Mothers’ Union Devotion Easter Sunday 4th April 2021
Mothers’ Union Devotion Easter Sunday 4th April 2021
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory, thou o’er death has won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life!
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love.
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
What a joyous morning we experience each year on this most special of days! The day that is so full of brightness after the long endurance of Lent and the mixed emotions of Holy Week. It is the day when we can really celebrate the power of resurrection that is present in our loving Lord. The power to renew and restore all things to himself.
We have experienced what seems like a very long Lent indeed. For many of you Lent did not really end properly last year as church buildings were shut on Easter Day. Although we have had highs and lows in our walk with Jesus over the past year, nothing seemed to quite capture the ability to declare in a congregation the opening words of our Easter service:-
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
This year is going to be better. Many churches are open. Shielding has officially ended. The majority of members have received at least their first vaccination. As ministers and congregations, we have got to grips with technology over the past year. So, our worship will have a more joyous feel to it and indeed reach more people.
Even if you are not able to join with others today in a live act of worship, it is comforting to remember that Mary Magdalene was alone when she was the first to encounter the Risen Lord in the garden outside an empty tomb. That in the isolation of her grief, she mistook Jesus for the gardener and only recognised him when he called her name. So, we know that even on this most special of day Jesus is present to each of us, calling us individually by name, willing us to recognise his resurrected voice. Calling us to proclaim to all who will listen – I have seen the Lord!
May you all have a very blessed Easter as we celebrate the triumphant Resurrection of our Risen Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Revd Sandra
