Easter Sunday – Print version
The day of Resurrection begins ‘while it was still dark’ and takes us to the place where the Lord has been buried and sealed away. The journey through the week past began with ‘Hosanna!’ and ended in ‘Crucify!’ In the darkness of that morning, it is Mary Magdalene who first senses that the journey, seemingly ended on the Cross, has yet further to unfold. Mary remains at the tomb, consumed by sorrow and tears, until she finds herself in the company of a person whom she does not recognise. Into the depth of her sorrow, a voice speaks and calls her by her name: ‘Mary!’ It is as if the voice speaks into the very depths of her heart and her eyes are opened. In that moment there is the recognition that she stands in the presence of the risen Lord and in time Mary will bear witness: ‘I have seen the Lord’. (John 20: 1-18)
On this day of Resurrection, the risen Lord speaks to all who have journeyed in dark places and who have known sorrow and tears. He speaks into the depths of our heart and calls us by our name. In response, we join with the people of God and proclaim: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!’ We pray:
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In your great mercy
You give us new birth into a living hope
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On this day, receive our praise and our thanks forever!
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In your great mercy
You have journeyed with us through the darkness
And you bring us now to the day of light.
Lead us through the darkness and into the abiding light of your presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In your great mercy
You journey with those who have known sorrow and tears.
In your compassion, journey with them still
And bring to them healing and the hope of the life everlasting.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In your great mercy
You speak into the depths of our hearts
And you call us by our name.
Call us by our name that we might proclaim: Christ is risen. Alleluia!
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
In your great mercy
You give us new birth into a living hope
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
On this day, receive our praise and our thanks forever!
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Signed by:
- Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland
- Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Roman Catholic Church
- Most Rev. Mark Strange, Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church
- Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Donnie G. MacDonald, Moderator, Free Church of Scotland
- Rev. Paul Whittle, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland)
- Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland
- Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland)
- Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland
- Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army
- Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- Rev. Claire Fender, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene
- Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God
- Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS)
- Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland)