HOLMBURY
ST MARY
MORNING PRAYER for SUNDAY, 19th APRIL 2020
Order of Service
MORNING PRAYER
Second Sunday of Easter, 19th April 2020
DAVID'S WELCOME
Good morning, Everyone. I hope this finds you well.
The services for the coming Sundays will be slightly simpler than those for Passiontide and Easter. So, today, we are providing some ‘aids’ to worship – a sermon, some introductions to favourite Easter hymns, a reading and a poem. Thanks to Martha for her sermon, Anne and Francis for introducing two pieces of Easter music, Virginia for the Gospel reading and poem and to Liz for assembling the service on the website. Feedback and ideas are always appreciated.
May we continue to know the risen Christ as we worship in these Sundays after Easter.
Francis has chosen our first hymn and explains what it means to him:
HYMN Click and then return to this page for the words:
1 Love’s redeeming work is done;
fought the fight, the battle won:
lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o'er,
lo, he sets in blood no more.
2 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
death in vain forbids his rise;
Christ has opened paradise.
3 Lives again our glorious King;
where, O death, is now thy sting?
dying once, he all doth save;
where thy victory, O grave?
4 Soar we now where Christ has led,
following our exalted Head;
made like him, like him we rise;
ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
5 Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to thee by both be given:
thee we greet triumphant now;
hail, the Resurrection Thou!
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
COLLECT
Risen Christ,
for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:
open the doors of our hearts,
that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,
to the praise of God the Father.
Amen
Anne has chosen this song and explains what it means to her:
SONG: Jesus is Risen, by Sue Mac
Dawn falls softly on the ground
The sun will rise without a sound
Ooh mystery, I have found
- Jesus is risen from the dead.
The tomb is empty - no one's there
The Prince of Peace defeats despair
Ooh mystery, I can share
- Jesus is risen from the dead.
History has laid its burden at the Cross
And the future holds no fear for me
I am saved by the Messiah, He has conquered death for me
There's no stinging in the grave, no victory.
Time is taking time to pass
I walk more peacefully at last
Ooh mystery has come to pass
- Jesus is risen from the dead.
GOSPEL READING: John 20: 19 - end
SERMON Preached by Martha
followed by
PRAYERS
JOIN MARTHA in the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen
Please add your own prayers to these, so that in a sense today we are praying both separately and yet together.
HYMN Click and join in:
POEM, Chosen by Virginia
HYMN chosen by David: A final hymn for today was written in 1874. The change of tempo from the verses (which reflect Good Friday) and the refrain (which reflect Easter Sunday) is striking. Sung here by a lovely choir in Kenya. I included this in the Easter service at Wotton and got very positive feedback. Enjoy celebrating the abiding truth of Easter as you sing this.
Click and join in:
BLESSING
God, who through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the victory, give you also joy and peace in your faith. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you now and remain with you always.
Amen
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