Notes of the Meeting Sunday 4th April 2021

Lee Street Church

Notes of Meeting- 4th April 2021 – Easter Day

 

Worship time led by Brian Legg

Easter means lots of things – two Bank Holidays, eggs, egg hunts, bunnies, Easter bonnets,, hot cross buns, coloured boiled eggs.

But we’re together to celebrate just one thing – the words brought by one angel to a woman outside a tomb: “He’s not here – He has risen, just as He said”.

Song: Come on and celebrate

 

COME ON AND CELEBRATE

His gift of love, we will celebrate

The Son of God who loved us

And gave us life.

We’ll shout Your praise, O King,

You give us joy nothing else can bring,

We’ll give to You our offering

In celebration praise.

 

Come on and celebrate,

Celebrate,

Celebrate and sing,

Celebrate and sing to the King.

Come on and celebrate,

Celebrate,

Celebrate and sing,

Celebrate and sing to the King.

 

READING: Matthew 28: 1 – 10

 

1

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

4

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

7

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ’He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you."

8

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

10

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

 

SONG: Thine be the glory

 

THINE BE THE GLORY,

Risen, conquering Son;

Endless is the victory

Thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment

Rolled the stone away,

Kept the folded grave-clothes

Where Thy body lay.

 

Thine be the glory,

Risen, conquering Son;

Endless is the victory

Thou o’er death hast won!

 

Lo, Jesus meets us,

Risen from the tomb!

Lovingly He greets us,

Scatters fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness

Hymns of triumph sing,

For her Lord now liveth,

Death hath lost its sting.

 

No more we doubt Thee,

Glorious Prince of life;

Life is naught without Thee:

Aid us in our strife;

Make us more than conquerors,

Through Thy deathless love;

Lead us in Thy triumph

To Thy home above.

 

Contributions by Congregation

Christine Cowell shared some thoughts.

When Ken and I went to Spain on holiday a few years ago I found this in a Church bookshop.  What love!

 I looked up the meaning of propitiation and found it meant atonement, reconciliation, restoration and returning something to a former owner.  So through Jesus we have a return made possible that restores friendly relations with God.

 Many hymn and chorus writers had a lot to say about Calvary and Jesus’ love.  Here are a few.

Out there among the hills, my Saviour died.

Pierced by those cruel nails was crucified.

Lord Jesus Thou hast done all this for me

 Henceforward I would live only for Thee.

 

On Calvary’s tree He died for me

That I His love might know

To set me free, He died for me

Oh, how I love Him so.

 

It’s just like Him to take my sins away

To make me glad and free

To keep me day by day.

It’s just like Him to give His life for me

That I might go to Heaven and ever with Him be.

.

No more, no more, God remembers sin no more

Pardoned forever and He will never bring them up against me anymore.

I hear no more of the evil days of yore.

I’m a pardoned offender and God will remember my sin no more.

 

Love so amazing, so divine........

 

He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive forever more.

Jesus is risen from the dead.

 

There is no love like the love of Jesus never to fail or fall.

Jesus, my Lord, will love me forever.

He gave me beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the spirit of praise for the spirit of heaviness

Thank you Jesus!

Jacqueline Brewell then shared and gave thanks for some of the blessings she has seen and experienced over the past months.

She introduced a thoughtful video – available on YouTube sung by Chris Tomlin entitled At the Cross (Love Ran Red)

 

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heav'n and voices raise;
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
sing to God a hymn of praise:
he who on the cross a victim
for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory,
now is risen from the dead.

2 Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits
of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance
at his second coming yield:
then the golden ears of harvest
will their heads before him wave,
ripened by his glorious sunshine
from the furrows of the grave.

3 Alleluia! Alleluia! 
Glory be to God on high;
alleluia to the Savior,
who has won the victory;
alleluia to the Spirit, 
fount of love and sanctity.
Alleluia! Alleluia
to the Triune Majesty.

 

Ken’s Message

The disciples who were changed by the resurrection of Jesus.

 

John 20 19-23 ….

19

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

20

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

22

And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

23

If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

 

The Resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in Jesus' life. Christmas and

his death mean nothing without the resurrection of Jesus. There is no salvation

without his resurrection and our faith is useless.

 

But did it really happen? Many would say that unless I see Jesus I won't

believe. That's what Thomas said so Jesus revealed himself to him, but also said

that the only way to know He is alive today is not by sight but by faith. (John 20. 29).

 

What difference does it make to believe that Jesus rose from the dead? We can see

what it meant to those disciples who met on the that first Easter Sunday

evening. They met together but it wasn't a happy gathering for they had 4 big

problems.

 

Firstly, they were full of sorrow because their best friend and hero had died three

days before. He didn't die naturally like us but was executed as a criminal, even

though he hadn't done anything wrong. They couldn't understand it and were

shocked because it happened though he had told them. If a member of a family or a

friend dies it bring great sorrow especially if it happens suddenly. That has

happened to many people during the corona virus. The death of Jesus was a big

problem for these disciples.

 

Secondly, they were full of fear of the Jews.(v19) They were in "lockdown" hiding

from them. The Jews had been largely responsible for the death of Jesus asking

Pilate to crucify him. The disciples were thinking that they would be the next to be

killed. That was a real fear.

 

Thirdly, their lives were now empty because Jesus wasn't with them. When they

were with him he gave them something to live for and it great serving him. They left

their jobs to follow him but now with him dead there was nothing to live for and life

didn't seem worth living. The disciples' lives didn't seem worth living as they had lost their

purpose.

 

Fourthly, they were now weak with no courage or power. When Jesus was arrested they

all ran away in fear. with Jesus they were strong but now without him they were seen to be

weak. They couldn't understand how this happened. Many people face similar problems

which they can't overcome. How did these disciples overcome their problems? There was

one simple answer.

 

Jesus rose from the dead and came to them.(v19) He came through the door without

opening it in his new resurrection body. Then he spoke to them; "Peace be with you" saying

the same words twice. Their fear was gone and he gave them peace. They still had their

problems so how could they have peace? They had peace because Jesus was with them.

Peace in the Bible doesn't mean an absence of trouble and trial but having Jesus with us in

the trial. Jesus is the Prince of peace so if he is with us then we have peace.

 

Then they had their sadness taken away and had joy. (The disciples were overjoyed when

they saw the Lord.") v20 Again the problems remained but they had joy. Why was this?

"They saw the Lord". If our focus is on Jesus we can joy in the most difficult times. The

source of joy is Jesus himself. We are commanded to "Rejoice in the Lord always". That

means in every circumstance, providing our eyes on Jesus and not the problems around us.

They had the emptiness removed with purpose. They were given a new task to do. ("As the

Father sent me so I am sending you") v21 They were to be witnesses of Jesus to the world.

Through their witness people would believe in Jesus and receive eternal life. What a

wonderful job to be sent by Jesus to be his ambassadors in the world. There was only one

problem, they were too weak to do that task. Jesus had the answer already prepared.

Their weakness was replaced by the power of the Holy Spirit. ("Receive the Holy Spirit") v22

They received the Spirit but later at Pentecost they would be filled with the Holy Spirit so

they could be witnesses for Jesus. We know what happened after as the gospel spread throughout the world.

 

The resurrection of Jesus isn't just an historical fact but it is a transforming spiritual

experience. The risen Christ takes up residence in us. That is the real miracle of Easter.

Through his life within us our fear is replaced by his peace, our sadness by his joy, our

emptiness by his purpose and our weakness by his power.

" Christ in you, the hope of glory" Colossians 1.27. Hallelujah for Easter!

 

Closing Song: There is a Redeemer

 

THERE IS A REDEEMER,

Jesus, God’s own Son,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

Holy One.

 

Thank You, O my Father,

For giving us Your Son,

And leaving Your Spirit—

Till the work on earth is done.

 

Jesus my Redeemer,

Name above all names,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

O for sinners slain.

 

When I stand in glory

I will see His face,

And there I’ll serve my King forever

In that holy place.

 

 

Notices

  1. There is NO Bible Study on Wednesday this week.
  2. Next Sunday, we will be sharing in the Breaking of Bread.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
28/03/2024

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