St Oswald's Church

School Lane, Ashbourne DE61AN

Tel: 01335 343 052

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This week's readings & prayers

31st March: Easter Sunday

online Holy Communion from Holy Trinity, Clifton.

Acts 10:34-43

In a dream, Peter receives a summons to the house of Cornelius, a devout Roman centurion. Peter addresses the household, telling them how he and the disciples were called to preach the good news of Jesus to all people.

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘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.’

 

Mark 16:1-8

When 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.

 

Something to think about

Mark offers the shortest account of the resurrection  and it ends very abruptly.  Scholars have expended time and energy seeking for an explanation - has the ending of the original scroll been lost? Why did the women remain silent?  Were they terrified or was their fear a natural reaction to a mighty act of God? Did Mark intend to add stories of Jesus’s appearances like the other gospel writers?  We shall probably never know. Perhaps our only reaction is to accept that there are many mysteries in this world and its history and we accept that fact humbly.

 

Next Sunday’s (7th) Readings:

Acts 4:32-35

John 20:19-31

 

Collect

God of glory, by the raising of your Son

you have broken the chains of death and hell:

fill your Church with faith and hope;

for a new day has dawned, creation is restored,

and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Post Communion

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.

Please remember in your prayers this week:

Those who are sick or suffering.

The recently bereaved, especially the friends and relatives of Beth Summers, Dot Barker, Sharon Byrne, Pauline Arme and Mick Clews.

Areas of conflict: the Ukraine, the Middle East and too many others.

Our local churches, as they face up to the problems of the future, such as the interregnum.

Our Ministry Team: Maggie, Nigel, Pip, Mike & Lynda; and their supports: Rosemary & Simon.

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