Easter Sunday

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • The gospel for the day with commentary and questions
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with commentary and questions.

John 20:1-9  He must rise from the dead


It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
This is the gospel of the Lord.  Commentary on the readings

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.


Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.         cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Did Jesus actually bodily rise from the dead? That's a "head" (logical) question.

Do I love Jesus and seek a deeper relationship with him? That's a "heart" question.

"Our brain is too small to prove God, but our heart is large enough for Him to dwell in us."

  1. Ultimately the questions above are suggesting that our faith is not based on logic but on love. Recall a similar logic/ love issue about your faith in God. (Share)
  2. What change could the hope of the resurrection of Christ inspire you to make? *


Prayers of Intercession

 

Christ is risen and the power of His Resurrection fills the world today with new life, hope and expectation. The response to “Hear us Risen Lord” is “Our Resurrection and Life”. So with confidence we pray:-

 

For Pope Francis and all church leaders, that the hope of their Easter message, will soften the prejudice and hostility in the hearts of those opposed to the truth of the Gospel.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For our broken but beautiful world, and, on this day especially, for the land we call “holy”. May those in positions of power come to realise we are all God’s children, and that the gifts of the earth are for everyone, and seek a just solution to the ongoing oppression.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For organisations bringing relief and comfort to refugees and for countries generously welcoming displaced people. May the light of Christ shine through humanitarian actions, to bring a message of love to everyone surrounded by darkness.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For all those in our community who have troubled lives. May the local churches work together to bring Christ’s healing touch to people who have never experienced the power of God’s unconditional love.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For ourselves, that the Spirit of Truth will be implanted in our hearts, so we will reject what is false and live by the commands of Christ, to love and forgive one another.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For everyone in our cluster parishes who is sick, housebound or in hospital, and those on the Prayer Foundation List. May they be aware of the healing power of Christ’s presence through all who care for them.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life

 

For those who have died and for their family and friends who mourn them. In particular Kathleen Coyle, Peter Simmons, Anthony Lawson, Jean Lugton, Jan Newton and Sister Margaret Service. May the Risen Lord greet them with love and mercy and grant them the happiness of His Kingdom.

Hear us Risen Lord, Our Resurrection and Life


Let us now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.

Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Preparing for next week -  Second Sunday of Easter

John 20: 19-31     Eight days later, Jesus came.

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

This is the gospel of the Lord.   


Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Thank goodness for Thomas! He represents that human side in all of us that needs proof and reassurance. It did not matter that every other man and woman in that tight-knit group claimed to have seen the risen Lord... "Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Not knowing... is the basis for our faith, our dependence on the One who does know - and love.

  1. Whenever doubt about your faith arose, how did you manage it and get through it?
  2. What could you do this week to inspire your family to resemble the early Christians
    more closely?         *

 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center