Easter Day

We welcome you to this written service this Easter Day. If you are worshipping from home, this written service offers prayers, the readings for today and music.

We start this written service by remembering those in Ukraine with this prayer:

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,that you would hold and protect them.We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

Yesterday I was crucified with Christ;
today I am glorified with him.
Yesterday I was dead with Christ;
today I am sharing in his resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with him;
today I am waking with him from the sleep of death.

Gregory of Nazianzus (389)

Opening Hymn

Jesus Christ is risen today

Opening Prayer

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to you,
and all ages;
to you be glory and power
through every age and for ever. Amen.

The Collect for Today

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.

The Intercessions

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.
That our risen Saviour may fill us and people everywhere with the joy of his
glorious and life-giving resurrection
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That isolated and persecuted churches – particularly at this time those wrestling with the position of the Patriarchate of Moscow – may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our church leaders – Robert, David , Bruce, Dirk and Robert, and for faith leaders everywhere.

We pray in the Anglican cycle of prayer for the Church of Pakistan, and in the diocesan list for the Lusitanian Church, the Church of Denmark and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia as well as the people working in finance and operations at the diocesan office.

We pray for our monarchs and their governments, with all world leaders, that they are inspired to solve the pressing problems of the world to create justice, equality and freedom; and eliminate hunger and fear.

That God may grant them and us humility
to be subject to one another in Christian love
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter – the homeless in our streets as well as refugees coming to us for help
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That by his power war and famine and hardship may cease in Ukraine and through all the world,
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them – thinking in a moment of silence of those on our prayer list or known to us personally – we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That, according to his promises,
all who have died in the faith of the resurrection
may be raised on the last day
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people,
so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
we pray to the Father.
Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant that, as his death has recalled us to life,
so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Final Hymn

Thine be the glory

Closing Prayers

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 from 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.

May the risen Christ give us his peace.
Alleluia. Amen.