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Introduction
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
As we meet together on Easter Day, letâs pray together.
Almighty God, you have conquered death through your dearly beloved son Jesus Christ and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. By your grace enable us to set our mind on things above, so that your continual help may transform our whole life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in everlasting glory. Amen.
Praise
Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praiseâthe fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
We will now be led in praise by our musicians!
Bible reading
Let us pray as we turn to the Bible
Gracious Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, encouraged and supported by your Holy Word, we may embrace and always hold fast the joyful hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Mark 16:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Has Risen
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesusâ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, âWho will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?â
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 âDonât be alarmed,â he said. âYou are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, âHe is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.ââ
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.[a]
Nicene Creed
Weâll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene 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 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. 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.
Sermon
The Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, will deliver our Easter Day address
Song 2
Prayer in response to the sermon
As the Archbishop mentioned, you may like to pray this prayer in response to what we have heard.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that through his death and resurrection, Jesus enables us to move from fear to faith. We are fearful of many things: of danger, of sickness, of death, of what happens after we die. Yet we hear with joy the good news of what Jesus has done for us. We place our faith in his death for our sins, and in his offer of forgiveness and eternal life. May our faith in him remove the fear we have for this life and the next. In Jesus name, Amen.
Confession and prayers
After our prayers we will share in Holy Communion. When we share the cup of the Lord and break bread together, we express our common participation in the benefits of Jesus’ death for us. We should examine ourselves before we eat the bread and drink the cup, confessing our sins to God, acknowledging the need to care for one another, and renewing our trust in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you are merciful and kind, but we have gone our own way, not loving you as we ought, nor loving our neighbours as ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed and in what we have failed to do. We deserve your condemnation. Father, forgive us. Help us to love you and our neighbour, and to live for your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemerâŠ
âŠwho gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen! Emily Carpenter will now continue leading us in prayer.
Letâs conclude our time of prayer with the Lordâs Prayer
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.
Communion
Our minister, Rev Martin Kemp, will now lead us in Holy Communion
Closing Song
Our musicians will lead us in responding to Godâs mercy with a song of praise
Conclusion
Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.
Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday as we study Psalm 6 with a sermon entitled âFour steps for tough timesâ.
