Sunday, March 28, 2021

Easter Day B (April 4)

 

































THERE IS AN UPDATED 2024 VERSION OF THIS BLOG ENTRY  - SEE MY ARCHIVE LIST  AT LEFT

Bible Readings: Acts 10:34-43, Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18, Mark 16:1-8

About the Images:
Upper Left: This is The Angel of the Lord painted in 1990 by Jacek Andrzej Rossakiewicz (b.1956). I love it! I obtained it from Wikimedia Commons, The permission for use of this work has been verified and archived in the Wikimedia OTRS system.
Upper Right: It never ceases to amaze me how new life arises from the devastation of an Australian bushfire. Because of the nature of our trees and the dense undergrowth, our fires can be amazingly hot and many cases even the dirt seems to be burnt - an absolute wasteland ensues. Yet before too long, the bush begins to regenerate. Life out of death! This photo shows first growth leaves in a burnt out area of the Australian High country.
Middle Left: This is a free image from Imagebank - please see my link column to the left.
Middle Right: This is a free image from Hermano Leon - please see my link column at left.  This is a great image for Easter for those who use colouring as an aid to prayer. 
Lower Left and Right:  These are free Heartlight images- see my link column at left.

Decor and Preparation
As for Good Friday - black cloth over communion table and unlit Christ candle. Get enough musical instruments eg bells, shakers, clackers etc etc for everyone - or at least for all your kids. Cheap toys are fine.

Call to Worship: We Will Unfold
By Roddy Hamilton, April 2006, available via his site -see Mucky Paws link at left. Awesome stuff!!!!

Call to Worship
Project a series of pictures about Good Friday whilst playing Grac
e by Moby from his album Songs (pictured at left). Move straight into the following....

Opening Drama: The Three Woman
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose Publications, 1998 ISBN 1876357363 pages 192-4(pictured at right). As the three woman say their final lines together, "He is Risen" , project their words. Woman 1 then removes the black cloth, woman 2 lights the candle and woman 3 gives out the musical instruments and announces the first song. Then make enthusiastic music!! 

Opening Drama: The Message
In Let's Make Another Scene by Verena Johnson, Open Book, 1995, ISBN 0859107620, page 66 (pictured at left). This is based on the gospels.

Listening Song: Beautiful Day
By U2 on their album, All That You Can't Leave Behind (pictured at right).

Easter Celebration: Easter is......
Another ripper from Roddy Hamilton (as above).

Absolution for Prayer of confession and/or passing of the Peace: This is the Good News
Found in Stages on the Way (see above)

Kid's Talk: Cut the Tie
Found at http://talks2children.itsforministry.org/t2c/view.asp?ID=59
I used this one three years ago and people still talk about it. They were astounded and the elderly gentleman who had his tie cut was just wonderful!

Kid's Talk: Faith and Belief
Found at http://talks2children.itsforministry.org/t2c/view.asp?ID=29

Film Clip: Morning of the Rolling Stone




Drama: Easter Eggcitement
Found in Mega Drama 1 by Verena Johnson (ed), Open Book, 2001, ISBN 0859109151, page 94 (pictured at left). This drama is based on the John reading.

Pew and Plenary Discussion
Tell your neighbour what your best celebration ever was.
Share with the congregation the age you were for this event.
Just as birthdays can become a little more ordinary as we grow older, I wonder if we can sometimes lose the intense meaning and significance of Easter as each year adds another celebration.
Share as a congregation: What is the significance of Easter?
Tell your neighbour how you think Easter will make a difference to your week.

Story: On The River of Death
Found at http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-TopFiveEaster
A story about the significance of Jesus' death.

Sermon Idea: The Visit 

Found in The Final Boundary by Adrain Plass, Mistral, 1987ISBN 1854240935. Too long to use completely but a lovely story that modernises the Easter story beautifully (pictured at right).

Response Activity: Christ Has Died, Christ Has Risen
Found in Stages on the Way (again!!!), page 196

Meditation: This is the day
Found at http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com

Music to go with the above Meditation:

"As it Was in Heaven" on The Mission soundtrack. 

Blessing: Here Are your Disciples
Found in Stages on the Way (you can tell I like this book!!), page 198.

Also

Story plus Other stuff: Roxanne Makes Good
Found in Wally and the Dodgy Trolley and Other Stories of Faith and Humour by Ian Johnson, Scripture Union Australia, Lidcombe, 2000, ISBN 0949720984, page 37 (pictured at left).  This goes with the Psalm. 

Kids: Mary and the Gardener
This is another brilliant book  by Andrew McDonough, Lost Sheep Resources, 2018. This goes with the John Gospel reading.  The great thing about these books is that they only around $A7 and for a further $A10 (or instead of) you can buy on line the story in any format you need to project the pictures in church.  There are also free activity sheets and for a cost activity books for both teachers and children.  Visit www.lostsheep.com.au to check out all the excellent resources.

A Chapter of Resources for Easter Sunday: 
By Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill in Eggs and Ashes, Wild Goose Publications, 2004, page 223-244 (pictured at left). 

A Chapter of Resources for Easter Day:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 19-46.

Opening and Closing Responses:
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 20.

Drama: Peter and Mary
By Ruth Burgess in Fire and Bread, Wild Goose Publications, 2006, ISBN 9781905010301, pages 87.


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