The Parishes of Clent and Hagley
Holy Communion - 31 March - Easter Day
St John’s
Call to Worship and Opening Prayers
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Risen Jesus,
we gather today to celebrate.
We gather to share in the joy of your resurrection.
The stone has been rolled away,
you have overcome death and the powers of darkness.
May we know your risen presence with us.
Amen.
Living Lord,
we come to you
filled with joy that you are risen.
We come
filled with hope,
for you have conquered death.
We come
filled with wonder
at the length, depth,
height and breadth of your love.
Alleluia! Amen.
The Lighting of the Easter Candle
Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead,
and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Once we were no people, but now we are your people,
declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ,
who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Blessed be God for ever.
Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him
and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever.
Amen.
(the candle is lit)
The light of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Opening Hymn AM 77 Jesus Christ is risen today
Praise and Thanksgiving
Amazing God, we praise you that
from the silence of an empty tomb,
a message of joy has spread around the world;
from the brutality of a death on a cross,
your healing love has touched the whole of creation;
from the initial uncertainty of the first disciples,
your Church has grown and reached out in faith to all.
We thank you for Easter,
with hearts full of thanksgiving and joy,
in the name of Jesus;
Amen.
Giving glory to God
Glory be to God in heaven,
and to all on earth, his peace;
Lord and Father, King in glory,
gifts of praise in us release,
so our worship and thanksgiving
from our hearts will never cease
Christ on earth, sent by the Father
to redeem, renew, restore;
risen Lamb, in glory seated,
hear our prayers, Lord, we implore.
Now to Father, Son, and Spirit
be all glory evermore.
Asking for God’s forgiveness
God of Easter,
we come before you seeking forgiveness and new life.
For the times we have failed to live as Easter people,
forgive us, and release us to be your witnesses.
For the times we have acted as though there was no good news,
forgive us, and release us to be your witnesses.
For the times we have been sceptical when others
have shared their faith,
forgive us, and release us to be your witnesses.
This morning, above all mornings,
we claim for ourselves Jesus' promise,
that in him our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Collect
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
An Old Testament Reading Isaiah 25.6-9
A New Testament Reading Acts 10.34-43
Gradual 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, paid in sacrifice,
fulfilled in Christ, the man, for he 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 pow’r 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.
A Gospel Reading Mark 16.1-8
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Glory to you, O Lord.
At end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
A Reflection
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our faith in God:
We believe and trust in God the Father,
who made all things.
We believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ,
who redeemed the world.
We believe and trust in his Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Intercessions
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
We convey an expression of peace to one another.
Offertory Hymn AM 75 The day of resurrection
Prayers at the preparation of the table
Lord Jesus, you gave everything for us.
With these our gifts,
we offer you all that we have, and are, and will be,
praying that our church, and our mission,
may reach out so that others may come to share in your risen life.
Amen.
Risen Lord Jesus Christ, we believe you, and all we have heard is true.
When you break bread
may we recognize you as the fire that burns within us,
that we may bring light to your world.
Amen.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Eucharistic Prayer and Communion
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.
We give you thanks and praise
for the gospel we have received.
Christ died for our sins: Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
He was laid in the tomb:
but death could not hold him;
you raised him to life on the third day: Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Where death came to all, and sin reigned,
now new life has come through Christ,
and he reigns for ever: Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
We have been crucified with Christ:
now we live his risen life,
and praise you for ever
with angels and archangels, singing:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Holy is the Lord God almighty!
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Holy is the Lord God almighty!
Who was and is, and is to come;
holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Blessed, blessed, blest is he who comes,
Blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name.
Blessed, blessed, blest is he who comes,
blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name.
Hosanna in the heights of heav’n.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
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 that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his 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;
he gave it to them, 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 proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
and with this bread and this cup
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Jesus Christ is Lord;
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy 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:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord's 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.
The Breaking of the Bread
‘I am the bread which has come down from heaven’,
says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
Agnus Dei - Betty Pulkingham
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.
The Invitation
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Everyone is invited to receive communion or a blessing
Communion Hymn AM 501 Now the green blade riseth
Choir Praise to the King, the Lord of all
Closing Prayers and Blessing
God of resurrection glory
give us, this Easter,
the wonder of seeing your extraordinariness in ordinary life,
that we may lay aside the linen cloths of confusion and apathy
and be enabled to sing out the joy of Easter
to the music of a life transformed by your Son’s risen presence.
We ask this in his name.
Amen.
May the God of glory be with you, always,
the risen Christ Jesus reign in your hearts,
and the Holy Spirit inspire and challenge you;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Closing Hymn AM 428 Thine be the glory
Dismissal
God of new life,
we have come with the women to the tomb;
we have shared their dawning realisation that Jesus is alive;
we have experienced their joy at your living presence.
Send us out with your love in our hearts,
and your praise on our lips
that those we meet might share our joy too.
In the name of Jesus, who lives for evermore.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia.
In the name of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Please stand for the Eucharistic Prayer if you can - but if you would rather sit, then please do so.
Some material included in this service is copyright:
© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000
Some material is Copyright
© Roots for Churches Limited
Hymns and songs are reproduced under CCLI no. 742099