He is risen - an Easter Celebratioin

Jesus Christ is risen

He is risen indeed!

Jesus Christ is risen

He is risen indeed!

Jesus Christ is risen

He is risen indeed!

155 Jesus Christ is risen today!

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

Much has happened in the church gardens this last couple of weeks – a place of beauty with so many signs of spring, a place of prayer with so many signs of the Easter story.

And all around us the hand of the gardener.

Has that tree come into blossom yet?

Almost … and more still to come.

The story of that first Easter Sunday is a wonderfully moving story – it’s the story of some women and a gardener.  But was it really a gardener?

The Women and the Gardener – from John 20

A Hy-Spirit Song for Easter

John 20:19-23

A wonderful moment of peace and of greeting - we are going to share our Easter Greetings – with a handshake – and a greeting for Easter – or maybe a sign of peace

Easter Greetings

161 The day of resurrection!

There’s a treasure hidden in these words – one of the earliest accounts of the Easter story … not in the Gospels but towards the end of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, in one of the great chapters of the New Testament, the chapter on resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Two ways to look for the treasure of Easter …  Andrea is going to lead the younger members of the congregation – as they have a treasure to seek and to find!

While I want to go in search of the risen Jesus in the words of this passage with the rest of us …

In search of the Risen Jesus

Andrea leads the Easter Egg hunt

It’s one of my favourite passages … and it’s one that contains within it one of the finest treasurers imaginable.

It’s good news.  There’s no other description for it. It’s good news!

And someone passed it on …. and passed it on … and passed it on … and passed it on … and passed it on to us today.

Pause a moment and reflect on the people who first passed on the momentous message of Easter to you – I wonder who passed the message on to them …

Think of those who have passed the message of Easter on since then – people who have re-told the Easter story, people who have brought it to life, maybe when facing the reality of death, and the hope of resurrection.  The words of the story come alive once again.

So what shall we do with it?

Simply, receive it.

David Suchet in one of this Easter’s Easter programmes, In the footsteps of St Peter has about him a little of the detective Poirot as he pieces together something of the story of Peter.   When he comes to the last supper and the moment Jesus washes the feet of st Peter, David Suchet finds himself in a shoe-shiner’s chair recounting the story of an occasion when filming in the states and there’s a man shining shoes and a woman beside him. The woman accosts David Suchet and offers him a shoe shine – No Thank you, he says, only for her to point to his shoes and say your shoes are dirty.  They need a shoe shine.

Do you know the story of St Peter having his feet washed by Jesus; no, I don’t, said David Suchet.  She proceeded to tell him of the way Jesus insisted on washing Peter’s feet.  At first Peter resisted – but he needed to learn the lesson that he had to be willing to receive.  That’s the lesson you need to learn, she said.  You need to be ready to receive what my husband is willing to give – and what’s more, she said, my husband needs your money.

The way David Suchet told it was pretty good.  You need to receive.  Not always easy.

That’s the key to this Easter message.

Receive it as a gift.  Receive it as a treasure.  Receive it as something to transform the life you live today.  Receive it as something to transform the life that lies ahead of you.

Receive it not as one gift among many: receive it as the one gift that gives shape to the whole of your life.

Stand up and be counted … for once you receive this gift, this is where you stand, this is who you are.

It amounts to nothing less than the blessing of God in all the wonder of his love: it amounts to nothing less than salvation.

This is what we have received.

This is what we hand on.

That’s the whole point of what Paul is writing here … once  he had received it, there was nothing else for him, but to hand it on.

And so too with us – what we have received, the heart of the Easter message, is something for us to hand on.

That Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures … and he appeared to so many … and then he appeared to me.

It’s the treasure of forgiveness – we don’t get it right, we make a mess of things, we get it wrong, we get a fresh change to make things right again.

The resurrection appearance of Christ is one that we too can experience – the risen Christ is a sense of the presence, a reality that we find in fellowship together, in the quiet of our lives, a friend, an unseen presence, a reality there with us.

Jesus Christ is risen.  He lives in the love we share with each other and in the love we share with the world.

He lives with us and in us and for us.

What a difference this resurrection makes – Paul takes a whole chapter to develop his thinking about dying, death and the resurrection that follows – and the way he finishes the chapter is a challenge to us all in the living of our lives.

thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.

A Hy-Spirit Easter song

Prayers of Concern – Karen Waldock

167 Thine be the glory

Words of Blessing

Retiring Collection

To the end of the journey and beyond - a sunrise service for Easter

To the end of the journey … and beyond!

A sunrise service on top of Cleeve Hill

A pathway to follow.  A long walk ahead.  And nothing to do but talk about everything that’s happened in the last few days.  What would it be like if Jesus entered into the conversation?

The first part of our walk

Luke                That same day two of them were walking to the village of Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

Jesus               “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

Luke                They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend.

Cleopas           “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

Jesus               “What has happened?”

Cleopas           “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him.

Friend              And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us.

Cleopas           Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

Back to that moment at the tomb …

Luke                At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared.

Mary Mag        We found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so we walked in. But once inside, we couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.

Joanna             We were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there.

James’ mother            We were awestruck and bowed down in worship.

Man 1              “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.

Man 2              Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?”

Mary Mag        Then we remembered Jesus’ words.

Lord, I lift Your name on high,

Lord, I love to sing Your praises,

I'm so glad You're in my life,

I'm so glad You came to save us.

You came from heaven to earth

To show the way,

From the earth to the cross,

My debt to pay,

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky,

Lord, I lift Your name on high.

Rick Founds CCl 3540

Joanna             So we left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest.

James’ Mary   We kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn’t believe a word of it

Mary Mag        They thought we were making it all up.  But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb.

Peter   I stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that’s all.

Mary Mag        He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

We return to continue our walk

Luke                Jesus had been listening to their story intently.  Then he spoke … and this is what he said

Jesus               “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”

Luke                Then Jesus started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

To the top of the hill in sight of the town

Luke                They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him:

Cleopas           “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.”

Luke                So Jesus went in with them. And this is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

Back and forth they talked.

Friend              “Didn’t we feel on fire as he chatted with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

Leader             This is the Good News!                               The grave is empty, Christ is risen!

Hallelujah, Christ is risen indeed!

Leader             This is the Good News                                       – the light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never put it out!  Christ is risen!

Hallelujah, Christ is risen indeed!

Leader:            This is the Good News                                             – once we were no people, now we are God’s people.  Christ is risen!

Hallelujah, Christ is risen indeed!

Led like a lamb to the slaughter

In silence and shame,

There on Your back You carried a world

Of violence and pain.

Bleeding, dying, bleeding, dying.

You're alive, You're alive,

            You have risen, Alleluia!

            And the power and the glory is given,

                        Alleluia, Jesus, to You.

At break of dawn, poor Mary,

Still weeping she came,

When through her grief she heard Your voice

Now speaking her name.

Mary, Master, Mary, Master!

            Refrain

At the right hand of the Father

Now seated on high

You have begun Your eternal reign

Of justice and joy.

Glory, glory, glory, glory. 

            Refrain

Graham Kendrick (born 1950) ccl 3540

Luke                They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away:

Peter               “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—I have seen him!”

Luke                Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them

Jesus               “Peace be with you.”

Jesus               Today and tomorrow

All                    Today and tomorrow

Jesus               Lo, I am with you always

All                    When we try to do your will

Jesus               I am with you always

All                    When we go                                        where we do not know

Jesus               I am with you always

All                    When we meet one                                    we do not recognize

Jesus               I am with you always

All                    Where faith ends                                                and doubt begins

Jesus               I am with you always

All                    Today and Tomorrow

                        Today and Tomorrow

                        You are with us always

                        To the end of the journey

                        To the end of the world

                        And beyond to eternity.

                        Amen.

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son:

Endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;

lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.

Let his church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;

for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

No more we doubt thee, glorious prince of life!

Life is nought without thee; aid us in our strife;

make us more than conquerors,

       through thy deathless love:

Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

      

Edmund L Budry (1854-1932), tr Richard B Hoyle (1875-1939) CCL3540

A pathway to follow.  Not quite such a long walk ahead.  Let’s realise the risen Jesus is with us on the journey wherever that journey takes us.  When the going’s easy, and when the going’s tough, let’s bring him into the conversation!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

The love of God and

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit

Be with us all evermore, Amen.

From Luke 24 in the Message and Stages on the Way

Wild Goose Worship Group

At the foot of the Cross - a devotion for Good Friday

At the foot of the cross

A devotion for Good Friday

Using words from A Palm Sunday Service drawn up by Diana Adams

Welcome

Golgotha, the place of the skull.

The cross of Christ, on which hung the Saviour of the world.

By your hold cross you have redeemed the world.

On the cross Jesus offered himself to the Father for the whole world.

At the foot of the cross, we join our prayers with his.

We glory in your cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection.

For, by virtue of the cross, joy has come to the whole world.

God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us

That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

We glory in your cross, O Lord, and praise and glorify your holy resurrection;

For, by virtue of the cross, joy has come to the whole world.

Hymn:  There is a green hill far away

Silence

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.

Take from our lives, from our souls, from our consciences all that has offended you,

All that has hurt others, and our blindness to the needs of others.

On this day, at this time, we accept deeply in our hearts the only words that can set us free:

The words, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

Silence

And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

Lord, remember us when you come into your kingdom.

Remember us, not for the things which we hope will appear in our obituaries;

Nor for the virtues we occasionally display.

Remember us, as one of the guilty community who hung at your side,

And if life will not let us be in paradise with you today, keep a place for us, we pray.

Silence

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

We pray for families, where they are loving and supportive, that their joy might be kept safe.

We pray for families where they are tense, troubled, fragmented,

That they may find a way through pain,

We find ourselves among this fellowship,

Surrounded by people whose journey we have not travelled,

Whose potentials we cannot imagine,

And we know we belong to each other.

Silence

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

Lord, by your cry of desperate honesty, rid us of superficial faith, which is afraid of the dark;

Give us when we need it, the courage to doubt, to rage, to question,

until we know we are heard.

We do not ask for easy answers to hard times – we ask for a sense of your solidarity;

That will be enough to let us know that we do not walk or cry alone;

That will enable us to go through the dark and find light again.

Silence

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 

Lord, you have made us.

Wee have had these bodies and minds long enough to learn to live with our limitations.

Yet, despite this, something in us yearns, thirsts for something better,

something greater which we know is there.

We sense the disappointment in dashed hopes that deserve to be fulfilled;

In missed opportunitiets which should have led to joy, not frustration;

In people whose potential has been buried or denied, and deserves to flourish.

So much of life demands a  resolution.

So thank you for this incompleteness,

Thank you for this yearning,

Thank you for this thirst.

Thank you for giving us enough of you to want more,

And so sense the fullness of eternity within the limits of time.

Silence

When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’

Lord, you have convinced us of our sin, and you have forgiven it.

You have convinced us of your way, and have engaged us on it.

You have sown us a foretaste of heaven and have made us members of its commonwealth.

Having overcome the sin of the world, death will be small obstacle.

Just as you foretold that you would be handed over to be crucified, it came true;

Also, you foretold, on the third day you will rise again.

And we will be your witnesses.

Silence

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’

Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Go … God who before birth called you into being, now calls you back … and we let you go.

Go to heaven, where you will welcome those who die in your faith,

Whose death, with your death, we remember.

Cheered by the prospect of the day when there will be no more death or parting,

And all shall be well, and all shall be one,

May they who have died before us be among the first to welcome us to heaven,

Where, with you enthroned in glory, we shall share the everlasting feast of your family.

Till then, keep us in faith, fill us with hope, deepen us through love, to the glory of your holy name.

Amen.

Hymn:  When I survey the wondrous cross

Maundy Thursday Communion

Maundy Thursday Communion Service

Our service begins as we break bread and share the cup just as Jesus did at the Last Supper, long ago.

We will then share in a reflective walk as we go into the dark of the evening into the garden and in our mind’s eye re-visit the garden, the courtyard and come to the foot of the cross.

We will then return to the church and share in a meditation as we look to the cross.

Let’s be quiet for a few moments …

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

Hymn 300 Jesus, we thus obey

When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’

While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread,

A Prayer of blessing

 and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’

Share the bread

Then he took a cup,

A prayer of thanksgiving

 and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

Share the cup

The Lord’s Prayer

When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Hymn 124 When my love to God grows weak,

As we journey with Jesus and his friends, we will travel from the shadows of the garden, hearing the shouts of soldiers and the clash of swords to the busyness of a crowded courtyard.  We will stand at the foot of the cross with the crowd and then return to reflect on the difference the cross made to one and makes for all.

Let’s set off now on the journey and make our way to the first signpost.

Station 1 – Gethsemane

The Prayer

Stand together at the signpost pointing the way to Gethsemane

Voice 1:  The night was dark and silent.  Jesus knew that his enemies would soon be upon him.  He and his friends went to a place they knew well – a garden where olive trees grew.  Let’s make our way to Gethsemane now.

(Stand on the grass near the tree at the front of the church)

The story

Jesus asked his friends to keep watching and praying as he went forward alone into the garden.

Voice 2: He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  (Luke 22 v 41 – 43)

Voice 1:  Jesus wanted more than anything to do what his Father God wanted.  What lay ahead would be his greatest challenge.  He would soon be surrounded by a violent mob who wanted to arrest him and kill him, though Jesus had done nothing wrong.  So the first thing he did was pray, and God gave Jesus the inner strength he needed by sending an angel.

Reflection  / voice 2:  Sometimes, when things seem too difficult to face, everything in us wants to run away from them.  Jesus showed real courage by turning first to God in prayer.

Response / voice 1:  Take the white ribbon and tie it to one of the branches of this tree so that the other end of it touches the ground.  Perhaps there is a challenge you are facing that seems too difficult to overcome.  As you look at the ribbon touching the earth let it remind you of the angel God sent from heaven to strengthen Jesus.  Pray that God will give you the courage you need.

Quietly go to the next signpost.                  

Station 2 – The courtyard

The denial

Stand together at the signpost pointing the way to the courtyard.

Voice 1:  A long night had begun.  Jesus was arrested and taken away, but what happened next was very confusing.  Through the night he was taken from place to place, questioned, mocked, rejected and finally sentenced to die.  It was all very frightening.  Most of Jesus’ friends ran away, but his best friend Peter tried to stay very close.  He followed the crowd to the courtyard of the high priest, Caiaphas.  He tried not to think about the words Jesus had said just a few hours before at the special meal; ‘Peter, before the cock crows you will deny me three times’

Let’s walk together to the courtyard

The story – The courtyard was full of people.  There were soldiers and servants, curious strangers, dogs, children and Peter the disciple.  In the firelight one of the serving women stared at Peter.  ‘Hey you’ she shouted at him.  Peter jumped.  ‘You know Jesus don’t you?’  ‘No’ said Peter firmly.  The woman turned towards a man standing nearby.  She pointed at Peter.  ‘He knows Jesus, I’m sure he does’  ‘No I don’t’ said Peter even more loudly.  The man looked at him curiously ‘I reckon you do know him’ he said.  ‘No. No. No!’ shouted Peter. ‘I have never seen him in my life’ At that moment the cock crowed.  Peter remembered Jesus’ words and pushed his way out of the courtyard.  It was the most terrible moment of his whole life.

Reflection / voice 2:  I wonder why Peter didn’t say ‘yes’?  I wonder what kind of a feeling he had?  

Response:  We all make wrong choices, say hurtful words. Do unkind things.  You might remember a time when you let someone down or were let down yourself.  As you look at the fire in the courtyard imagine dropping your regret into the flames, and remember that God forgives everything.

Voice 3:  If we tell God the things we have done wrong, God can always be trusted to forgive us and take away our sins (1 John 1:9) 

Voice 4:  God says turn back to me!  I have rescued you and swept away your sins as though they were the morning mist (Isaiah 44) 

Voice 5: God willingly forgives and God’s love is always there (Psalm 86:5)

Quietly follow the guide to the next signpost.

Station 3 – Golgotha

The promise

Stand together at the sign pointing to Golgotha

Voice 1:  the Jewish leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate, the Roman Governor, to be sentenced.  But Pilate couldn’t find anything that he was guilty of.  The crowd turned against Jesus and shouted louder and louder, ‘Crucify him!  Crucify him!  Finally Pilate gave in and soldiers led Jesus off.  They put a purple robe around his shoulders and a crown of thorns upon his head.  Jesus was made to carry a heavy cross on his shoulders to a hill outside the city wall, called the place of the skull. 

Let us walk together to Golgotha – gather in front of the three crosses.

The story:  Jesus was crucified on a cross.  Two criminals had also been sentenced to death and were crucified that day with Jesus.  One of the criminals began shouting insults at Jesus.  ‘Aren’t you the Christ?  Then save yourself, and us.’  But the other criminal stopped him and said, ‘you should fear God!  We are getting what we deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.’  Turning to Jesus he said ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  Jesus looked at him with love and said ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’

Reflection / voice 2:  The cross is a sacred symbol for Christians because it helps them remember that Jesus died so that those who believe in him, like the thief who was sorry, will be forgiven and have a new start.

Response:  Use natural materials that you find around you to make a cross on the ground.  As you do this think about the things that have happened in your life or in the world that have gone wrong and need forgiveness.  When others see your cross it will help remind them that our God is a loving God who forgives everyone who is truly sorry.

We return to church to reflect on the difference Jesus made to that thief on the cross, the difference Jesus makes to us all.

We return to church for a reading of Ateemos

Hymn 131 When I survey the wondrous cross

Words of Blessing