Sunday 5 April 2026, 9.00 am

Sung Eucharist for Easter Day with Holy Baptism

The Gathering

Our worship begins at the sound of the bell, please stand as the sacred ministers enter, bringing in the Easter Candle that was lit earlier at the Easter Vigil, and the introit hymn is sung.

Jesus Christ is ris’n today, alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
who did once, upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav’nly King, alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!

Greeting

Christ yesterday and today,

the beginning and the end.

Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him,
and all ages;

to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever. Amen.

This is the day when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life. Throughout the world Christians celebrate the awesome power of God. As we hear his word and proclaim all that God has done, we can be confident that we shall share his victory over death and live with him for ever.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The Easter Candle is placed in the candle stand.

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

Blessing of the Easter Garden

The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.’

Matthew 28. 5,6

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To you be glory now and for ever.
In your great mercy you have given us a new birth
into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
By your blessing, may we who have prepared this garden
in celebration of his victory,
be strengthened in faith,
know the power of his presence,
and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever.

The stone is rolled away and the garden is sprinkled with Holy Water.

Risen Lord Jesus,
as Mary Magdalene met you in the garden
on the morning of your resurrection,
so may we meet you today and every day:
speak to us as you spoke to her;
reveal yourself as the living Lord;
renew our hope and kindle our joy;
and send us to share the good news with others.

Amen.

The hymn continues, as the altar and Easter Garden are censed:

But the pains that he endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured, alleluia!
now above the sky he’s King, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing, alleluia!

Words & Music: from ‘Lyra Davidica’ (1708)
Hymn Tune: EASTER HYMN

Welcome

Easter Acclamation

Our ‘Alleluia’ is retrieved from the place where it was buried before the start of Lent.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gloria in Excelsis

The Gloria is introduced with a joyful fanfare and the ringing of bells throughout the church.

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

The Collect

The president introduces a time of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray that we may reign with the risen Christ in glory.’

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might
now and in all eternity.

Amen.

Please sit.

The Liturgy of the Word

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10.34-43

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Please stand as the gradual hymn is sung. During the hymn a procession will make its way to the centre of the nave from where the Gospel for the day is read. To symbolise our desire to turn to Christ in our daily lives, at the end of the hymn we remain standing and turn to face the place where the Gospel is proclaimed.

Hymn

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
your sweetest notes employ,
the Paschal victory to hymn
in strains of holy joy.

For Judah’s Lion burst his chains,
and crushed the serpent’s head;
and brought with him, from death’s domain,
the long-imprisoned dead.

From hell’s devouring jaws the prey
alone our leader bore;
his ransomed hosts pursue their way
where he hath gone before.

Triumphant in his glory now
his sceptre ruleth all:
earth, heav’n and hell before him bow,
and at his footstool fall.

While joyful thus his praise we sing,
his mercy we implore,
into his palace bright to bring,
and keep us evermore.

All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run. Alleluia. Amen.

Words: St Fulbert of Chartres (d. 1028)
translated by Robert Campbell (1814-1868)
Music: Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876)
Hymn Tune: SAINT FULBERT

Gospel Reading

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Alleluia.

He has defeated the powers of death.

Alleluia.

Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.

Alleluia.

He has the words of eternal life.

Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’
Matthew 28.1-10

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Please sit after the preacher leads us in prayer.

The Liturgy of Initiation

Please turn towards the baptismal font as the candidate for baptism and her family and supporters gather with the president there.

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism.

Presentation of the Candidate

The candidate for baptism is presented to the congregation and the president asks:

Emily, do you wish to be baptised?

I do.

The president addresses the whole congregation:

Faith is the gift of God to his people.
In baptism the Lord is adding to our number
those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome Emily
and uphold her in her new life in Christ?

With the help of God, we will.

The Decision and Renewal of Baptismal Vows

The president addresses the congregation and the baptism candidate:

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin
and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us
from God and neighbour?

I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

Signing with the Cross

The president makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate for baptism, saying:

Emily, Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.

Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.

Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world, and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.

Amen.

Prayer over the Water

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ
was baptised in the river Jordan,
we thank you for the gift of water
to cleanse us and revive us.

Saving God

Give us life.

We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea
you led your people out of slavery
to freedom in the Promised Land.

Saving God

Give us life.

We thank you that through the deep waters of death
you brought your Son,
and raised him to life in triumph.

Saving God

Give us life.

Bless this water,
that your servants
may be made one with Christ
in his death and in his resurrection,
to be cleansed and delivered from all sin.

Saving God

Give us life.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us, upon Emily,
and upon all those to be baptised this Eastertide,
and raise us with Christ to full and eternal life;
for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours,
now and for ever.

Amen.

Profession of Faith

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess with this candidate the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

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.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

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.

Baptism

Emily, is this your faith?

This is my faith.

Emily Ann, I baptise you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The candidate is anointed with oil of chrism.

Emily, may God, who has received you by baptism
into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.

Amen.

The president says

Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptised in your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Commission

Those who are baptised are called to worship and serve God.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

With the help of God, I will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

With the help of God, I will.

Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?

With the help of God, I will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?

With the help of God, I will.

Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?

With the help of God, I will.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.

Amen.

Welcome

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
Emily, by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.

We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.

The congregation greets the newly-baptised. Then, as joyful music plays, the congregation is sprinkled with blessed water from the baptismal font.

Prayers of Intercession

Following an invitation to pray from the intercessor we kneel or remain seated to pray.

The following response is used.

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

Then at the end.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Please stand with the president.

The Peace

Alleluia. Christ has been raised from the dead.

The peace of the risen Lord be always with you.

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

This is usually a handshake shared with those near you.

Preparation of the Table

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

A hymn is sung. During this hymn a collection, our financial offering in support of the work of the church both at St. Mary’s and across our diocese, is taken.

You can place cash or giving envelopes in the collection plates as they are passed around. If you would prefer, or if you miss the plate, you can also give by tapping your contactless card or device on the giving kiosk by the door as you leave, or on our donations page.

I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.