大象传媒

The Gathering

Hymn -听Jesus Christ is risen today听Words:听Lyra Davidica (1708)听Tune:听EASTER HYMN

The Dean says

Welcome to Canterbury Cathedral on this Easter Day. We awake with many concerns personally, nationally and internationally. Yet today we renew out trust in Jesus Christ who has entered into the joy and sorrows of this world, faced and embraced the bitterness of death an now is risen so that we might have hope rather than live in despair. This is good news for us all.听

The Dean introduces

Prayers of Penitence

Gloria in Excelsis - Josef Rheinberger Mass in E Flat Major (Cantus Missae) Op.109

The Collect

The Liturgy of the Word

The First Reading听Acts of the Apostles 10.34-43

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

The Gradual Hymn -听The day of resurrection! (ELLACOMBE)

The Gospel听听Matthew 28.1-10

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Sermon 听听听听The Archbishop

听The resurrection of Jesus Christ is history. It was an event that happened on a certain day. It was an event with monumental consequences in subsequent history. It changed the lives of those who were witnesses, the lives of those they told, the history of Empires, the calendar, ethics, philosophy and human history since. Within weeks it led to the start of the church which now is in every country with currently over two billion people. It conquered the Roman Empire long before armies marched out in the name of the church.

Why should we believe it?

Because the body of Jesus was never found. If it had been there, it could so easily have been used to disprove the claims of the disciples. If they had taken it away someone would have talked. Look how hard it is for any secret to be kept in any organisation. Put that secret in the hands of avowedly weak and frightened and powerless people and imagine how likely it would be to remain secret. Theose early disciples were not brave; they would have told people as soon as they were under pressure. The main leaders were not good, one was bribed, 11 abandoned Jesus. And there were hundreds of other witnesses.

Because even when Christianity was legal there was never a tomb to go to and remember and honour Christ. There is one for Peter in Rome. You can find it by going to St Peter鈥檚 in the Vatican. Look round this Cathedral, we have memorials to people of all sorts. If anyone knew where Jesus had been buried it would be marked dramatically. But it was not it is marked by an empty tomb.

Because the witnesses sound real, not made up to give credibility. The first one is a woman, who did not count for much in those days. The others were poor and little educated lay people, not priests or Kings.

Because the disciples were so changed in character, vision and achievement. Something out of this world changed them.

Because people ever since have been changed, know this person Jesus, love him and give their lives for the truth of the resurrection - including millions around the world today - and in a week鈥檚 time at the Orthodox Easter鈥�

The global church has sinned, suffered and found renewal again and again since its birth 2000 years ago." 听And yet 鈥� due entirely to the power, grace and faithfulness of God - the Church still finds renewal, repentance for old and new failures, fresh life and new growth, again and again.

It is my surest conviction and belief that these reasons - when put together - give every cause for us to believe the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is among the most certain facts in history.

That is why Christians long for others to know this God of love who became human, became like us so that for all eternity we might live and become like him. That is why the church speaks of eternal values revealed in Christ even when they are politically uncomfortable unpopular or treated with derision.

The resurrection of Jesus is claimed by Christians to be the turning point for the whole world, individually, collectively and for the whole of creation always and everywhere. From the finality of death, a new beginning is made. The certainty of final endings is over.

Without the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, there are simply endings. Let鈥檚 think about it through those who were its witnesses:

For Peter, it would be the end of any chance of forgiveness for his cowardice and betrayal.

For Mary Magdalene, it would be the end of a relationship where she was valued, having importance and dignity.

For us gathering here 鈥� in this wonderful building which exists entirely and only because of the fact of the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection is not just an event in history; it is the most powerful event in history, past present and future.

We see the reality of the resurrection around us in all corners of the world, in the relationships that find warmth again after many years of hurt and estrangement, in the millions who have heard the call of Christ and repented and sought to walk a different way, in conflict reconciled and hatreds overcome.

In Mozamique last November when I went there I met Christians who out of their faith were sharing with Muslims in forming peace clubs to overcome the attacks of militants against them. And they were succeeding.

We see people living the truth of the resurrection in lives of new purpose offered to each and all of us, purpose that is God鈥檚 call to us.

The resurrection means that the things of God are eternal. Every action we take is known to God. The silent prayers of someone鈥檚 life; the unseen generosity; the self-sacrifices made; are not just actions that make the world better for others today (they are that), they are actions that have ramifications into eternity, because what is committed to God does not die.

And conversely, all that is against God is sure to die. Injustice and brutality 鈥� as we know all too well - may seem to triumph in our short lives on earth. Cruelty and oppression might look as though they only get stronger; yet they will vanish. Even in our lifetimes, as we are surrounded by fears, even surrounded by evil, we know that those who oppress and subjugate others will face divine justice. We know with certainty that policies that cause suffering and pain will fall away. We can say 鈥渁ll that seeks to deny God 听and God鈥檚 love, the values that God has given us, all those things have 听no eternal foundation鈥�.

Because the tomb is empty, our hearts are full. The full resurrection of the body means this isn鈥檛 just for one bit of our lives 鈥� some disembodied future - our physical reality as well as our spiritual reality belongs to God. Nothing is beyond the power of God.

And that means eternal life, eternal hope, eternal joy. It means lives that are changed today and have value throughout eternity. The world has hope. There is a 听life today, 听offered for all to take. Because Christ is risen.

Motet Now the green blade riseth (Trad arr. Andrew Lumsden)

The Dean says 鈥淟et us Pray鈥�

Prayers of Intercession

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Let us greet one another with words of peace.

The congregation say the words 鈥減eace be with you鈥� to one another

Offertory hymn -听Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! (VULPIUS)

The Eucharistic Prayer

The choir sings Sanctus -听Josef Rheinberger Mass in E Flat Major (Cantus Missae) Op.109

The Dean recalls the Last Supper

The Lord鈥檚 Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

The Dean breaks the consecrated bread, saying

The Distribution of Communion

Agnus Dei -听听Josef Rheinberger Mass in E Flat Major (Cantus Missae) Op.109

Prayer after Communion

The Dismissal

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HYMN -听Thine Be the Glory Words: French, Edmond Budry (1854-1932), Tr Richard Hoyle (1875-1939) Tune: MACCABAEUS听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

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Organ Voluntary听 听Victimae Paschali Laudes (Tournemire)