Saint Leonard’s EASTER Service Welcome to our OpenCast church service - on-line. There are prayers, readings, hymns and music; just as you would have in church. As you read through this service you may care to say aloud the bold text. To hear the music and the readings, click on each title (red, underlined text) (and remember to adjust the volume on your speakers).

Welcome

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. At the core of Easter is the message of Salvation, that is pointed to throughout the Bible. From the fall of man, God put into motion a redemption story like none-other, and the core of that message is that God sent his son to Earth, in the form of a man. To walk amongst us, and live a sinless life (because he is God and cannot sin). To be the living sacrifice that would atone for the sins of the world. For he died and then rose again, overcoming death and sin, and gave me the gift of salvation and everlasting life.

Hymn

”EASTER HYMN (REGINA COELI) from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA - Julia Varady”

Intercessions

“My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?” NO, God. You did not forsake your Son - neither will you forsake me. I feel your cry, Lord Jesus. Yet even in your torment you recalled the goodness of the Father, the full Psalm, that he’s never left us on our own. Thank you for making the way for me to have full relationship with you and sending your Spirit to live within me. Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ to die for me . Thank you for defeating the grave and giving me hope beyond this life. You paid the ultimate price and sits at the right hand of God interceding on my behalf. As I celebrate his resurrection help me to focus on the precious gift you have given and renew my faith in you. Lord Jesus, I pray that I may get to know you deeper this Easter season. Let my suffering be united with your suffering. Help me to become more like you, Jesus and to focus on the hope of the resurrection, especially when all else seems hopeless. AMEN

Reflection

Easter is a season of great gladness for those who know Christ.

But

for

those

who

are

without

“the

light

of

the

knowledge

of

God’s

glory”

(2

Corinthians 4:6), there is nothing to rejoice over.

Jesus

left

us

with

the

great

hope

and

certainty

that

He

is

going

to

return

to

bring

a

new

Heaven

and

a

new

earth

where,

we

are

told,

there

will

be

no

more

sorrow,

trouble,

or

death

for

those

who

have

believed

and

followed

Him.

There

will

be

trouble,

sorrow,

and

suffering

for

those

who

have

neglected

or

rejected Him.

As

Christians,

our

great

task

is

to

obey

the

command

to

tell

the

whole

world

about Christ crucified, buried, yet risen again.

My

prayer

for

you

during

this

season

of

the

year,

when

we

meditate

on

our

Saviour’s

great

sacrifice

for

us

on

the

cross,

is

that

you

will

be

filled

with

great peace and hope, because

“He is risen!”

That

is the Good News.

As

you

follow

Christ,

are

you

obeying

His

command

to

tell

others

that

He

is

risen indeed?

Billy Graham

American evangelist

Hymn

“I Know That My Redeemer Lives” Nicole Mullen

Prayer

Christ has no body now but ours. No hands, no feet on earth but ours. Ours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Ours are the feet with which he walks about to do good. Ours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Ours are the hands, ours are the feet, ours are the eyes, We are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but ours.

Blessing

On these holy days, and in this season of renewal, we pray in thanksgiving for the many blessings You give us. Amen.