This is a form of prayer you might find helpful to use on Easter Morning. Know that others, in their own homes, will be joining with you.  If a household are praying together one person may act as leader and the others join in the sections in bold type. If alone, read all the black words aloud. The bits in red type are to help guide you.

Opening Words

Before you begin you may wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

Take a moment to reflect on your life and our need of God's compassion and mercy.

We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.

 May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect

You may like to pause for a moment and consider if there is one thing in particular that want to pray for or give thanks for today and offer it to God.

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.

Readings

Psalm 118.1–2,14–24

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim,
‘His mercy endures for ever.’

The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
Joyful shouts of salvation sound
from the tents of the righteous:

‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up;
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’

I shall not die, but live
and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me sorely,
but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I will give thanks to you,
for you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

John 13.1–17,31b–35

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Reflection

Prayer

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, the needs of the world and for an end to the current Pandemic.

You may like to pray:

On Easter Day 

God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For all who feel alone

God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the earth

Help us to find joy in the glorious songs of birds and the immense variety of insects. We praise you for their ability to fly above the earth. We give thanks for the part they play in the spreading of seeds and the fertilization of flowers.

From our Prayer Cycle this week

pray for all residents of Kirkstone Gardens and Hambledon Gardens.

For the sick

Jaqueline Pearson, David Bowers, Eric Wright, Alan Trotter, Wilma Doig, Doreen Richardson, Becky Jackson, Maureen Harper and Dorothy Graham.

For those whose year's mind is this week

Robert Chell, Frances Cheetham, Elaine Cryer, Isabella Badger, Margaret Lackenby, Robert Morrison Monroe, William Young, Irene McQuade, William Cormack, Bryce Anderson Robson

The Lord's Prayer

You can finish your prayers with the Lord’s Prayer.

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. 
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Have a happy and blessed Easter.