POEM: They Have Taken Away My Lord
HYMN: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah!
All creation join to say; Hallelujah!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Hallelujah!
Sing, O heavens and earth reply: Hallelujah!
Lives again our glorious King: Hallelujah!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Hallelujah!
Once he died our souls to save: Hallelujah!
Where your victory, O grave? Hallelujah!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Hallelujah!
Praise to you by both be given. Hallelujah!
Every knee to you shall bow, Hallelujah!
Risen Christ, triumphant now. Hallelujah!
OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
WELCOME AND NOTICES
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
READINGS: Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24 Doug Johns
John 20: 1-18 Anne Johns
HYMN: 303 Thine Be the Glory
REFLECTION
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God, Maker, Redeemer and Sustainer of life,
without beginning or end, whose life-giving love was let loose on the first Easter Sunday and whose life-giving love we share and proclaim here today.
We believe in God who gave up the divine life and submitted to the darkness and terror of the grave; and who enters with us into every darkness and terror we shall ever face.
We believe in God who raised Christ from death to glorious new life; and who raises our lives from sin and despair to newness and hope again.
We believe in God who met the grief stricken Mary in the garden and who called her into hope; who meets us in our grief giving us courage to hope, sending us out to witness to the resurrection and to be bearers of the Good News in our world.
We believe in God, Maker, Redeemer and Sustainer of life,
without beginning or end, whose life-giving love was let loose on the first Easter Sunday and whose life-giving love we share and proclaim today to all people, wherever and whoever they are,
loved, blessed and called by God. ( N. Slee – altered)
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE OFFERING
God with the dawning of this new day, may we awake to new opportunities to love and serve you and witness to Christ whom you have raised. Use us, and our gifts, to your glory.
Bless this bread and this wine; grain of the field and fruit of the vine – work of human hands – that through your Holy Spirit they may be to us the bread of life and the cup of salvation. Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION AND THE PEACE
HYMN: Christ is Alive, and the Universe Must Celebrate
Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!
Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate
in a great alleluia, a great alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.
Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering
is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,
here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,
and we sing alleluia, we sing alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.
Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity
to the music of God, God who has set us free!
You are the pulse of the new creation’s energy;
with a great alleluia, a great alleluia
we praise the power that made the stone roll away.
© Shirley Murray (AA)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THE COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
HYMN: Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing (Tune:Truro WOV 33)
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring;
love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
In every insult, rift and war,
where colour, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
with joy, with justice, love and praise. © Hope Publishing Co (VU)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for Easter buns in the lounge after the service.
.
CELEBRATION OF AUTUMN Sunday 15th April
We would ask that the congregation please bring a tin or a packet for us to stock up the Waltham Community Cottage pantry. This will take the place of our normal Harvest Thanksgiving Service. Worship Committee.
CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 11th April: Meet 9.30am on the cnr Montreal & Salisbury Sts opposite the clock tower. Coffee at Vic’s Café in Victoria St 10.30am. All are welcome to join us. Sue 960 7657.
APW will meet on Wednesday 11th April at 9.45am here. The speaker will be Carol Bell from Red Cross updating us on the last 12 months for their organisation. There will be a Sales Table. All are welcome. Allison 332 0554.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Seeking volunteers please to train up to cut nails, assist with the footspas and massage. This clinic happens every six weeks. The next session is on Thursday 10th May. Offers of help to Lyndsey please 388 1264.
MARMALADE FOR MISSIONS ~ please support this fundraiser!
Pioneers Bible Study Group is seeking more participants. Please contact Bruce or Beverley Hudson 332 7786.
ST MARTINS THEATRE GROUP: Monday May 7, 11am to Operatunity’s The Best of British at the La Vida Centre. $30. Concessions for groups.
Much Ado About Nothing: Monday May 21, 6.30 pm, Court. Please let Lyn know by mid-April. $41. l.mck@xtra.co.nz, ph 338 0840.
TAX RECEIPTS and new giving envelopes are now available. If you would like to join the envelope scheme please contact Lyn Steele 332 0865. To set up an automatic payment, please contact Joan Macdonald 337 1648.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 9th Samantha-Rose; Fri 13th John.