Holy Saturday
A warm welcome to our service which has been prepared by our worship group.
Today, you will find links to reflective music to listen to before and after the reading. It is suggested that whilst reading through the Bible reading, you might like to do this is silence.
A warm welcome to our service which has been prepared by our worship group.
Today, you will find links to reflective music to listen to before and after the reading. It is suggested that whilst reading through the Bible reading, you might like to do this is silence.
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What just happened?
On Saturday the disciples stayed indoors: uncertain, bewildered, grieving for their friend; feeling the pain of betrayal and the guilt of abandonment; wondering how things had gone so wrong so quickly; scared of what was to come. Lord, this Holy Saturday we come to you in a world that changed utterly almost overnight, equally bewildered and scared. Some of us are grieving, or are afraid for ourselves, our families, friends and colleagues. We wonder how long this epidemic is going to last, and what kind of world we will emerge into when it is over. Help us to remember that, no matter how dark things seem, you are with us in our fear, our grief, our loneliness. Strengthen all the emergency services personnel, all the key workers, and everyone bearing the weight of difficult decisions. Although we have retreated into our homes, do not let us retreat into ourselves. Help us always to keep in mind those less fortunate: those who do not have homes to retreat to, and those for whom home is not a sanctuary but a prison. Help us not to despair: to remember that this present crisis is only temporary. When it is over, strengthen our resolve to help make the world a better place for everyone. And help us always to remember that, just as the darkness of that first Easter Saturday broke into the glorious dawn of Easter Day, one day all pain, all fear, and all grief will end and we will live in your presence for ever. Amen |
Reflective Music – Margaret Rizza – Calm me Lord
John 19:38-42: The Burial of Jesus
After this, Joseph, who was from the town of Arimathea, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but in secret, because he was afraid of the Jewish authorities.) Pilate told him he could have the body, so Joseph went and took it away.
Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, went with Joseph, taking with him about 30 kilogrammes of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes.
The two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen with the spices according to the Jewish custom of preparing a body for burial.
There was a garden in the place where Jesus had been put to death, and in it there was a new tomb where no one had ever been buried.
Since it was the day before the Sabbath and because the tomb was close by, they placed Jesus’ body there. Amen.
After this, Joseph, who was from the town of Arimathea, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a follower of Jesus, but in secret, because he was afraid of the Jewish authorities.) Pilate told him he could have the body, so Joseph went and took it away.
Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, went with Joseph, taking with him about 30 kilogrammes of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes.
The two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen with the spices according to the Jewish custom of preparing a body for burial.
There was a garden in the place where Jesus had been put to death, and in it there was a new tomb where no one had ever been buried.
Since it was the day before the Sabbath and because the tomb was close by, they placed Jesus’ body there. Amen.
Reflection - A reading from an ancient homily ‘For the Holy and Great Sabbath’
What is this? This silence over all the earth? What is this silence and solitude? It is a great silence, for the King sleeps. The earth was silent and afraid; for God sleeps in the flesh and raises from slumber those who slept from ages past. God has died in the flesh and death is shaken.
Straightaway, he goes to seek out our first parent, as a shepherd searches for the lost sheep. He will visit those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death: captive Adam, captive Eve. He will end their grief, he who is God, and Adam’s child.
The Master goes to them, holding the cross, the weapon of his triumph. Adam, our first parent, sees him, beats his breast in awe and cries out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ Grasping him by the hand he raises him, saying, ‘Awake, sleeper! Rise from the dead and Christ shall be your light. I am your God, who for your sake became your child. For you and your descendants I speak and command those who were in chains: Go forth! And those in darkness: Be light! And those who sleep: Awake!
I command you: Awake, you sleeper. I did not create you to be held in the fetters of death. Rise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Rise, work of my hands; rise, my image, created in my likeness. Rise, let us go from here. For you in me and I in you, we are one person, one go undivided.
What is this? This silence over all the earth? What is this silence and solitude? It is a great silence, for the King sleeps. The earth was silent and afraid; for God sleeps in the flesh and raises from slumber those who slept from ages past. God has died in the flesh and death is shaken.
Straightaway, he goes to seek out our first parent, as a shepherd searches for the lost sheep. He will visit those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death: captive Adam, captive Eve. He will end their grief, he who is God, and Adam’s child.
The Master goes to them, holding the cross, the weapon of his triumph. Adam, our first parent, sees him, beats his breast in awe and cries out to all: ‘My Lord be with you all.’ And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ Grasping him by the hand he raises him, saying, ‘Awake, sleeper! Rise from the dead and Christ shall be your light. I am your God, who for your sake became your child. For you and your descendants I speak and command those who were in chains: Go forth! And those in darkness: Be light! And those who sleep: Awake!
I command you: Awake, you sleeper. I did not create you to be held in the fetters of death. Rise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Rise, work of my hands; rise, my image, created in my likeness. Rise, let us go from here. For you in me and I in you, we are one person, one go undivided.
Collect
Almighty and eternal God,
You ordained that in the death of Christ
the world should know
the darkness of abandonment; we beg you,
flood your Church with the radiant light
of Your Son, now risen from death,
so that without doubt or fear
Your people may walk in the way of salvation.
through Jesus Christ, our life
now and forever.
Almighty and eternal God,
You ordained that in the death of Christ
the world should know
the darkness of abandonment; we beg you,
flood your Church with the radiant light
of Your Son, now risen from death,
so that without doubt or fear
Your people may walk in the way of salvation.
through Jesus Christ, our life
now and forever.
Reflective Music – Margaret Rizza – A Blessing
You are most welcome to join us tomorrow morning at 10.30am
for our Easter Sunday Service
On the services page or Facebook
for our Easter Sunday Service
On the services page or Facebook
© 2020 St Ninian's Parish Church.
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
Scottish Charity Number SC007453
