You can watch some parts of the service here (mostly bible readings and sermon) or scroll down and read the prayers and songs in the order they happened.
Greeting
Alleluia! Christ is Risen
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Welcome
A Happy Easter and welcome to all here and those on Zoom. I am Heather, a member of this congregation and trained to lead us all in Communion. Here at Engadine Uniting we welcome all, no matter where our journey of faith is, our abilities, age, race, gender or sexuality. This is a Sunday of celebration and new beginnings, of renewed hope for the world and to encourage and look out for each other amidst uncertainties.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Dharawal people who lived on this land way for so long before us, way before the first Easter in a land far from here, and this morning we respect their connection to country, and their leaders past and present.
Light Easter candle
The light of dawn in a garden; the darkness of a tomb broken by a rolled away stone; the dazzling angel’s face. May the light of the resurrection shine with us as we gather today, and give promise of hope and reassurance.
Hymn: Christ is Risen. (words are by a nephew of the poet Wordsworth, and the tune is by Arthur Sullivan)
1. Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits of the holy harvest field, which with all its full abundance at his second coming yield;
then the golden ears of harvest will their heads before him wave, ripened by his glorious sunshine, from the furrows of the grave.
2. Christ is risen, we are risen; shed upon us heavenly grace, rain and dew, and gleams of glory from the brightness of thy face;
that we, with our hearts in heaven, here on earth may fruitful be, and by angel-hands be gathered, and be ever, Lord, with thee.
3. Alleluia, Alleluia, glory be to God on high; Alleluia to the Saviour, who has gained the victory;
Alleluia to the Spirit, fount of love and sanctity; Alleluia, Alleluia, to the Triune Majesty.
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come to this day as people who have waited through the long night, carrying sorrow, love, and longing.
We come trusting that God’s faithful love still holds us, and that this day opens before us in grace.
This is the day that God has made; let us rejoice and give thanks.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (all together)
Gracious God, on this day of resurrection, we confess that even when life is near, we do not always recognise it.
We honour the grief we carry—the wounds that have not yet healed—and we confess that fear and confusion can still close our eyes and hearts.
Like Mary, we struggle to see beyond what has been taken. Like Peter and the Beloved Disciple,we glimpse possibility yet return to what is familiar.
Forgive us when misunderstanding holds us back, when grace stands close and we do not yet see. In this quiet moment, receive what we bring before you.
Silence is held.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
God’s grace meets us where we are. The risen Christ is present, and opening us to new life. Christ is risen!
Thanks be to God.
Children’s Book The First Easter by Jess Racklyeft
Bible reading Matthew 28 1-10 NRSV
28 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.”
Acts 10 34-40
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness[d] is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear.
Hymn: Now The Green Blade Rises
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Sermon: Rev Paul Bartlett
Announcements
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, with joyful hearts, we thank you for the love that has met us here. Receive the gifts we bring and shape us as Easter people—bearing witness to hope and new life through all that we give and all that we do. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 691 Faith will not grow from words alone
Holy Communion: This is the Passover of Jesus Christ !
Through light on the word, through the bread and wine we recall Christ’s death and resurrection.
We share Christ triumph over empire and death and with invincible hope we await Christ’s coming again. Eternal God by the power of your word you created all things and by your spirit you renew the earth.
Nourish with the spiritual food of bread and wine.
Out of chaos and fear you bring beauty and hope. Out of despair and death you create.
In you is Life, and so with the risen Christ who makes all things knew by the power of his resurrection we join in the song of a new day to sing your praise:
All: Holy, holy holy. Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!
We remember the last meal before Jesus died and rose again. He shared the Passover with his disciples. He broke bread, knowing that his own body was about to be broken. He poured and shared the wine, knowing that his blood would soon flow.
Take and eat he said. Take and drink. This is my body and blood poured out for you and for many.
And now we give you thanks because on the first day of the week he overcame death and the grave and opened to us the way of everlasting life
Therefore Heavenly Father, We remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross and proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension.
As we look for his coming in glory we celebrate with this bread and this cup his one perfect sacrifice.
Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours forever and ever. Amen.
I am the true Vine
I am the Bread of Life.
Let us receive what we are let us become what we receive,
The body of Christ
Music during communion
After communion
Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
We go in the presence of the risen Christ, to live and proclaim the light and life God has given.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord in the power of his resurrection.
May the blessings of the risen Christ who sends you as apostles into all the world be upon you now and forever. Amen.
Hymn 394: Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna
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