Welcome and Opening Prayer
Good morning and welcome everyone
Today is Easter Sunday.
You may like to light a candle as a reminder that Christ is present.
Sung Worship
Good Friday is about the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. Easter Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Declare aloud: The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed’.
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – on YouTube or Spotify.
- O happy day (The greatest day in history)
- You rescued me (Geoff Bullock)
Prayer
Pray aloud the following prayer of thanksgiving. If there is more than one person in your bubble you may like to have different people read each paragraph…
Father God, we thank you for your Son Jesus. Thank you for the wisdom and love in your plan of salvation. Thank you for your justice in raising Jesus from the dead.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your obedience to God the Father in going to the cross. Thank you for freeing us from the power of sin and death. Thank you for making us one with God. Thank you Jesus for the security that is ours when we place our trust in you.
Holy Spirit, we thank you for making the presence of Jesus real for us each day. May we be sensitive to your promptings and stand in your power through good times and bad. Amen.
Bible Reading – Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.
More Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs on YouTube or download on Spotify
- Highlands (O how high would I climb mountains)
- O Praise the Name (Anastasis)
- He is Lord, He is Lord…
Pray: Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts and minds to receive this message. May God’s name be glorified and may the people who hear this be nourished in their soul. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sermon and Intercessory Prayer
You can either read the sermon notes attached to this email. Or, listen to an audio recording of the sermon via the following link. Please note the intercessory prayer is included directly after the sermon recording:
Intercessory Prayer
Let us pray.
Generous God, we pray for those who are struggling financially during this time of lockdown. Help people in need who are applying for government assistance. Open doors to release your providence where it is needed.
Father God, may you help those who are managing the pressures that come with working from home and caring for children. Give them the grace of patience and good humour. Make our marriages and families stronger through this experience we pray.
Gracious God, may you help those who are feeling insecure or anxious at this time. Calm all ungodly fears and bring stillness to every racing mind. May your peace be our security.
Loving God, we pray for those who are working in essential services. Protect them from all harm and encourage them in the vital work they do.
Suffering God, may you help those (in NZ and overseas) who have lost loved ones and are unable to gather for a funeral. Comfort them by your Holy Spirit and bring to their minds happy memories. The love we give is never lost.
Faithful God, may you help those who are seeking residency in NZ, wanting to make this country their home. Give them your reassurance and provide them with a turangawaewae (a place to stand), a cornerstone.
Compassionate God, may you help those who are feeling disconnected or lonely. Make the at-one-ment of Christ real for them. Help them to draw near to Jesus and feel the warmth of God’s people. Help us all as we tend the bowling greens of our relationships.
Living God, may you help those whose hope is waning. Cause them to rise against the wind and soar on wings like eagles. Keep the truth and wonder of Jesus’ resurrection present in our minds we ask.
Immanuel, may you help those who are trying to care for parents and family members from a distance. Watch over our loved ones for good. May we all remember that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wise and merciful God, we pray these things in submission to your perfect and pleasing will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Song
Listen and/or sing along to ‘In Christ Alone’ – either on YouTube or Spotify.
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
Benediction / Blessing
Proclaim the following blessing…
‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace. Amen.’
Tawa Baptist 