Beach Service

Easter Sunday, 31st march 2024

Welcome

Host

It was early in the morning, in a place of death, that the disciples first learnt that Jesus had risen; and that their friend and teacher was so much more than they could possibly have imagined.

Today, we who have gathered in this place, remember that first Easter morning: when desolation turned to hope, grief turned to wonder, and life triumphed over death. Let’s celebrate together!

Worship

I cast my mind to Calvary

Where Jesus bled and died for me

I see His wounds His hands His feet

My Saviour on that cursed tree

His body bound and drenched in tears

They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb

The entrance sealed by heavy stone

Messiah still and all alone

O praise the Name of the Lord our God

O praise His Name forevermore

For endless days we will sing Your praise

Oh Lord oh Lord our God

Then on the third at break of dawn

The Son of heaven rose again

O trampled death where is your sting

The angels roar for Christ the King

O praise the Name of the Lord our God

O praise His Name forevermore

For endless days we will sing Your praise

Oh Lord oh Lord our God

He shall return in robes of white

The blazing sun shall pierce the night

And I will rise among the saints

My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face

O praise the Name of the Lord our God

O praise His Name forevermore

For endless days we will sing Your praise

Oh Lord oh Lord our God

There is a joyful song

Rising from grateful hearts

Thank You for the cross

No longer bound by sin

Fully alive in Him

Love has set us free

Ever true

Let the song ring out today

Sing as one

And proclaim His name forever

Sing it out Jesus is alive

Tell the world Jesus is alive

Death is defeated and love has won

Sing it out Jesus is alive

So let our song be heard

And let our light be seen

Heaven touching earth

Good news for everyone

New life for everyone

Hope for all the world

Ever true

Let the song ring out today

Sing as one

And proclaim His name forever

Sing it out Jesus is alive

Tell the world Jesus is alive

Death is defeated and love has won

Sing it out Jesus is alive

Jesus is alive

Sing it out Jesus is alive

Tell the world Jesus is alive

Death is defeated and love has won

Sing it out Jesus is alive

Bible reading: Mark 16:1–8 (NRSV)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Prayer

Jesus Christ, Lord of the morning,

rising with the sun of the new day.

In the garden still damp with early-morning dew

we find an empty tomb –

you are not here!

You stand beside us risen and glorified.

You have destroyed death.

You have broken the chains of oppression.

You have gone before us

into the darkest places

and have made them holy.

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and for ever,

yours is the victory.

In this place, as earth begins to wake,

we welcome you,

Jesus Christ our guest.

Be with us this day and for evermore

Amen

Host

As we welcome the risen Jesus into our midst, we remember that the risen Jesus welcomes us, too, just as He welcomed those first disciples, on a beach, not long after He rose.

Bible reading: John 20:1-14 (NLT)

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them — fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

Reading

When Jesus met Peter on that beach,

after Peter had denied knowing him three times,

Jesus didn’t:

confront him and make him feel small;

hold a grudge for years;

ask him to grovel and plead in the sand;

order him to work hard for his forgiveness.

When Peter met Jesus on that beach,

after he had denied knowing him three times,

Jesus asked him three times:

‘Do you love me?’

And then he gave him a new start, a fresh beginning.

‘Come, be my disciple,’ he said, ‘follow me.’

When we meet Jesus each morning,

after another day of ups and downs,

Jesus doesn’t:

confront us and make us feel small;

hold a grudge for years;

ask us to grovel and plead in the sand;

order us to work hard for our forgiveness.

Instead, Jesus asks us again:

‘Do you love me?’

even with the little love we have,

and he offers us a new start, a fresh beginning.

‘Come, be my disciple,’ he says, ‘follow me.’

Host

Jesus asks the disciples to bring some of the fish they’d caught. He didn’t actually need that fish. He’d already prepared breakfast but gave the disciples the opportunity to partner with Him. And on this Easter Sunday, where we celebrate that there is perfect victory in Jesus, and we don’t need to do anything to earn our salvation, we can also celebrate that He calls us to follow Him afresh and gives us the opportunity to partner with Him in the ongoing work of His Kingdom.

Worship

Who O Lord could save themselves

Their own soul could heal

Our shame was deeper than the sea

Your grace is deeper still

(REPEAT)

And You alone can rescue

You alone can save

You alone can lift us from the grave

You came down to find us led us out of death

To You alone belongs the highest praise

You O Lord have made a way

The great divide You healed

For when our hearts were far away

Your love went further still

Yes Your love goes further still

And You alone can rescue

You alone can save

You alone can lift us from the grave

You came down to find us led us out of death

To You alone belongs the highest praise

We lift up our eyes

Lift up our eyes

You're the giver of life

We lift up our eyes

Lift up our eyes

You're the giver of life

We lift up our eyes

Lift up our eyes

You're the giver of life

We lift up our eyes

Lift up our eyes

You're the giver of life

And You alone can rescue

You alone can save

You alone can lift us from the grave

You came down to find us led us out of death

To You alone belongs the highest praise

Prayer

Living God, we worship you today with joy in our hearts and thanksgiving on our lips. When the powers of evil had done their worst, crucifying your son, and burying him in death, you raised him to life again: an act of power, giving hope to the world.

Lord Jesus, we rejoice that death could not keep you in its grip; that you were raised to life, alive for evermore. You greeted your friends and now you stand amongst us in your risen power.

Spirit of God, you are always giving life to the people of God, giving birth to children of God. Remodel us in the image of Jesus, fill us with his love and enable us with his risen power, that we might be faithful to his way, used by you in the redeeming of your world.

Amen

Host

We’re going to have breakfast together shortly. And, like those first disciples, we’re going to have breakfast with the risen Jesus! He may not have physically cooked the breakfast, but He is there with us, and we are thankful for those who have prepared it!

The following resources have been used:

Prayers : Easter Sunday: A Dawn Service, Dave Broom

Fresh Start (When Jesus met Peter): Dave Hopwood, engageworship.org

“O Praise The Name (Anástasis)” words and music by Benjamin Hastings, Dean Ussher, Marty Sampson

Used by permission. CCLI Licence #3693

“Jesus Is Alive” words and music by Becky Frith

Used by permission. CCLI Licence #3693

“You Alone Can Rescue” words and music by Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman

Used by permission. CCLI Licence #3693