Maundy Thursday
Reflective Service
Welcome and Opening Prayer
The Lord be with you
And Also with you
We come together to reflect on the final moments of Christ’s earthly mission
To open our hearts to his great sacrifice
We come together as a community of faith
Made one family by being names children of God
Lord, as we come to you in meditation and prayer, stir our hearts and minds to know you more clearly, love you more dearly and be with you more nearly, all our days . Amen.
Reflection Stations
Reflection one: The Last Supper
Reflection two: The foot washing
Foot washing is offered for those who would wish to partake in this spiritual practice.
Reflection three: The Gethsemane Garden
Reflection Four: Peters Denial of Christ.
Concluding Prayers
Father, on this, the night when he was betrayed,
your Son Jesus Christ washed his disciples’ feet.
We commit ourselves to follow his example of love and service.
Lord, hear us
and humble us.
On this night, he prayed for his disciples to be one.
We pray for the unity of your Church.
Lord, hear us
and unite us.
On this night, he prayed for those who were to believe through his disciples’ message.
We pray for the mission of your Church.
Lord, hear us
and renew our vision
On this night, he commanded his disciples to love,
but suffered rejection himself.
We pray for the rejected and unloved.
Lord, hear us
and fill us with your love.
On this night, he reminded his disciples
that if the world hated them it hated him first.
We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith.
Lord, hear us
and give us your peace.
On this night, he accepted the cup of death
and looked forward to the new wine of the kingdom.
We remember those who have died in the peace of Christ.
Lord, hear us
and welcome all your children.
Departing
When the disciples had sung a hymn they went out to the
Mount of Olives. Jesus prayed to the Father, ‘If it is possible, take this cup of suffering from me.’ He said to his disciples, ‘How is it that you were not able to keep watch with me for one hour? The hour has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to the power of sinful men. Come, let us go.’
Christ was obedient unto death. Go in his peace.
Everyone departs in silence.
Good Friday
Hot Cross Bun Service
Opening prayer
We remember Jesus as one who delighted in goodness.
As you received their praises,
Accept the prayers we bring.
For you delight in goodness,
O good and gracious King.
We remember Jesus as Saviour.
We thank you, Lord Jesus,
for finishing the work you came to do;
for you came not only to teach, and to heal,
but to save us.
We remember Jesus as a loving Friend.
Help us to live by your words:
‘The New Commandment that I give to you
is to love one another as I have loved you.’
The Story of Easter
We will now use our craft to learn about the
story of Easter
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.
Blessing and departure
All: We rejoice that Jesus is alive today.
We are risen with Christ. Eternal life is ours.
The way to heaven is open.
Go in peace, and remember God’s love for you Through the gift of Christ
We go in the name of Jesus, the one who heals us and makes us whole.
Holy Communion on Easter Day
at St John’s
Opening Hymn
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.
Risen Jesus
today is the day you rose from the dead.
We thank you for dying for us,
for believing in us,
for trusting us to tell your story
and to be your witnesses;
and we thank you
that we know you as our Saviour and our friend.
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
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
We sing:
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 incarnate, 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.
Heavenly Father,
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.
Choir Anthem
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 65.17-end
and
A New Testament Reading Acts 10.34-43
Gradual Hymn
A Gospel Reading Luke 24.1-12
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, O Lord.
At end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
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
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.
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, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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 and the Invitation
‘I am the bread which has come down from heaven’,
says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
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 baptised in any church tradition or who loves Jesus in their heart are invited to receive communion. Children are welcome to take communion by permission of their parents. If you would prefer a blessing please indicate that to the priest and he will be happy to pray for you. If you feel compelled to take communion for the first time please feel free to do so and let us know afterward, we would love to speak to you more about this.
A Communion Hymn may be sung
Closing Prayers and Blessing
God of new life,
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.
God of resurrection glory,
Jesus was raised on the first day of the week:
as we go into the days which lie ahead,
may we know his risen power and strength,
and may the light of the risen Christ
shine through us with joy.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia.
In the name of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Closing Hymn
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
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