The day of resurrection dawns

as angels wait beside the grave;

not to awake a sleeping world

but waiting to declare: “He saves”

For women in the early light

and men hid in an upper room,

where grief has blotted out the hope,

a dawning light invades the gloom.

So hearts that broke hear cries of joy

as now the angel voices say:

“He has been raised, he is not here,

but goes before you on the way.”

Where darkness ruled the Christ light shines:

The Prince of Peace has ransacked death.

His victory is ours by grace,

his freedom claims our every breath.

Recommended tune: Church Triumphant

Copyright © Gareth Hill Publishing/Song Solutions CopyCare, 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, TN22 1QG www.songsolutions.org

The desolate Messiah dies

spreadeagled on the cross:

unwanted by the earth he made,

Death’s trophy to the world displayed

and, as the final scene is played,

all hope is lost.

The disregarded Christ hangs high

as nations turn away.

How can a king be weak in power

and leave earth in its crisis hour?

And how will liberation flower

or Death give way?

Yet silently, as morning breaks,

the risen Lord is found.

A battle fought beyond the grave

has ended with a shout: ‘He saves!’

and Life walks from a borrowed cave,

now holy ground.

Beneath the shadow of his cross

the Church of Christ must stand,

and hold a holy mystery:

that death means life at Calvary

and grace has won the victory

for all the world.

Recommended tune: here

Copyright © Gareth Hill Publishing/Song Solutions CopyCare, 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, TN22 1QG www.songsolutions.org

To God we come and lift our voices high;

children of hope, we sing his majesty!

Called to be faithful to the Lord of life

- to change the world, one person at a time.

In faith we build communities of Grace;

hold broken lives for God’s love to retrace.

Ours are the faces and the feet he’ll use

to change the world, one person at a time.

Our lives become a song of hope for all:

'Jesus is Lord' is now our clarion call!

God’s chosen people take it to the streets

to change the world, one person at a time.

Open the doors, let none be left inside:

send us to share with all who fear the light.

Praise God who calls his Church to dare to go

and change the world, one person at a time.

Recommended tune: Go Forth

Copyright © Gareth Hill Publishing/Song Solutions CopyCare, 14 Horsted Square, Uckfield, TN22 1QG www.songsolutions.org

We bring a sacrifice of praise,

Through Jesus Christ your Son.

Fruit of our lips we bring to you

Father, who makes us one.

We long to give you pleasure, Lord,

Help us to worship you.

Called to adore the great I Am

Father, whose word is true.

Called to be children of the light,

Saved from the power of sin;

We praise your work in songs of joy,

Father, who reigns within.

We are your church, unite us now

In holiness and love.

Called out of sin we turn to you

Father, who reigns  above.

Use us to build your kingdom Lord,

Through Jesus Christ your Son;

Fruit of our lives we bring to you

Father, who makes us one.

Recommended tune: St Agnes (Dyke)

We wait in hope for hope to come:

promised of old; the righteous one.

Help us to watch, expect and pray

and then to greet Messiah's day.

We read the story of your plan:

this world redeemed by heaven's Son.

Grace breaks upon the present time;

mercy and hope through David's line.

We hear the prophet's voice ring clear:

'changed hearts and lives are needed here'.

So, when the Spirit fires your Church,

make us a sign for all who search.

We go to share this great Good News:

heirs of the promise - we will choose

to live in hope that all may sing

praises to Christ, the infant king.

Recommended tune: Deep Harmony

What quality of love is this

that washes a betrayer’s feet?

What kind of majesty, a king

who kneels before a friend’s deceit?

It is a love for those, like me

who know of grace but choose to sin;

a love that waits until I must

return to Calvary again.

What quality of ruler, this

who lays aside his royal right?

What kind of power which takes a towel

and stoops to lift our blinkered sight?

This is the ruler of all realms

and yet the one who calls me friend;

the one who, knowing what would come,

still chose to love me to the end.

What quality of Saviour comes

to bring salvation by his death?

What kind of battle-plan to hang

forsaken, beaten and bereft?

This is the Saviour who, for me,

endured the cross with all its shame;

who, dying for a world, can still

remember and call out my name.

Recommended tune: St Patrick

When innocence is fractured

by nature’s shifting force,

and paradise is ruptured

as life is swept off course.

We come to pray our questions,

we come to share our grief;

in this, our act of worship,

to say that we believe.

As headlines overwhelm us

and make us close our minds;

as news from distant islands

brings death before our eyes.

We seek a hope to cling to,

a refuge to embrace;

lest in the grip of knowing

we lose our hold on grace.

How dare we speak of heaven

made human for our sakes,

or preach a loving Father

when seas and mountains quake?

We dare because our story

speaks of a love that came

to bear the cost of dying

and still would do the same.

In Christ our souls take refuge,

though not to hide from truth:

we face each anguished question

with faith, if not with proof.

We hear his wistful question:

“And will you leave me too?”

Though all the world should crumble,

We hope, O Christ, in you.

Recommended tune: Aurelia

When mountains that we thought secure

lie crumbled where we stand

and pain and helplessness endure

- all from another’s hand -

Help us to bear the prophet’s mark,

to stand apart from hate

and witness to the Father’s call

for justice in the land.

God is our strength and refuge still

though all the earth give way;

our help at every time of ill,

the light of our dark day.

And as his people in the world

we bear the scars of grief,

but echo faith’s resounding note

- and still for justice pray.

There is a place of holiness

where God makes warfare cease.

There is a day of hopefulness,

a promised time of peace.

So, here today, we bear the pain
of inhumanity,
but pledge our lives to live for truth
so justice may increase

Recommended tune: Vox Dilecti

When the waves are crashing

And my faith is drowning

'tho I may forget you

Hold me, Lord

When the cliffs are steepest

And my hope is weakest

'tho I fail to trust you

Hold me lord.

When dark clouds have gathered

And my love is battered

'tho I may desert you

Hold me Lord.

Faith may be eternal,

Hope will last forever;

greater still is love that

Holds me Lord.