Pray:  
Lord, now that the pressures of additional services and special events for Easter are over and we are getting back to normal, may we not forget the vital importance of all that happened at Easter. For if we have no message to share, we really have no hope. Forgive us for failing to allow the events of Easter to change our lives – open our hearts both to your forgiveness and to our share in your mission going forward. We ask that you would make real to us the joy of Jesus’ risen presence even as we sing our Easter praise. Bridge the gap between the events of Holy Week 2000 years ago and our lives today. Accept our praises and accept us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Thought- We all know that after Christmas people can be quite deflated – the festivities over, the house looking rather bare after the decorations and/or tree come down. Is there perhaps something similar after Easter? We’re taking time today to go over the Easter story (mostly through songs and hymns) and with just a few short readings. It’s intended to draw together the various events of the “first” Easter so that we can see them as a whole and so we can be encouraged to see the importance of living in the light of Easter right the way through the year. So, in one service we have a flavour of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Day and there is a pointer to the fact that, just as the disciples on the Emmaus Road were privileged to meet with Jesus their Risen Lord, so we can know his power and presence each and every day of our lives. Easter may well be a focus for our faith but it is also a springboard for our worship and service. Easter must be more than a passing thought, more than simply the date on a calendar. Easter Day 2023 is past – but the reality of Easter lives on. We are called to walk with, worship and serve, our Risen Saviour, alive and risen, with us still now and every day. He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Pray : Lord, we get worked up when things don’t turn out as we expect, as we hope for and often look around seeking to blame others, possibly ourselves, sometimes even you. The world isn’t as you planned, our community is better than many others but has its faults and certainly there are many, near and far, whose lives are too full of strife, sorrow and worry. Remind us of Thomas, who expected things to happen in the way he had worked out but who later recognised you as his Lord and God and realised that that changed everything for him. Draw near to us and to all who need your loving touch. Open eyes and hearts to your transforming love, assure all in need of your continued and caring presence even and especially in times of deep distress and need. Show us that change can be good and even when it involves us in letting go of things that are dear you, the dearest of all, are always there for us. Bless those going through times of change, struggle, danger, deep sorrow, loneliness of loss and make yourself known to them and to us as you did to Thomas – and grant your blessing in fullest measure. In our prayer walk this week we remember those who live or work in  Paton's Lane and Christie's Lane. SILENCE. Hear and answer all our prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pray: Lord, we get worked up when things don’t turn out as we expect, as we hope for and often look around seeking to blame others, possibly ourselves, sometimes even you. The world isn’t as you planned, our community is better than many others but has its faults and certainly there are many, near and far, whose lives are too full of strife, sorrow and worry. Remind us of Thomas, who expected things to happen in the way he had worked out but who later recognised you as his Lord and God and realised that that changed everything for him. Draw near to us and to all who need your loving touch. Open eyes and hearts to your transforming love, assure all in need of your continued and caring presence even and especially in times of deep distress and need. Show us that change can be good and even when it involves us in letting go of things that are dear you, the dearest of all, are always there for us. Bless those going through times of change, struggle, danger, deep sorrow, loneliness of loss and make yourself known to them and to us as you did to Thomas – and grant your blessing in fullest measure. In our prayer walk this week we remember those who live or work in  Paton's Lane and Christie's Lane. SILENCE. Hear and answer all our prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessing - May the Lord bless you. Amen.