Grays Beach, Easter Sunday, 24 April 2011
This morning we held a simple Sunrise Service on the banks of the River Thames. It was a perfect dawn – the swollen slack-watered silver river hung languid and lazy between tides, and the stirless dawn air stood still and silent, yet to be polluted by the day’s haze and summer smog.
A blood red sun peeked above the parapet of pastel factories and flats, soon to turn a luminous blaze of orange, and then a majestic golden orb. Here the seven of us stood, working our way through a gentle liturgy of declaration and free prayer, captivated by the Creator’s creation revealed in grandeur around us. All was fixed; all was fluid. The never-changing God ever-changing us and our world.
And as we prayed, the teetering tide turned and made its way back out to sea and lands beyond like so many heavily laden liners from Tilbury. Wine, salt, oil and seeds were poured into the waters and onto the land…
RESURRECTION – A LITURGY OF CELEBRATION
“Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Proclamation:
The Sabbath night has passed; the Sabbath day begins.
The tomb is empty – Jesus is risen from the dead!
Christ is the resurrection and the life!
Behold he was dead, but now he is alive for evermore!
All look to the West
Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4
Pray with thanksgiving for the night just passed and for the receding darkness, both natural and spiritual, across the land of Thurrock
All look to the East
Reading: Isaiah 60:1-5
Pray for the blessing of the light of day and the Light of Jesus over Grays and Thurrock
Hymn/Chorus
Reading: John 20:1-10 – The Empty Tomb
Communion
The remaining bread and wine are symbolically thrown into the River Thames or onto the land as a sign of the redemption that was, is and is to come.
Prayers of thanksgiving for the Resurrection and for Christ’s redemption over Grays and Thurrock, past, present and future.
Hymn/Chorus
Reading: John 20:11-18 – Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
Prayers for our own revelation of Jesus and walk with Christ.
Salt is symbolically thrown into the River Thames or onto the land as a sign of our ‘being salt and light’ to the community, and also to ‘make the land fruitful’.
Hymn/Chorus
Reading: John 20:19-23 – Jesus appears to his disciples
Prayer for the Holy Spirit’s work through the corporate Church’s witness and work in Grays and Thurrock; and ‘that they may be brought into complete unity’.
Olive Oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, is poured into the River Thames or onto the land as a sign of healing and anointing.
Hymn/Chorus
Reading: John 20:24-29 – Jesus appears to Thomas
Prayer for the wider community of Grays and Thurrock
Mustard seeds are thrown into the River Thames or onto the land as a sign of ‘faith the size of a mustard seed’ growing into a mustard tree
Hymn/Chorus
Proclamation:
The Sabbath night has passed; the Sabbath day begins.
The tomb is empty – Jesus is risen from the dead!
Christ is the resurrection and the life!
Behold he was dead, but now he is alive forever more!
Easter Sunrise Services were also held at One Tree Hill, in the east of the borough, and St Clement’s Church, West Thurrock.
