Weekly Readings and Prayers
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Sunday 5th April 2026 Easter Day
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Collect
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.
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First Reading Jeremiah 31. 1–6
At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’
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Psalm 118.1-2,14-24
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; : his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, : ‘His mercy endures for ever.’
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, : and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation : sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘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.’
17 I shall not die, but live : and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, : but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, : that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; : the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me : and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected : has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, : and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; : we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning is now : and shall be for ever. Amen.
Easter Anthems
1 Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us : so let us celebrate the feast,
2 not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness : but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3 Christ once raised from the dead dies no more : death has no more dominion over him.
4 In dying he died to sin once for all : in living he lives to God.
5 See yourselves therefore as dead to sin : and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
6 Christ has been raised from the dead : the first fruits of those who sleep.
7 For as by man came death : by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;
8 for as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Second Reading Acts 10. 34-43
Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. ‘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.’
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Gospel Matthew 28. 1–10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
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Post Communion Prayer
God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to the death of a cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live in him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Prayers for the week
This week we pray for those who live in The Barons, The Green, The Retreat
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“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. " Matthew 28:6
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Sunday 5th April
Hallelujah! Jesus is risen. He is alive! I rejoice with all creation. He lives forever, and through his sacrifice I too may have eternal life.
Monday 6th April
May my life show the truth of my risen Lord. Help me point others to his cross, his rising, and his promised return.
Tuesday 7th April
Give me deep joy, Lord — joy in the risen Jesus. Let his joy in me shine like a light for everyone to see.
Wednesday 8th April
When sadness and loss feel too heavy, remind me that your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never defeat it.
Thursday 9th April
The disciples began meeting you, our risen Lord, in many various places: an upper room, a beach, on the road, in a garden. We proclaim, "He is risen; Jesus lives". Help me see more clearly, Jesus, how you live in my life and the life of my world today.
Friday 10th April
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. (Richard of Chichester)
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Saturday 11th April
I don't know too much about Love
but I know a man who does,
up there on the cross
loving us to death.
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Love is the key
to the door of the place
he's prepared for you
in the kingdom of God.
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From the book of poems 'Welcome to the real world" by the Revd Godfrey Rust
Heavenly Father, please accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
​​At all our services we pray for those who are sick, in need and for the bereaved by name. Please do let us know if you would like specific prayer for anyone, and they will be included on our prayer list.