31B - Easter Day — 33B - Easter 3B
 
WE GATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY (Psalm 133: a translation for today)
How good, indeed, how pleasant it is,
for a community to live as one.
It is like precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
the beard of Aaron,
which flows down over his robes;
like dew on Mount Hermon,
which comes upon the mountains of Zion
for there the LORD has ordained the blessing –
life for ever.

A CREATIVE MOMENT – John 20:19-31
(a) Why not try a “return offering” of small easter eggs (e.g. the solid ones the size of pigeon eggs)?
(b) Create a banner bearing a Jerusalem cross. (The crosses represent the five wounds of Jesus: the four small crosses, the four smaller wounds of the hands and feet; the larger cross, the wound in his side). Perhaps the banner could also bear the words, “My Lord, and my God!”.

In addition, bookmarks, carrying a pen and ink outline of the banner, photocopied onto light card could distributed by way of a “return offering” to the congregation. Recipients could be encouraged to take them home, decorate them as they choose, and use them.

Also you can click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
 
God, who raised up and exalted Jesus,
in your steadfast love
help us bring consolation to those know to us,
whom we name on our lips
and in the silence of our hearts;
return to our memory those whom we have forgotten;
be present to those who have no-one
and to each of us in our doubting…
      (The Prayers of the People continue)

Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms