Lighting the Easter Candle 2020

Lighting the Easter Candle 2020

Entry into Jerusalem -
A reading from Mark chapter 11:

They brought a colt to Jesus
and threw their coats over it,
he sat on it. Many people
spread their cloaks on the
road, while others spread
branches they had cut in the
fields. Those who went
ahead and those who fol-
lowed shouted,

“Hosanna! Blessed is he
who comes in the name of
the Lord! Hosanna in the
Highest!”

Chorus:
Oh, dear Jesus, friend and brother,
come to take our sins away,
as you tread your path of sorrow,
we will follow on your way.

The Upper Room -
A reading from John 13:
Jesus wrapped a towel
around his waist. He
poured water into a
basin and began to
wash his disciples’
feet, drying them with
the towel that was
wrapped round him.
He came to Simon
Peter, who said to
him,
“Lord, you are never
going to wash my
feet.”
Jesus said, “Unless I
wash you, you have
no part of me. I have
set an example, that
you should do as I
have done.”

A reading from Mark chapter 14:

When it was evening, Jesus came with the
twelve disciples. While they were at table eating,
Jesus said, "I tell you that one of you will betray
me - one who is eating with me."

A reading from Mark chapter 14:

While they were eat-
ing, Jesus took a piece
of bread, gave a prayer
of thanks, broke it, and
gave it to his disciples.
"Take it," he said, "this
is my body."

Then he took a cup,
gave thanks to God,
and handed it to them;
and they all drank
from it. Jesus said,
"This is my blood
which is poured out
for many."

Then they sang a
hymn and went to the
Mount of Olives.

Chorus:
Oh, dear Jesus, friend and brother,
come to take our sins away,
as you tread your path of sorrow,
we will follow on your way.

Gethsemane -
A reading from Mark chapter 14:

They came to a garden called Gethsemane.
Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed with
sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and
keep watch.”
Jesus prayed, “My father, everything is
possible for you. Take this cup from me.
Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Yet not what I will, but what you will.

Gethsemane -
A reading from Mark chapter 14:

Judas, one of the twelve disciples,
arrived. With him was a large crowd
armed with swords and clubs. They came
up, arrested Jesus and held him tight.
Then all the disciples left him and ran
away.

Chorus:
Oh, dear Jesus, friend and brother,
come to take our sins away,
as you tread your path of sorrow,
we will follow on your way.

Calvary.
A reading from Matthew 27:

Then they crucified him.
Above his head they put
the written notice of the
accusation against him:
"This is Jesus,
the King of the Jews."
Then they crucified two
bandits with Jesus, one on
his left side and one on
his right.
At noon the whole
country was covered in
darkness, which lasted
three hours.
Jesus gave a loud cry and
breathed his last.

Chorus:
Oh, dear Jesus, friend and brother,
come to take our sins away,
 as you tread your path of sorrow,
we will follow on your way.

The Garden tomb -
A reading from Matthew 27

Joseph took the body,
wrapped it in a clean
linen cloth,
and placed it in his
own new tomb.
He rolled a big stone
in front of the
entrance and went
away.

The Garden Tomb -
A reading from John 20:

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.
…

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.’

Chorus:
Oh, dear Jesus, friend and brother,
come to take our sins away,
 as you tread your path of sorrow,
we will follow on your way.

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness
of your one true light;
set us aflame with the fire of your love,
and bring us to the radiance
of your heavenly glory.
Amen

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him,
and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever.
Amen

The Easter candle is lit:

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
banish all darkness from our hearts and
minds.
The candle bearer raises the Easter Candle three
times and says:

The light of Christ Thanks be to God.

The light of Christ Thanks be to God.

The light of Christ Thanks be to God.

Rejoice, heavenly powers!
Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice O earth in shining splendour,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church, Exult in glory!
The risen Saviour shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all
God’s people!

New every morning is the love
Our wak’ning and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and pow’r and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiv’n,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heav’n.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this and ev’ry day,
To live more nearly as we pray.

The Lord is risen!
He is risen indeed! Hallelujah

As we leave this candle alight,
may we go and prepare
ourselves to meet our Lord on
Easter Day.