Bulletin for Sunday 12th April 2009

Easter Day

A warm welcome to everyone who worships with us today.

Our service at 9.00am will include Holy Communion led by Rev. Luke Smith.

11.00am Worship will be led by Mr Ron Taylor and our 6.30pm Evening Praise will be led by Rev. Luke Smith, with Holy Communion

11.00am Worship at Selby Street, will be led by Deacon Peter Ogle  and Rev. Luke Smith  with Holy Communion.

Evening Praise

Welcome and Notices

Introit       Christ is alive

204   Now the green blade rises

Prayers

Reading Isaiah 25v6-9 read by Joy Styche

Anthem     Rejoice,Rejoice

Reading John 20v1-18 read by Joy Styche

Hymn 207 Rejoice and Be Glad

Sermon

202   Low in the grave

Prayers Intercession

Lords Prayer

Creed

Peace

628   Upon thy Table Lord

Thanksgiving

Distribution       (Choir to sing Jesus is risen

718   Onward Christian Soldiers

Blessing

Thanks to our Accompanists today, am David Stones, pm David stones and Margaret Fowler.

The flowers today have been given by Gordon Beevers in memory of his father

 Dear Friends

If Jesus were dead, would this be the eulogy at the funeral?

I guess each of us here knew Jesus in a slightly different way. Jesus was born some 33 years ago. His mother was Mary. His father Joseph worked as a carpenter. Jesus didn’t have the most stable of upbringings. There was the rumour that Joseph was not his real dad and all the problems of being born at census time meant Mary gave birth in a cow shed. A miracle he didn’t catch any disease with all that muck around. He had some interesting visitors with some strange gifts for a baby.

We don’t know much more about his early life, we know of his brother James. Of course there was that scare when Jesus was a little boy running away when everyone was at the temple.

Jesus never seemed to have an easy life. There is a big gap in his life we know very little about. I know he worked in the family business as a carpenter. Sadly there were often those who wanted to have a go at him. He really hit prominence after those 40 days of really thinking in the desert. The Devil had a really good go at him. But Jesus was always a strong character, he was unshakable. The Devil didn’t get the better of him. Jesus must have been starving. What a man!

Then of course there was all the healings he did (no need for NHS with Jesus around), and the miracles, not magic tricks but miracles.

He had a good circle of friends most of who stuck with him over the last few years. He was a great speaker, a natural entertainer with his jokes and ability to feed his guests with very little. He always gave us something to think about. Jesus wasn’t really one for playing by the rules, and because of this, he lost his life.

People can be so cruel; I do think there’s a great miscarriage of justice with the Jesus/Barabbas mistake. But Jesus faced it all bravely, he knew what was coming, he even shared his deepest thoughts with some of his friends.

Jesus died last Friday at about 3pm. A dark day we will all recall. Jesus touched our lives like no other and I sure we will remember him for a long time.

Perhaps. But he is not dead, he is alive. Today we celebrate he risen Christ, this is not a funeral but a party. Let’s CELEBRATE. ALLELUIA.

Happy Easter!

Luke

Friendship Club

The Friendship Club are having an outing on Friday, 29^th May to Thornton-le-dale, Helmsley Market and Kirby Moorside for tea. We leave at 10.00am and hope to be back for 7.00pm. The cost will be £16.00 including tea. If you would like to come with us please let me know.

Edna Newby