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TULIP TREE NEWS 4

EASTER SUNDAY 2020HE IS RISEN INDEED ALLELLUIA

+Easter Sunday Jill and Penny will be celebrating Holy Communion in their homes.   Penny will celebrate at 9.30 using BCP and Jill at 11 with CW. They welcome anyone to join them in their

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own homes – at least we will be worshipping at the same time.+

This service has been sent us by Jill and we hope you will join in as we celebrate Easter togetherIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The GreetingThe Lord be with youand also with you.Alleluia. Christ is risen.He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Happy Easter, I am so sorry that we cannot be together as we normally are today, but we are together in Spirit, as are the rest of God’s family, whatever their race, denomination or place. St. Paul tells us that all creation, not just humanity rejoices in the resurrection of Jesus, so whatever is happening around us, we rejoice in God’s love today.

Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

Like Mary at the empty tomb, we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Like the disciples behind locked doors, we are afraid to be seen as your followers. Christ, have mercy.

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Like Thomas in the upper room, we are slow to believe. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy May God our Father forgive us our sins, and bring us to the eternal joy of his kingdom where dust and ashes have no dominion. Amen.

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 CollectSilence  is kept.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.

First ReadingActs 10.34-43

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This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Second ReadingColossians 3.1-4This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hymn

Jesus Christ is risen 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 heavenly King, Alleluia!Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

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!

Gospel ReadingAlleluia, alleluia. I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to MatthewGlory to you, O Lord.

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Matthew 28 1-10

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

ReflectionLife is not good at the moment for many of us, loneliness, lack of income, nothing to do, nowhere to go and no one to hug. A lot of us are worried about what is going to happen, if someone we love will die and we won’t be able to be with them. We worry about the state of both this country and the world when coronavirus is over, if it ever is. Even if we are mourning the death of someone we love as I am, we can rejoice because the angel rolled the stone away and sat down on it. That Matthew tells us that the angel sat on the stone after he had moved it makes what is happening more vivid and real almost normal.If you move something that other people don't want moved then sit on it, you are saying if you want to move this back to where it was you have got to move me. I am sure the soldiers would have liked to put the stone back. They were there to ensure that the stone was not moved and would be in trouble when it was found that it had been. But even if they hadn't been terrified at the sight of the angel, how do you move an angel that doesn’t want to be moved?Once the stone was moved and the tomb found empty, and Jesus walking in the garden, there could be no going back to life as it was before. Everything had changed; there are some that feel that the stone never did move, nothing happened. They I am sure feel this for many different reasons, but I think for some of us it is because we don't want to know, because if we do know and believe then our lives have to change. That it is

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difficult to accept that the love of God is as enormous as it isGod's love had won. Through Jesus' resurrection, death had been defeated by the power of God's love. By Jesus’ willing sacrifice and obedience to God.In nearly every difficult situation, as now, there are examples of pure love that shine like a beacon and that I feel comes from God. However, frightening the angel seemed to the women at the tomb, he had after all come to show them and tell them of the best news in the world. Jesus, who was crucified, is risen as he told you he would be, go and tell the disciples. Christ is risen, the tomb is empty tell the good news.Because we have faith and believe in the resurrection of our Lord and all that means we must be witnesses in our lives to that, which brings me back to love. We, who have faith that we are loved by God and believe that this is shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus must be witnesses to that love in the rest of the world. If we believe that Jesus lives and that the resurrection was a world-shaking event, not some vague historical occurrence we have to show that in the way we loveothers. If we believe that because of the risen Lord, we are a part of God's Kingdom then we must with God's help do all we can to bring that kingdom to others. To try to have hope for the world and rejoice today might seem naive, but I don' think it is, whatever is happening, Jesus rose from the dead to give us hope.Today really is the best and most exciting day of the year for me. Christ is risen. Alleluia.

We declare our faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Let us declare our faith in God.

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We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession Blessed are you, Lord God our Father, by whose power our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.We rejoice and celebrate that he who was dead is alive, that he who was buried is risen. Death is conquered, we are free, Christ has won the victory. Lord, make us aware of the presence of the Risen Christ in our lives. Let the church proclaim the good news, 'He is risen!' In the power of the risen Lord, let us lead people out of darkness into light. Christ Jesus, risen in glory, scatter the darkness from our hearts and from your world.Alleluia, Christ is Risen

Risen Lord, as you appeared to Mary in the garden,to the disciples in the Upper Room,to the travellers on the road to Emmaus, be known among us.Christ be in our homes, in our work and in our journeying. Risen Lord, let us walk in your presence and peace. Alleluia Christ is risen

We remember before you all who walk in darkness and fear, all who are weighed down, all who are heavily laden, with the fear of illness, of being in isolation, of no human contact.

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We pray for all those members of our congregations who are sick and especially those who have asked for our prayers . John and Jenny, Celia and Norman, Gina, Helen, Wendy and Dorothy and Elma Schmalz and any others known to us.

We pray for all who have lost hope, of their or others survivalfor all who are approaching death, and for those who are not able to be with them; for those caring for all those who are ill. We pray father that all who are helping others will be kept safe.Alleluia, Christ is risen

We rejoice in the glory of the our Risen Lord and of all your saints who have shared in your triumph over the grave and death.We pray today for our loved ones departed, especially for Lavinia Woodward and her family, that they may rejoice in the glory of your presence. Father hear our prayers we pray.

The PeaceThe risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.Alleluia.The peace of the risen Christ be always with youAnd also with you. Alleluia.

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

Creator of all, you wash away our sins, you give us new birth by the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ.

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As we celebrate the resurrection, renew your gift of life within us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYERThe Lord be with youand also with you.

Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.it is right to give thanks and praise.

Lord of all life, you created the universe, where all living things reflect your glory.You give us this great and beautiful earth, to discover and to cherish.And now we give you thanks because by his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising again he has restored to us eternal life. And so we join the angels to celebrate and sing:Holy, holy, holy Lord,God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you, loving Father, because, when we turned away,you sent Jesus, your Son. He gave his life for us on the crossand shows us the way to live.

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Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and winemay be for us Christ’s body and his blood.

On the night before he died, when darkness had fallen,Jesus took bread. He gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with his disciples, saying:‘This is my body, given for you.Do this to remember me.’

After they had eaten, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and shared it with his disciples, saying:‘This is my blood, poured out for you and for many,for the forgiveness of sins.’

So Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate his love, his death, his risen life. As you feed us with these gifts, send your Holy Spirit, and change us more and more to be like Jesus our Saviour.

Help us, Father, to love one another, as we look forward to that day when suffering is ended, and all creation is gathered in your loving arms. And now with [N and] all your saints we give you glory, through Jesus Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, today and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

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For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Jesus says, I am the bread of life, whoever eats this bread will live for ever.Lord, our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

The president says the invitation to communion Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Silence is kept.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. AmenWe thank you, Lord, that you have fed us in this sacrament,united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all peoples. Amen.

Hymn

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The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God!

From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,our God hath brought us over with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see arightthe Lord in rays eternal of resurrection-light;and, listening to his accents, may hear so calm and plainhis own ‘All hail’, and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful, and earth her song begin,the round world keep high triumph, and all that is therein;let all things seen and unseen their notes of gladness blend,for Christ the Lord is risen, our joy that hath no end.

BlessingGod, who through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the victory, give you joy and peace in your faith; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.

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Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Don’t forget the Sunday Service on Radio 4 and The Daily Media Digest from the C of E available on line

If you would like a daily or occasional phone call, just to chat please let Sue know on 890981

The coming weeks will be difficult for us all as Offerings will be greatly reduced. Envelopes can be kept until the church re-opens, but it would be greatly appreciated if offerings could be made direct to our bank account, please ask for details.

Some thoughts from our congregation about the present situation

Molly wrote- Even though we are in lockdown I have found that staying active and busy is very important and helpful. Fortunately I have been able to spend a lot more time with my family. However, I am not able to go to school and my exams have been cancelled. Thankfully, I can finish most of my schoolwork online so I feel as though I am not as affected by the lockdown as others in the community.

A Message from Margaret

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I have just heard that today is the 250th anniversary of the death of Wordsworth.  A man so well known for his poetry. He had a great affection for the Tintern Abbey area, where he wrote a number of poems. The most famous being “I wandered lonely as a cloud”. Many of us who are confined to the house at present must also be feeling that loneliness. We could make it a special time to reflect on all that really matters, and the message of Easter.  Take heart, the sun is shining and God is with us at this troubled time. Soon we will be up and running again, Happy Easter to all

A Message from Jen

This year it is going to be very strange not to come together at St Dubricius with armfuls of spring flowers to decorate the church for Easter as people have done for centuries.However, our building will be restored eventually and meanwhile we can be thankful for our caring community with so many helpful friends and neighbours in these difficult times

From Celia and Norman

Strange times indeed. With kindly help for shopping and paper delivery, by the kindness of Andrew Pirie, and average age over 91 years we are self isolating Actually we are beginning to enjoy it. Is this world real?and what lies ahead? We have heard today that the Cat family are not immune.Whatever next !

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 Good wishes and love to everyone, Stay Safe.

Please remember these and all our friends in your prayers and send us your own message if you can                        CUSHION NEWS

We were sad to receive the following news from Chris, our treasurer this week. We try to understand their position, but are sorry they took our order before lock down and only told us this when contacted by Chris this week.

News is that the factory is closed at present.They have no idea when it is likely to be opened but will let us know.

Thank you to all who have donated so far, this really helps as the church had to pay up- front for the cushions.

From The DioceseAge UK are offering a free shopping service for the elderly 01743 233 788Citizens Advice have developed a really helpful page which outlines what financial support is available to those struggling- www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/coronavirus-check what benefits you can get

Local Businesses

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WOODS OF WHITCHURCHHurrah for Lucy who continues to expand the range of things available!Now doing on- line orders as well as telephone orders and take aways and ready meals and now plants -prices from £1,50- amazing value! 01600 891021

The Old Court 01600 890367 for details of the drive-thru service

Whitchurch Spice Tandoori (The Crown), is taking orders and delivering.  It doesn’t have a website but has a Facebook page of the same name.  Tel. 01600 890808.  Mobile: 07422404777

Up-date on St Dubricius; The restoration company is happy with the drying out and are coming to check things out, possibly next week

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