Easter Sunday Communion Service
Our Easter Sunday Communion Service celebrates Christ’s resurrection and is based on Matthew 28: 1-15. The service is designed to be used in conjunction with the order of service email earlier but also available to download here.
Watch the Easter Sunday Communion Service in its entirety.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Hallelujah! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
`Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead’ (1 Peter 1:3).
OPENING SONG
OPENING PRAYER & CONFESSION
Glory to you, O God: You raised Jesus from the grave, Bringing us victory over death and giving us eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ: For us and for our salvation You overcame death And opened the gate to everlasting life.
Glory to you, O Holy Spirit: You lead us into the truth And breathe new life into us.
Glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Now and for ever. Amen.
If we have fallen into despair.
Lord, forgive us.
If we have failed to hope in you,
Lord, forgive us.
If we have been fearful of death,
Lord, forgive us.
If we have forgotten the victory of Christ,
Lord, forgive us.
May the living God raise you from despair, give you victory over sin and set you free in Christ. Amen.
READING: Matthew 28:1-15 (WEB)
28 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5 The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
EASTER MESSAGE
The full Easter message is available as a separate sheet here.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Between each prayer there will be a simple chant from Iona:
“Through our lives and by our prayers, your kingdom come.”
We pray for those who mourn…
For those who see but do not understand…
For those who are anxious and afraid…
For those who are beginning to believe…
For those for whom resurrection is a fragile hope…
For those who want to cling on to the past…
For those who share the good news in the face of doubt, scorn and apathy…
And we pray for those who rejoice, who know your resurrection hope…
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
our 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.
PRE-COMMUNION SONG
HOLY 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.
Blessing and honour, glory and power, are rightly yours, all-gracious God. By your creative word you brought the world to birth; in your generous love you made the human family, that we might see your glory and live for ever in your presence.
We praise you risen Lord Jesus
When we wandered from you in our sin you sought us with your steadfast love and did not give up on us. In the fullness of time you sent your Son to be our Saviour and Deliverer. Being fully human, he lived our life and died our death upon the cross. Yet death could not hold him for your love is stronger than death.
We praise you risen Lord Jesus
Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we bless and praise your glorious name, 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.
Blessed indeed is the Lord Jesus Christ who, at supper with his friends, took bread and gave you thanks, broke it, gave it to them and said: `Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
When supper had ended, he took the cup and gave you thanks, gave it to them, and said: `Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for everyone, for the forgiveness of sins. Do this is remembrance of me.’
Dying, you destroyed our death.
Rising, you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Therefore, Father, we celebrate this Passover of gladness; for as in Adam we die, so in Christ we shall be made alive. Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise.
Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of Christ. Gather us, who share this feast, into the kingdom of your glory that with all your people in every time and place we may praise and worship you forever. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Risen Saviour, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the love of God our Father, to whom we give praise and glory forever.
Amen.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
We meet the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread. Draw near with faith.
The body of Christ broken for you.
The blood of Christ shed for you.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of our salvation, we thank you for our communion with the risen Christ and with all who love him in earth and heaven. We pray that, strengthened by his grace, we may serve you faithfully all our days; through Jesus Christ our Risen Lord. Amen.
POST-COMMUNION SONG
CLOSING PRAYER AND BLESSING
God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life: and may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you this Easter time and for evermore. Amen.
Alleluia! Go in joy and peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Alleluia