suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia, unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia, who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia, sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! But the pains that he endured, Alleluia, our salvation have procured; Alleluia, now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia, where the angels ever sing: Alleluia!

The Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Matthew Glory to you, O Lord. (Matthew 28.1-10)

At the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, O Christ.

Thought for today

The Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Prayers of Intercession, led by David Spence

Merciful Father Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples And said, ‘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

Hymn - See what a morning! See, what a morning, gloriously bright, with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem; folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light, as the angels announce Christ is risen! See God’s salvation plan, wrought in love, Borne in pain, pain in sacrifice, Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for his lives: Christ is risen from the dead! See Mary weeping, ‘Where is he laid?’ as in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; hears a voice speaking, calling her name; it’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again! The voice that spans the years, speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, will sound till he appears, for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead! One with the Father, Ancient of Days, through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty; honour and blessing, glory and praise to the King crowned with power and authority! And we are raised with him, death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; and we shall reign with him, for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

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 right to give thanks and praise.

You are worthy of our thanks and praise, Lord God of truth. For by the breath of your mouth you have spoken your word, and all things have come into being. As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth, we echo the song of the angels in heaven, ever praising you and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Lord God you are the most holy one, enthroned in splendour and light. Yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ you reveal the power of your love made perfect in our human weakness. Amen, Lord, we believe.

Embracing our humanity, Jesus showed us the way of Salvation. Loving us to the end, he gave himself to death for us. Dying for his own he set us free from the bonds of sin, that we might rise and reign with him in glory. Amen, Lord we believe.

Therefore, we proclaim the death that he suffered on the cross, we celebrate his resurrection, his bursting from the tomb, we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high and we long for his coming in glory. Amen, come, Lord Jesus. As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption, Look with favour on your people and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts. Bless the earth, heal the sick, let the oppressed go free and fill your Church with power from on high. Amen, come, Holy Spirit. The Lord’s Prayer 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

Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ John 6.35

Let us give thanks for the saving death and resurrection of Jesus and ask him to be with us now.

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.

after the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. By his mercy we present our whole lives to God as a living sacrifice. Though many, we form one body in Christ. We belong to one another. By God’s grace we have different gifts. We will use them in faith. Rejoice in hope, stand firm in trouble, be constant in prayer. Filled with his Spirit we will serve the Lord.

Hymn - Thine be the glory! 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. 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: Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won. 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: Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

The Blessing

May Christ, who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future, fill you with his new life. and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!

In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!