5th April 2026

Easter Sunday

John 20: 1-18

On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him.”

3 Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. 5 He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.

6 When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. 7 He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. 8 The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. 9 At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. 10 So the two of them went back to the other disciples.

11 Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down 12 and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. 13 The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?”

She answered, “They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him.”

14 As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. 15 Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”

16 Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.”

17 Jesus told her, “Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.

I rejoice, for you Lord are King.

You rule over earth and heaven.

I lift up my heart and voice in adoration.

Praise be to you that Jesus, the Saviour, reigns.

Thanks and praise be to Jesus Christ

for he has cleansed us from our sin

and sits at the right hand of the Father in glory.

I rejoice, for you Lord are King.

I lift up my heart and voice in adoration.

I rejoice in glorious hope,

for I look forward to the day when

Christ the Lord will come to judge the earth.

Praise and thanksgiving be to you

that all who call upon Jesus as Lord and Saviour

live with him in his eternal home.

I rejoice, for you Lord are King.

I lift up my heart and voice in adoration.

Prayer based on Rejoice the Lord is King by Charles Wesley

A prayer for Easter Day

God of Promise and God of Hope,

who through your great mercy

have granted us new birth

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

we praise your wonderful name!

God of Glory and God of Might

who through your great power

have granted us new strength

to endure all things through faith in Christ our risen King,

we praise your wonderful name! Amen.

Prayer from Faith and Worship ©John Birch 

https://www.faithandworship.com