Easter Sunday: Growing in faith; being alive

WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

We gather on this 1^st day of the week of God’s creation on Dharawal land acknowledging their continuous link with the land and its Creator. Today we join them in celebration acknowledging their elders past and present and our journey together of justice making and reconciliation.

CALL TO WORSHIP

GOSPEL READING Part 1 Jennie and Genelle

Luke 24: 1 – 5a On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground.

Let us Pray. Worn out with grief, the women come to do the last thing they could for their beloved Lord, to anoint his body. It is not here! Where have they taken him? The first day of this new week begins with more grief, with the anointing left undone. There are so many things in life that we have not been able to do. Did the women see the angels right away. Did they need faith to see and hear them. How long did all this take. We are not told only that the women were fearful and in awe.

We come to worship on this day, perhaps like many other days distracted, numb, in grief or worry not looking for any angel of the Lord to encounter us. Would we know one if we did. But like the women, we also come and perhaps we too don’t ever expect to hear their words “he is not here, he is risen”!!

EASTER CANDLE LIGHTING

Today, the stone has been rolled away, only grave clothes remain. Voices say he is not here but risen. He goes ahead of you, tell others the good news. Light has conquered darkness, love has conquered hatred and Peace has conquered fear. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! We light the Christ candle.

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 118: 1 – 2, 14 – 24 selected verses

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good

his love endures forever.

The Lord is my strength and my shield

he has become my salvation.
The Lord’s right hand is lifted high

the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
I will not die but live!

I will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Open for me the gates of the righteous

I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone
the Lord has done this, it is marvellous in our sight.
Let us rejoice today and be glad!

HYMN TIS 390 Leanne

Alleluia alleluia
Give thanks to the Risen Lord
Alleluia alleluia
Give praise to His Name

Jesus is Lord of all the earth
He is the King of creation.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth
Jesus has died and has risen.

We have been crucified with Christ
Now we shall live forever.

God has proclaimed the just reward
new life for All! Alleluia!

Come let us praise the Living God
Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

A TIME OF CONFESSION & HOPE

You are invited to remain standing after the hymn and where possible to draw near to the front where the cross was laid, it is gone, we can see its shape, for it will always be with us, part of us.

But now it is a shadow. Death will not have the last word, for resurrection is stronger than death.

Let us pray…extempore prayer…

An especial welcome to Chris & Sarah, their daughter Riley and their family and friends as they bring Riley for Christian baptism.

BAPTISM

Dear friends in Christ, we have received a request from Chris & Sarah to have their daughter Riley baptized. On behalf of our Church Council we are delighted to welcome them here today.

Hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’. Matt CH 28 vs 18 – 20

THE MEANING OF BAPTISM

Baptism is Christ’s gracious gift. It is the sign by which the Spirit of God joins people to Jesus Christ and incorporate them into his body; the church. In his own baptism in the Jordan by John, Jesus identified himself with humanity in its brokenness and sin; that baptism was completed in his death and resurrection. By God’s grace, baptism plunges us into the faith of Jesus Christ, so that whatever is his, may also be called ours. By water and the Spirit we are claimed as God’s own and set free from the power of sin and death. Thus, claimed by God we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit that we may live as witnesses to Jesus Christ, share his ministry in the world and grow to maturity, awaiting with hope the day of our Lord Jesus.

QUESTION TO THE PARENTS
Chris & Sarah, what do you ask of God’s church for Riley?
We ask that she be baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ.

Riley has been brought for baptism that she may be grafted into Christ as a member of his body the church, to grow up in the faith of Jesus Christ and become his faithful witness and servant in the world. Riley, may the Lord open your ears to hear his word & your mouth to proclaim his praise.

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
The Uniting Church, in baptizing children, takes responsibility for their instruction and nourishment in the faith. That we may know that you hold the Christian faith and claim your membership in Christ’s church, we ask you: Do you believe that the gospel enables us to turn to Christ the light of the world? We do.

Let us confirm the faith into which we are baptized.
We are not alone while we live in God’s world. We believe in God who has created and is creating who has come in Jesus the word made flesh, to reconcile and to make new, who works in us and others by the spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the church, to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus crucified & risen, our judge & our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God!

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

THE BAPTISM

Riley from this day forward, the sign of the cross is upon you.

Riley is now received into God’s Holy Church according to Christ’s command.

Song 779 May the feet of God walk with you Piano

May the feet of God walk with you,

And His hands hold you tight.

May the eye of God rest on you,

And His ear here your cry.

May the smile of God be for you,

And His breath give you life.

May the Child of God grow in you,

And His love bring you home.

RESPONSES (The Parents)
Chris & Sarah, I ask you now to respond to God’s graciousness to Riley by making the solemn promises: Will you encourage Riley’s growth within the Christian community, guiding her through participation in the worship, nurture and fellowship of the church to a mature Christian faith? With God’s help, we will

Will you, by word and example, teach Riley the way of Christ until the Spirit draws her to make her own response in faith and love? With God’s help, we will

RESPONSES (The Godparent)
Catherine has come today to be a Godparent for Riley.

Will you as far as you are able, help and encourage Chris & Sarah to fulfil their Baptismal Responses? With God’s help, I will

THE CONGREGATION RESPONDS
Friends in Christ, do you on behalf of Christ’s Church, commit yourselves, with God’s help to welcome Riley & her family and to share with them the knowledge & love of Christ?
We do. With God’s help, we will live out our baptism as a loving community in Christ: nurturing one another in faith, upholding one another in prayer, and encouraging one another in service.

BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE & CANDLE are presented

GOSPEL READING Part 2 Jennie and Genelle

LUKE 24: 5b – 12 but the men said to the women, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. In this we hear God’s word of Life. Thanks be to God!

SERMON: Rev Paul Bartlett “Growing in faith; being alive”

HYMN TIS 242 vs 1, 4 & 5 Leanne

I danced in the morning, when the world was begun
And I danced in the moon, and the stars and the sun
And I came down from heaven, and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Chorus

Dance then wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance said he
And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I’ll lead you all in the Dance said he.

I danced on a Friday, when the sky turned black
It’s hard to dance, with the devil on your back
They buried my body, and they thought I’d gone
But I am the dance, and I still go on.

They cut me down, and I leapt up high
I am the life, that’ll never never die
I’ll live in you, if you’ll live in Me
I am the Lord, of the Dance said he.

OFFERING

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Loraine

HYMN ‘O God, In Raising Jesus’ TUNE AURELIA TIS 457 Leanne

O God, in raising Jesus that Resurrection Day
You showed us you are with us and will not go away.
You give us bright tomorrows and free us from our sin;
You’re with us in our sorrows and show us love will win.

You give us hope of heaven and life to live in you.
The promise you have given is wonderful and true!
Yet resurrection glory is more than hope you give.
For this amazing story can change the way we live.

Through Jesus’ resurrection, we find our courage grow
To risk and serve your kingdom, to go where some won’t go.
Through Jesus’ resurrection, we find we’re called to be
A new and hopeful people who help set others free.

So send us to the places where troubles still abound
Where people face injustice, where grief and pain are found.
We pray we’ll go with courage for we have peace to share;
Now help us live your message of new life everywhere.

BLESSING & BENEDICTION TIS 720 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQQS6CRh3E

Halle, halle, hallelujah

Easter Sunday: Growing in faith; being alive

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