Under the continuing social distancing conditions, we cannot meet together to rejoice and greet the Risen Christ on Sunday, 12 April 2020 – Easter Sunday.

Easter reminds us how God has been good to us. He gave His own precious son to save us from our sins.

For us in Lossiemouth, there is a double (or triple?) reason we cannot have our usual East Beach sunrise service for all Lossiemouth churches. The gathering’s not permitted due to the lockdown situation but we could not have got there (easily) anyway because of the bridge closure for structural safety reasons – but then it would have been closed anyway for social-distancing reasons due to its narrowness? (The ‘silver lining’ is that that would probably have been a 6:00am start time for a 6:08am sunrise). We’ve included some sunrise service pictures to add a congregational experience to this webpage.

The resources here for your virtual Easter Sunday Service are:

• Rev. Geoff McKee’s audio sermon, based on John 20: 1-18
• The scripture readings and prayers

For the sick and those in distress, that they may find healing for their pain and be restored to fullness of life. Draw near to those suffering under the Coronavirus. Strengthen our NHS workers as they labour night and day. Protect those who choose to be vulnerable that we may be safe.
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

Let your hearts be glad, shout with joy and celebrate this great day. Easter is here and so is new life and hope. Have a blessed Easter.

NOTE: The audio is in mp3 format and is also downloadable, if you wish to listen “on the go”. On a PC, if you right-click on the 3 vertical dots at the right side of the audio player, the drop-down menu should offer the option to “Save as…”

Readings for Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34-43 (New International Version)
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Psalm 118:1-2
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:14-24
14 The Lord is my strength and my defence;
he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.

Colossians 3:1-4
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

John 20:1-18
The Empty Tomb
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Call to Worship

Beloved church,
behold the victory of our God:
Jesus, our Lord, has conquered the grave.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Sin and death shall reign no more.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Let our worship resound with joy.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God.

Opening Prayers

Jesus, our victorious Lord, we exult in your resurrection. As we sing “alleluia” with our voices, let our lives embody “alleluia” as a testimony to your love and a witness to your eternal life.

Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been raised from the waters of baptism to share in your glorious resurrection. Yet we have not lived as Easter people. We are unsure of your promise, confused about your will, and afraid in the face of danger. Like Mary, we weep at the tomb, but do not recognise your presence.

Call us by name, risen Lord, that we may know you with confidence. Whenever we are tempted to fear death, give us courage to confess your Easter victory. Whenever we are distracted by petty conflicts, keep our minds on your reconciling love. Whenever we are overwhelmed by the power of evil, reveal again to us your triumph over the destructive powers of oppression. Forgive us our sin and let our lives be a testimony to your salvation through the love of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Almighty God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ you broke the power of death and opened the way to eternal life. As the empty tomb stands witness to his triumph over death, make your church to be a bold testimony to his enduring victory in life, that all we do may proclaim to the world, “He is risen, indeed!” Through Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Let us unite our hearts in prayer, saying,
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the Church throughout the world, that as we celebrate the feast of Jesus’ resurrection, we may renew our faith and strengthen our witness in Jesus’ name.
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.
For pastors, teachers, and ministers, that they be wise in leadership, humble in service, and fearless in the face of evil;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the governments of the world and its leaders, that they may practise compassion and reject the politics that use death and suffering as means of control;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For our planet Earth, that people may be good stewards of its resources and share in its abundance;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the poor and the stranger, that they may receive a place of refuge, hope, and hospitality;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For the sick and those in distress, that they may find healing for their pain and be restored to fullness of life. Draw near to those suffering under the Coronavirus. Strengthen our NHS workers as they labour night and day. Protect those who choose to be vulnerable that we may be safe.
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For our neighbours, that together we may dwell in harmony;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

For our enemies, that we may love them and be agents of reconciliation in the name of Jesus;
God of Resurrection, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, receive these prayers we offer, and by the power of your Holy Spirit use us for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we pray the words he taught us…..

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever.

Amen.