Jesus dies on a cross for all people and for our salvation. A day normally
for processions of witness in our towns and villages, but this year all will be silent, as there was silence for three hours over the place where he died on that momentous day.
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
There is a greenhill far away, We may not know, we cannot tell
outside a city wall what pains he had to bear,
where the dear Lord was crucified but we believe it was for us
and died to save us all he hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiven; There was no other good enough
he died to make us good; to pay the price of sin;
that we might go at last to heaven he only could unlock the gate
saved by his precious blood of heaven and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
Read the story of Good Friday from St. John's gospel
Chapter 18 verse 1 to chapter 19 verse 42!
Then say the Good Friday prayer
Almighty Father, look upon this your family for which
the Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed
and given up into the hands of sinners
and to suffer death upon the cross, who is alive and glorified
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Say the Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Add a few short prayers of your own.
May your Spirit give us all a sense of calmness and peace, and the Blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ we with you always.
Now some thoughts for EASTER DAY
A message from the Bishops in the Diocese of Lichfield
We send you warm greetings as we prepare to celebrate an Easter unlike any of have known before. Public worship in our churches is suspended, but our joy in the resurrection is not to be silenced. We believe that on Jesus' cross our God has defeated the forces of death and despair, and he holds us his people in his hand. Wherever we are this Easter, let thoughts of Christian joy be in our hearts.
Thine be the glory, Lo! Jesus meets us,
risen, conquering Son, risen from the tomb
endless is the victory lovingly he greets us,
thou o'er death hast won; scatters fear and gloom.
angels in bright raiment Let the Church with gladness
rolled away the stone way hymns of triumph sing,
kept the folded grave-clothes for her Lord now liveth
where the body lay death has lost its sting.
Read the Easter story from St. John's Gospel
Chapter 20 verses 1 to 18
The meditate on the epistle for the day from Colossians chapter 3 verses 1 to 4
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Begin you prayers with the Easter day prayer
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 you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might now and in all eternity. Amen
Add a few prayers of your own,
Particularly on this Easter Day praying for your own families, friends, and fellow church members.
Pray for all NHS staff and other key workers in this time of trial,
But still thank God for the joys of springtime, for the promise of new life that both Easter and spring herald for us all.
Say the Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen
Finish with a prayer from Michael, Bishop of Lichfield
Jesus 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.
Think of world without any flowers
Think of a world without and trees
Think of a sky without any sunshine
Think of the air without and breeze.
We thank you Lord for flowers and trees and sunshine,
We thank you Lord and praise your holy name.
Geoff Smith