Christian Prayers & Resources

inspired by the Celtic Christian Church

Easter Sunday Liturgy

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In Western Christianity, Easter marks the end of Lent, a period of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter, which begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts forty days (not counting Sundays).

The week before Easter, known as Holy Week, is very special in the Christian tradition. The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday and the last three days before Easter are Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday (sometimes referred to as Silent Saturday). Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday respectively commemorate Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are sometimes referred to as the Easter Triduum (Latin for "Three Days"). In some countries, Easter lasts two days, with the second called "Easter Monday." The week beginning with Easter Sunday is called Easter Week or the Octave of Easter, and each day is prefaced with "Easter", e.g. Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, etc. Easter Saturday is therefore the Saturday after Easter Sunday. The day before Easter is properly called Holy Saturday. Many churches begin celebrating Easter late in the evening of Holy Saturday at a service called the Easter Vigil.

Eastertide, or Paschaltide, the season of Easter, begins on Easter Sunday and lasts until the day of Pentecost, seven weeks later.

A Liturgy for Easter Sunday
(Use all or part, add hymns, readings etc as you see fit)

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."
Psalm 46

Opening Prayer

Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us a little child one of us,
flesh and blood to share in our humanity
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as carpenter
and yet in whose creative hands a world was fashioned
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as fisherman
and yet pointed to a harvest that was yet to come
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as teacher
and opened eyes to truths that only the poor could understand
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as healer
and opened hearts to the reality of wholeness
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as prophet, priest and king
and yet humbled himself to take our place upon the cross
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus who came to us as servant
and revealed to us the extent of his Father's love for human kind
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
Blest are you, Lord Jesus, who rose from the ignominy of a sinner's death
to the triumph of a Saviour's resurrection
For God so loved the world
ALL: That all might have eternal life
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
for the sake of me
and you
and other sinners too
God so loved the world
Blest are you Lord Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer

Reading
(Ideally read by three persons)

Isaiah 12:1-6

A - In that day you will say:
B - I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation;
C - I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
A - With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say:
B - "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
C - Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
A - Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
B/C - For great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

Confession and Forgiveness

We serve a risen Saviour yet live as if in chains. Forgive us, Lord that we are so hesitant to live the resurrection life. Forgive us that we fail to show through word and action the truth that you loved us into your kingdom through the glorious mystery of the Cross. Forgive us that there is still fear in our lives that prevents us from achieving our full potential. Draw us close. Open our eyes to the glory of the risen Christ, our hearts to the wonder of the Cross and our hands to the service of your kingdom where you have placed us. That your name might be glorified through our lives.
AMEN

God of resurrection
of life and death
rebirth
All: Renew our hearts and minds
God of promise
of all beginnings
and all endings
All: Renew our hearts and minds
God of hope
of new growth
and harvest
All: Renew our hearts and minds

The Lord’s Prayer

We say together the words of the Lord's Prayer.
All: Our Father…

Reading

Matthew 28:1-10 - The Resurrection

And listen to these words from Corrie Ten Boom:

“The blood of Jesus Christ has great power! There is perhaps not a phrase in the Bible that is so full of secret truth as is "The blood of Jesus." It is the secret of His incarnation, when Jesus took on flesh and blood; the secret of His obedience unto death, when He gave His life at the cross of Calvary; the secret of His love that went beyond all understanding when He bought us with His blood.”

Affirmation

Your light is the only light we need
as we travel through life's mystery
Your word the only voice we hear
that still small voice that leads us
to the place where we should be
Your presence is the only company we need
as we walk this narrow road
Your fellowship the warmth we crave
to help us on our way

May the truth of Easter
The joy of Easter
And the blessings of Easter
Be with us this day and all days
AMEN

See Lent Resource - Bible Study based upon Isaac Watt's hymn 'When I survey the wondrous Cross'

[ Lent Prayers][Easter Prayers][Lent Bible Study] [ Last Supper sermon ]
[ Easter Prayers ][Ash Wednesday Liturgy] [Lent intercessions]
[Liturgy for Lent 1][Lent 2][Lent 3][Lent 4][Lent 5][Palm Sunday][Easter Day]