Sunday 4th April 2021 – Easter Sunday
All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: John 20 v1-18
20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
REFLECT: Over this last year since the outbreak of Covid-19 we have seen countless deaths throughout the world. So many images of tombs and graves, many of them dug hurriedly, many bodies being buried together out of necessity. Worldwide there has been so much grieving and weeping over immeasurable loss. The pandemic has brutally taken our loved ones before their time! This overwhelming focus on death has made many of us afraid of our own potential deaths.
As Christians though who believe in the risen Christ we have a real and living hope of eternal life. For Mary Magdalene and the first disciples who arrived at the empty tomb of Jesus they still did not understand fully what Jesus had said about him rising from the dead. For Peter and John who had seen the empty tomb they do not recognise the risen Jesus in the garden but go back quickly to where they were staying. Fear possesses them and along with the other disciples we know that they went and locked themselves away on that first Easter evening.
For Mary she stays in the garden and weeps and it is in that intimate moment that she sees and encounters the risen Christ, mistakenly him firstly for the gardener.
RESPOND: Those closest to Jesus, having been with him and heard his teaching first hand do not fully believe straight away. How long have you been close to Jesus? How long have you been coming to All Saints Childwall to worship? Have you made that step of faith which goes from hearing and seeing to believing? Jesus Christ the Son of God is risen today and that is such an amazing truth, a life changing truth. Have you put your life into his hands and become a true disciple of Jesus?
So often just like the first disciples we can see and hear but not fully believe or understand!
PRAY: Father God help me with my unbelief, help me to believe when I doubt, help me to trust you and put my life into your hands. The hands that your Son Jesus stretched out on the cross for me. Amen.
Rev. Andrew Colmer Vicar of All Saints Church, Childwall
Dear Friends,
Church building re-opening for services at Easter
Sunday 4th April – Easter Sunday 9.30am All Age Communion Service 11am – All Age Communion Service.
Thursday 8th April – 10.45am BCP Communion Service
Sunday 11th April – 9.30am & 11am – Service of the Word – Both services will be the same.
Social distancing will still be in place and masks will still have to be worn.
Regular services in church will continue after Easter on Thursday mornings and Sunday mornings.
Church Services Online – We are recording our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
We will continue to record our Sunday services every week after Easter Sunday and upload them.
Sunday School Online – Rock Club and Pebbles on Zoom on Sundays 10am – 10.40am. Please contact Gypsey if you would like to join us: gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com or text Tel: 07961 793435
Evening Prayer – Every Sunday evening at 6pm led by the Readers. The liturgy and the readings will be on the screen and there will be a short reflection on the New Testament passage which has been set for the day. Please join us. Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode:Newsman1
Bookworms Quiz. The third book quiz has now been issued. If you haven’t already received a copy and would like to give it a try please contact us and we’ll let you have it either by email or a paper copy delivered to your door. It’s not competitive – no winners or prizes. Just enjoy doing it on your own or with family members or phone a friend. You might even do a bit of research to find the answers! Helen Ford. 0151 428 9153 or h.h.ford@btinternet.com
Weekly prayer meeting – Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate.
Aidan Holmes. Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Passcode: 7VUQh6 https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
All Saints Buddy Scheme – If you are self-isolating and would value some support or a regular chat or know someone else who would, please email Mary Harrison at mary.harrison32@virginmedia.com with details.
Leprosy Mission – The Leprosy Mission have an Unconditional Appeal this year which focuses on their work in Mozambique. TLM hospitals are not only treating people suffering from leprosy but they are also treating people who have Covid 19. They are fully stretched on reduced resources. Please consider donating to TLM as all donations received by 24th April will be matched by the UK Government.
I would be happy to receive any donations (or collection boxes) to forward on or you could send a donation direct to – TLM, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5GZ Thank you so much – Sandra Dunn
Easter poetry Evening Tonight – Saturday 3rd April at 7pm
Easter Saturday is a strange time of both completion and expectation. This year, on Zoom, I am hosting a time of Easter Poetry. If you have an Easter Poem you would like to read, or if you would like to read one of the poems I have selected, please let me know, my details are below.
Tonight the evening will begin at 7.00pm and the Zoom code is: 789 873 7449 Pass code: Newsman1.
Garry Critchley garry.critchley@gmail.com Mob: 07732305159 Tel:0151 722 9643
Weekly News – If you are aware of anyone who is not receiving all the weekly news that we are sending out please ask them to send me their email address so I can add them to our master email list. Thank you.
Tea@4-Weekdays at 4pm. Pop in for a natter. Bring your own tea & biscuits!
Meeting ID: 753 2429 1267 Passcode: teatimehttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/75324291267?pwd=WmdnY1B3WUtRdHdVVkJQdXJGRE1Ldz0
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or a family member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) David Miller, Eileen Miller and Hazel Watson. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Peter Watson (Ruth Scott’s Father).
Pastoral visiting – Any visiting will currently have to happen from the front gate. If you would value a visit or know anyone who would please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and emails are below.
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
With our prayers for you all at this time
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s Worker – Tel: 07961 793435 –gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com
Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand –adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
