Easter Sunday Holy Communion
A warm welcome to the parish church of All Saints with Holy Trinity.
Today we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus through this joyful Easter Communion. After the sombre tone of Lent and Holy Week the church is now adorned with flowers and the cry of Alleluia fills our worship.
Children are always welcome in church and we understand that they do not always find it easy to be quiet so we welcome their noise into our midst. There is a parent led crèche in the Trinity Room at the front of church where the service can be heard through a loud speaker if they get really restless but there is lots going on today, so we hope children feel able to participate.
All those who have been baptised in any church tradition are welcome to receive communion here. If you need a gluten free wafer please speak to one of the stewards before the service. Both the bread and the chalice are offered, please do not dip your wafer in to the chalice.
Our services are usually live streamed, so those at home can worship with us. If you wish to ensure you are not seen on camera please sit on the right hand side of the church as you enter, please ask a steward if you are unsure. The cameras do not film people coming up for communion. We may also take some photos today of the service, if you do not wish to appear in any please speak to one of the stewards.
Here at All Saints we are part of the Inclusive Church network and as such we seek to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.
We are a work in progress
and welcome anyone who wishes to journey with us.
If you would like more information about services and events at All Saints or would like to speak to someone about exploring further the Christian faith please contact the Parish Office on 01509 217029 or email [email protected]
An informal welcome is given and then the choir sing the introit This joyful Eastertide'Dutch arr Wood. When the music finishes please stand and turn to face the entrance of the church.
The Gathering
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Welcoming the Easter Candle
The president says
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 Easter Candle is lit and brought into church by the deacon who proclaims
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The president says
This is the day when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life.
Throughout the world Christians celebrate the awesome power of God.
As we hear his word and proclaim all that God has done,
we can be confident that we shall share his victory over sin and death
and live with him for ever.
The light of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
The Easter Candle is carried through the church and placed in it’s stand as the organ plays the introduction to the processional hymn
Processional Hymn
Jesus Christ is ris’n 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 heav’nly King, alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!
But the pains which He endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured, alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing, alleluia!
The deacon proclaims
The light of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Confession & Words of Forgiveness
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
We sit or kneel and silence is kept
Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room,
we are slow to believe.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
The following chant is sung. (Words written by Desmond Tutu and Music by John Bell.)
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours, victory is ours
through him who loved us.
The president declares God’s forgiveness
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.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Gloria in Excelsis
We stand to sing the ancient hymn of praise to the familiar tune of ‘Thine be the Glory’
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Songs of adoration, Lord to you we bring,
praising your great goodness, Father, heav’nly King.
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Son of the Father, bearing this world’s sin,
Lamb of God, have mercy, grant us peace within.
You, O Christ are holy, you alone are Lord,
with the Holy Spirit ever more adored.
Glory to God...
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer before the Collect for the day is said
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.
We sit to listen to the reading appointed for the day.
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading from Acts 10:34-43
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading from Matthew 28.1-10
We stand and sing together as the Gospel book is carried to the middle of the church and the congregation turn to face the reader.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Now he is living the Christ. Out of the tomb he is risen;
he has conquered death, opened heaven to all believers
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
We sing the Alleluia again as the gospel is carried back and we sit after the preacher says an introductory prayer.
Sermon
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried;
he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles:
this we have received,
and this we believe.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
All sit or kneel for the prayers. The prayers conclude with the prayer song we use at Children’s Church
For the world and all people, hear our prayer
For all Christians in all places, hear our prayer
For the places that we live in, hear our prayer
Lord Jesus hear our prayer
For the sick and the lonely, hear our prayer
For our friends and families, hear our prayer
For me and my life, hear our prayer
Lord Jesus hear our prayer
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Welcome and 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.
Alleluia.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you. Alleluia.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
We offer a sign of peace to one another from our seats.
Offertory Hymn
During this hymn bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared.
Gifts of the people are symbolically presented in the offertory plate and the president gives thanks for the gifts of time, talent and finance that are offered to the church. See the back page for details of how to make a financial gift today.
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
the love of God was glorified –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine —
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Be present, be present,
Lord Jesus Christ,
our risen high priest;
make yourself known in the breaking of bread.
Amen.
The priest washes their hands symbolising our desire to come together at the Lord’s table with pure hearts and minds.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
And also with you
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.
It is right to praise you, Father; Lord of all creation;
in your love you made us for yourself.
When we turned away
you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life
that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross
and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed,
at supper with his friends
he took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine,
he gave you thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory,
send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine
may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts
make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world
we offer you this sacrifice of praise
and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
We kneel or sit and observe a moment of silence
The Lord’s Prayer
All the nations of the earth are gathered at the table of the Lord. Let us pray with the words our Saviour taught us:
Please pray in whichever language is your mother tongue
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
Jesus says I am the bread of life whoever eats this bread will live for ever.
Lord our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always.
While the remaining consecrated bread is broken and the communion assistants come
to the front we sing the ancient prayer known as the Agnus Dei
Giving of Communion
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Please come forward when directed by the stewards and fold your arms across your chest if you wish to receive a prayer instead of the bread & wine.
As we share communion the choir sing the anthem Now the green blade rises French trad arr. Bullard and then we join in the following chant interspersed with the words below
Cantor lines
¨ Christ is the bread of life, the true bread sent from the Father.
¨ Our ancestors ate manna in the desert,
but this is the bread come down from heaven
¨ Eat his flesh and drink his blood,
and Christ will raise you up on the last day
¨ Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever
¨ If we believe and eat this bread we will have eternal life.
Post Communion Hymn
Jesus is risen, alleluia!
Worship and praise him, alleluia!
Now our redeemer bursts from the grave;
Lost to the tomb, Christ rises to save.
Come, let us worship him, endlessly sing;
Christ is alive and death loses its sting.
Sins are forgiven, alleluia!
Jesus is risen, alleluia!
Buried for three days, destined for death,
Now he returns to breathe with our breath.
Blest are the ears alert to his voice,
Blest are the hearts which for him rejoice.
Come, let us worship him
‘Don’t be afraid!’ the angel had said,
‘Why seek the living here with the dead?
Look, where he lay, his body is gone,
Risen and vibrant, warm with the sun.’
Come, let us worship him...
‘Go and tell others, Christ is alive.’
Love is eternal, faith and hope thrive.
What God intended, Jesus fulfilled;
What God conceives can never be killed.
Come, let us worship him…
Let heaven echo, let the earth sing:
Jesus is saviour of everything.
All those who trust him, Christ will receive;
Therefore rejoice, obey and believe!
Come, let us worship him...
Prayer after Communion
God of Life,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us form the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Notices
Recessional Hymn and Blessing of the Easter Garden
As we sing our final hymn the servers and ministers process. Children are welcome to join the procession as we go to the Easter Garden
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heaven and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
sing to God a hymn of praise:
he who on the cross a victim
for the world's salvation bled.
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
now is risen from the dead.
Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits
Of the holy harvest field,
Which will all its full abundance,
At His second coming, yield;
Then the golden ears of harvest
Will their heads before him wave,
Ripened by his glorious sunshine,
From the furrows of the grave.
Prayers at the Easter Garden
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The angel said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised as he said.’
The priest says a prayer over the Easter Garden
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
To you be glory now and for ever.
In your great mercy you have given us new birth
into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
By your blessing, may we who have prepared this garden in celebration of his victory
be strengthened in faith,
know the power of his presence
and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory.
Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
The stone is rolled away
Risen Lord Jesus,
As Mary Magdalene met you in the garden
On the morning of your resurrection,
So may we meet you today and every day:
Speak to us as you spoke to her;
Reveal yourself as the living Lord
renew our hope and kindle our joy
and send us to share the good news with others.
Amen.
Christ is risen, we are risen;
Shed upon us heavenly grace,
Rain, and dew, and gleams of glory
From the brightness of thy face;
That we, with our hearts in heaven,
Here on earth may fruitful be,
And by angel-hands be gathered,
And be ever, Lord, with thee.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory be to God on high;
alleluia to the Saviour,
who has gained the victory;
alleluia to the Spirit,
fount of love and sanctity;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To the Triune Majesty.
The Blessing & Dismissal
God the Father,
by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
He is not here. He is risen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.
Organ voluntary
Final from Symphony No. 1 - Louis Vierne