Easter
EASTER MORNING 2023 Hymns New English Hymnal 110, 101, 107, 117
FIRST READING Acts 10.34-43 Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 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. 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; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 118
Response: This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good: for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say: “His love has no end.” R.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die: I shall live: and recount his deeds. R.
The stone which the builders rejected: has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord: a marvel in our eyes. R.
SECOND READING Colossians 3.1-4 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
GOSPEL John 20.1-18 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.
Please note: in Eastertide, Mass ends with the Regina Coeli – words overleaf.
ST MICHAEL'S NEWS
Easter greetings and a very warm welcome to any new readers, and to visitors and newcomers to St Michael's. A special welcome to Fr Paul, our celebrant this morning, whose kind and generous ministry to us during Holy Week we all deeply appreciate. If you are new to St Michael's, do join us for tea or coffee in the Vestry Hall after the service, so that we can welcome you properly.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
From Easter until Pentecost, instead of concluding Mass with the Angelus, we use the Regina Coeli:
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven! Alleluia.
He whom thou wast meet to bear, Alleluia,
As He promis’d, hath arisen; Alleluia.
Pour for us to Him thy prayer; Alleluia.
V Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
R For the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
From our Tower
Kent County Association Maidstone, Kent St Michael and All Angels
Sunday, 26 March 2023 in 40m (6–1–24 in C)
1272 Cambridge Surprise Minor
- Philip Jarvis
- Jacqueline Barlow
- Emma Jarvis
- Mark Elvers
- Pam Thomas
- Neil Jones (C)
Rung on the Day of Harriet Monsell, founder of the Community of St John the Baptist.
1st quarter on new hip: 2.
(Please, ringers, accept the editor's apologies for having to defer the inclusion of several recent peals; you have been so active that it's hard to keep up!)
Our APCM takes place after Mass on April 30th. Cause for thanksgiving: a member of our congregation is willing to succeed James as Safeguarding Officer. Now please keep praying about our need for a new Churchwarden – preferably two, as the workload is really too heavy for one person, but is manageable, and even interesting, for two people plus perhaps one or two deputies. Could God be calling you, or someone you know, to serve our parish in this important way? St Michael's has always been good at teamwork; let's have an active, committed team to prepare for the coming of a new priest. Please pray that the right priest will respond to our advertisement, and pray also for our parish and all its office-bearers, present and future.
Today (Easter Day) we are receiving the Oils (oil for the sick, oil of catechumens, oil of chrism) consecrated by Bishop Norman at the Chrism Mass in Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday in Holy Week. Bishop Norman preached an illuminating sermon, focusing on the significance of anointing – not least in the forthcoming Coronation service. At the end of the Mass, the Archbishop of Canterbury delivered a resounding tribute to him, particularly commending his pastoral dedication to his widespread flock.
Warmest thanks to those who gave their time - and, in some cases, their vegetation – to decorate our church for Easter. Do linger and say a prayer at the Easter Garden, lovingly created once again by Lynn and Alan.
Thanks, too, to all who have contributed in other ways to the beauty of our worship and the building up of our family life: our sound engineer, our musicians, our servers, our readers, our gardeners, those who have cleaned and polished, those who meet and greet, those who have produced our coffee and cakes….. So often, as Bishop Norman once observed, the importance of these jobs is recognised only when they are not done. Thank you, everyone. Remember: additional helpers are always welcome!
Could you pass on this sheet to someone else who might like to see it?