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Easter Sunday Worship: Thine Be the Glory!

The trumpets sound to announce Easter Day in this live celebration of the Eucharist from the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, the shrine of England's first martyr.

The trumpets sound to announce the pomp and pageantry of Easter Day in this celebration of the Eucharist live from the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, the shrine of England's first martyr completed in 1115. The Abbey Singers and Lay Clerks sing the most popular Easter hymns and carols including This Joyful Eastertide, Jesus Christ is risen today, Love's Redeeming Work is Done and Thine be the Glory. The preacher is the Bishop of St Albans, the Right Reverend Dr Alan Smith, and the celebrant is the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John. Choir directed by the Assistant Master of the Music, Tom Winpenny; Organ Scholar Marnus Greyling. Producer: Ben Collingwood.

48 minutes

Script

Please note:
This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.
It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.
RADIO 4 OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT:Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4.  Now it’s time to go live to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban for Easter Sunday Worship.  The celebrant is the Dean, the Very Reverend Jeffrey John, and the preacher is the Bishop of St Albans, the Right Reverend Alan Smith.  The service begins now with the introit ‘Surrexit Christus hodie’: Christ is risen today Alleluia!
CHOIR: Introit: Surrexit Christus hodie. Alleluia! CELEBRANT: In the name of the Father,  and of the Son,  and of the Holy Spirit.ALL: Amen.
The Lord be with youALL: and also with you.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.ALL: He is risen indeed. Alleluia! 
CELEBRANT:Welcome to St Albans – the oldest Christian site in the country, where Alban was martyred and buried over 1700 years ago because of his faith in the resurrection.  
We are here to proclaim that Jesus rose from the dead. He showed us that death wasn’t the end for him, and it isn’t the end for us. In today’s Gospel Jesus asks the women at the tomb to go and tell the others he had risen, and he asks us to do the same. So as we give thanks today for his victory and his promise of eternal life, let’s also pray for power to share it with a world that’s so scared to die. CHOIR/ORGAN/BRASS: Hymn: Jesus Christ is risen to-day
DEACON:Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and eviland confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart. 
Silence is kept. 
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.Lord, have mercy.ALL: Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.Christ, have mercy.ALL: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.Lord, have mercy.ALL: Lord, have mercy.
CELEBRANT: The God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen. 
CHOIR/ORGAN: Gloria (Truro Eucharist – David Briggs)
CELEBRANT: Let us pray.
Lord of all life and power,who through the mighty resurrection of your Sonovercame the old order of sin and deathto make all things new in him:grant that we, being dead to sinand alive to you in Jesus Christ,may reign with him in glory;to whom with you and the Holy Spiritbe praise and honour, glory and might,now and in all eternity.ALL: Amen.  READER 1: Colossians 3: 1-3, 12-17
A reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that 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.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This is the word of the Lord.ALL: Thanks be to God. 
CHOIR/ORGAN: This joyful Eastertide (Vruechten arr. Philip Ledger)
CHOIR/ORGAN/BRASS: Gospel acclamation (John Scott)

DEACON: The Lord be with youALL: and also with you.

DEACON:Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
CHOIR/ORGAN: Glory to you, O Lord
DEACON: Mark 16: 1-8When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

CHOIR/ORGAN: Praise to you, O Christ.
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CELEBRANT:
I believe in God, ALL: the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.Amen.
CELEBRANT:In joy and hope let us pray to the Father. READER 2 (Carol Borras): Most Glorious Lord of Life, you reveal your love for the world in your Son’s triumph over death and sin. Hear us as we seek to share that love with all whom we meet. Let us love each other like as we ought; Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.
Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus is Lord of every time and place; we pray for the church throughout this land and throughout the world, especially for Alan our Bishop and his priests and deacons; We rejoice with all your people baptised and confirmed this Easter, – help us to know you and serve you our whole lives through.
Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus the King of Righteousness is enthroned at your right hand; bring your peace and justice to all nations and peoples. Bless Elizabeth our Queen and all who serve in her name. 
We pray for those living in fear and conflict, and especially any who are persecuted for their faith or belief. Give new hope when life has lost its meaning.
Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus the Son of Man makes each of us whole again; we pray for our sisters and brothers in need, distress, or sorrow; for the hungry, the homeless; for all who suffer in body, mind or spirit,
Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus our great High Priest lives for ever to intercede for us.Your loving kindness fills the universe, we pray to be open to receive the gifts you give, today and every day. Help us to seek your will for us as we live and work in your service. Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
 Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; bring us to your glory through his death and resurrection. Hold in your loving hands everyone who has died trusting your promises. Comfort all who mourn and remember.
Lord, hear us.ALL: Lord, graciously hear us.
We join our prayers with those of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Alban and all the Saints by asking
Merciful Father,ALL: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.


 CELEBRANT:In a moment we will share the peace which Jesus declared to his disciples on Easter Day. Then the altar is prepared for Communion, where we offer him our lives in bread and wine, and receive them back as his life, his body and blood, in the mystery of the Eucharist.
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia. 
The peace of the Lord be always with youALL: and also with you. 
DEACON:Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
 CHOIR/ORGAN/BRASS: Hymn: Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to heaven CELEBRANT: Be present, be present,  Lord Jesus Christ,  our risen high priest; make yourself known in the breaking of bread,  for your Love’s sake.ALL: Amen. 

CELEBRANT/ALL (sung):The lord be with you and also with youLift up your heartsWe lift them to the LordLet us give thanks to the Lord our GoldIt is right to give thanks and praise.
CELEBRANT:It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal Father, and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works. For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son, has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men and women the image of your glory.
He has placed them once more in paradise and opened to them the gate of life eternal. And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory.


CHOIR/ORGAN: Sanctus (Truro Eucharist – David Briggs)
 CELEBRANT:Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will,these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it,in remembrance of me.
Jesus Christ is Lord:ALL: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.You are the Saviour of the world.
 CELEBRANT:And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. 
As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.
Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Alban all the saints,may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
ALL (sung): Amen CELEBRANT:Rejoicing in God’s new creation, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.
ALL: 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.
CELEBRANT: We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.ALL: Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
CHOIR/ORGAN: Agnus Dei (Truro Eucharist – David Briggs)

CELEBRANT:Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. ALL: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia. 
CHOIR: Rise up, my love (Willan)
[A Communion Hymn may be sung.]
CHOIR/ORGAN/BRASS: Hymn: Love’s redeeming work is done

CELEBRANT:Let us pray.
God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.ALL: Amen.
 CHOIR/ORGAN/BRASS: Hymn: Thine be the glory (Maccabæus)
 CELEBRANT: The Lord be with youALL: and also with you.
God the Father,by whose love Christ was raised from the dead,open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. ALL: Amen. 
God the Son, who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory, give you joy as you share the Easter faith.ALL: Amen. 
God the Holy Spirit, who filled the disciples with the life of the risen Lord, empower you and fill you with Christ’s peace.ALL: Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,  be among you and remain with you always. ALL: Amen. 
 DEACON/ALL (sung):Go in the peace of Christ Alleluia AlleluiaThanks be to God Alleluia Alleluia

ORGAN VOLUNTARY: Festival Toccata (Percy Fletcher)

Broadcast

  • Sun 1 Apr 2018 08:10

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