2022 Easter Church Service from All Saints Anglican Church in Ponsonby, Auckland

This ecumenical service brings together ministers and laypeople from a wide variety of Christian denominations to celebrate Easter.

The participants are:

• Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross, the acting Director – Mission and Ecumenical – for the Methodist Church

• Rev. Prince Devanandan from the Anglican parish of All Saints

• Rev Jacynthia Murphy from the South Kaipara Anglican Methodist Church

• Rev. Kim Chiwona from the Mt Albert Methodist Church

• Rev. Ivica Gregurec from Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral

• Inha Simkovska from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

• Fr Jean Paul Abou Naoum from St Elias Melkite Catholic Church

• Deacon Nishan Basmajian, from the Armenian Apostolic Church

• Sr Siân Owen from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland

• Fr Joseph Zakariah from St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church

Music provided by New Zealand choirs ranges from familiar seasonal hymns sung all over the world, to those written in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

 

ORDER OF SERVICE

WELCOME

Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross

Kia ora and welcome to this special service for Easter 2022. Today we have an ecumenical celebration drawing together many Christian denominations, international backgrounds and languages, and conducted – as so much of this year has required – in a way which keeps everyone safe in this era of Covid-19.

Rev. Prince Devanandan

We’re talking today from All Saint’s Anglican Church, in Ponsonby, Auckland. But in place of a single church choir, this service draws in music from RNZ’s library of local performances. We’ll hear many choirs performing songs and hymns reflecting Easter.

Sister Siân Owen

On this Easter Day, we celebrate again the Good News of the Resurrection, the Good News of hope and new life, for the world in which we live today.

We join with all Christians throughout Aotearoa/New Zealand, and round the globe, who are united on this Holy Day.

HYMN
Jesus Christ is risen today

Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
who did once, upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, alleluia!
who endured the Cross and grave, alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured, alleluia!
now above the sky he’s king, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing, alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, alleluia!
praise eternal as his love; alleluia!
praise him, all ye heavenly host, alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Each speaker introduces themselves in English and another language reflecting where they were born, or their cultural heritage. You’ll hear greetings in te reo Māori, Croatian, Armenian, Welsh, Zimbabwean, Sri Lankan, Syrian, Arabic, and Ukrainian.

OPENING PRAYER

Deacon Nishan Basmajian

As we wait in awe this day, we pray that the signs of the risen Christ will be made real among us. Be present with us in ways which go deeply into our life, O God, that we may find the passion of your life within us and around us. Amen.

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Rev. Jacynthia Murphy

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Rev. Kim Chiwona

They went to the tomb, just as the sun was beginning to rise.
Eyes downcast, hearts heavy.
But what they found there, shone in their lives forever.
The stone has been rolled away!
The tomb is empty!
Not the shadow of death, but the new Light!
As an Easter people we follow the light of Christ!

Sr Siân Owen

Come. Celebrate the good news.
Let all creation greet the good news with jubilant shout,
for God's love has won.
God's Son has triumphed.
Welcome happy morning!
Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Kia whakamoemiti ki te Atua kia rewa ake ngā reo ki te rangi.
Let us worship God and raise our voices in praise.

Kororia ki a koe e te Atua.
Glory to you, O God.

THE ALLELUIAS

Each speaker proclaims ‘Christ is risen! Alleluia!’ in English and their other language of choice.

Rev. Kim Chiwona

You are risen, O Christ.

Let the Gospel trumpets speak, and the news,
as of holy fire, burning and flaming and inextinguishable,
run to the ends of the earth.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Rev. Prince Devanandan

You are risen, O Christ.

Let all creation greet the good news with jubilant shout,
for its redemption has come,
the long night is past, the ancient trap is sprung.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Deacon Nishan Basmajian

Death and life have engaged each other in a wondrous struggle:
Death is swallowed up in victory.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Fr Joseph Maramkandam Zakariah

Death yields strange gifts to life,
its colours deep and radiant,
life more solid and more real.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Father Jean Paul Abou Naoum

All you that sleep, awake, rise from the dead,
the Light of Dawn will shine upon you.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Inha Simkovska

We bless you, God of love and glory,
utterly giving of your very self in Jesus.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Rev. Ivica Gregurec

In your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

HYMN
This joyful Eastertide

This joyful Eastertide
away with sin and sorrow!
My love, the Crucified,
has sprung to life this morrow.

Refrain:

Had Christ, who once was slain,
not burst his three-day prison,
our faith had been in vain:
but now hath Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen;
arisen!

My flesh in hope shall rest
and for a season slumber
till trump from east to west
shall wake the dead in number.

Refrain

Death's flood has lost its chill
since Jesus crossed the river.
Lover of souls, from ill
my passing soul deliver.

Refrain

PRAYER OF APPROACH

Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross

As we make our prayer of approach…
Risen Lord,
you love us,
you call us,
you change us.
Let us recognise your coming
however gently or dramatically you approach us.
Let us recognise your coming
whoever you use to make yourself known to us.
Let us recognise your coming
whatever time or situation you use to approach us.
Let us recognise your compassionate emergence
into the dark places of or lives,
your generous summons which you constantly utter,
your transforming touch upon the bleak places of our world.
Lord of life, of hope, of resurrection,
we make our prayer in your name, Jesus,
Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Fr Joseph Maramkandam Zakariah

We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ the prayer common to all Christians – Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name – spoken in the language Jesus used, Aramaic.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.   Amen.

A READING FROM ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Rev. Ivica Gregurec

From the Sermon of St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople on the day of Easter.

Those who truly love God, let them take part gladly in this splendid and glorious festival. Those who are faithful servants, let them joyfully enter into the joy of their master. Those who are tired with fasting, let them now enjoy their reward. Those who have worked from six in the morning, let them receive today what is owed them. Those who came after nine o'clock, let them celebrate the festival gratefully. Those who came after twelve o'clock, let them be confident, they will not be deprived. Those who waited until three in the afternoon, let them come forward without hesitation.

Those who came only at five o'clock, let them not be afraid of coming so late. For the master is generous, and takes on the last as he took on the first. He gives rest to those who came at five in the afternoon, as well as to those who came at six in the morning. He rewards work done, and approves those who intended to work.

So enter, all of you, into the joy of our Lord. First and last, receive your reward together. Rich and poor, dance together. Those of you who have fasted, and those who have not fasted, rejoice today. The table is fully spread, let all enjoy it. The calf is fatted, let no one go away hungry.

No one need complain of poverty, for the universal kingdom has appeared.
No one need weep for their sins, for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
No one need fear death, for the Saviour's death has freed us.

He has destroyed death by suffering death.
He has pillaged hell by descending into hell.
Hell was embittered when it met you, Lord, face to face below:
embittered, because it was annihilated;
embittered, because it was mocked;
embittered, because its power was destroyed;
embittered, because it was chained up.
It received a body, and encountered God. It received earth, and confronted heaven.

O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are thrown down.
Christ is risen, and the demons have fallen.
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns in freedom.
Christ is risen, and no one is left dead in the grave.
For Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
To him be glory and dominion now and for ever. Amen.

A READING FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Inha Simkovska

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality,
but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
You know the message he sent to the people of Israel,
preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all.
That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee
after the baptism that John announced:
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;
how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.

We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.
They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;
but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,
not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses,
 and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one
ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him
receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

A READING FROM ST PAUL'S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

Father Jean Paul Abou Naoum

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who have died.
For since death came through a human being,
the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;
for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.
But each in his own order:
Christ the first fruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end,
when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father,
after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

ANTHEM
He is risen

He is risen, he is risen:
tell it out with joyful voice;
he has burst his three days’ prison;
let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; all are free,
Christ has won the victory.

Come, ye sad and fearful hearted,
with glad smile and radiant brow;
Lent’s long shadows have departed,
all his woes are over now,
and the passion that he bore,
sin and pain can vex no more.

Come with high and holy hymning,
chant our Lord’s triumphant lay;
not one darksome cloud is dimming
yonder glorious morning ray,
breaking o’er the purple East,
brighter far our Easter feast.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Fr Joseph Maramkandam Zakariah

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw
that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple,
the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,
and we do not know where they have laid him."
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
The two were running together,
but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there,
but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.
He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head,
not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first,
also went in, and he saw and believed;
for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;
and she saw two angels in white,
sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying,
one at the head and the other at the feet.
They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord,
and I do not know where they have laid him."
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,
"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him,
and I will take him away. "Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me,
because I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and say to them,
'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
"I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

HYMN
Christ is alive

Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!
Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate
in a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering
is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,
here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,
and we sing alleluia,
we sing alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity
to the music of God, God who has set us free!
You are the pulse of the new creation's energy;
with a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

REFLECTION

Sr Siân Owen

CELEBRATING OUR FAITH

Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross

Let us celebrate our Easter faith,
that in life, in death,
in life beyond death,
Jesus Christ is Lord.

Over powers and principalities,
over all who determine, control,
govern or finance the affairs of humankind,
Jesus Christ is Lord.

Of the poor, of the broken,
of the sinned against and the sinner,
Jesus Christ is Lord.

Above the Church,
beyond our most excellent theologies
and in the quiet corners of our hearts,
Jesus Christ is Lord.

Thanks be to God.

HYMN
He came singing love

He came singing love
and he lived singing love;
he died singing love.
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

He came singing faith
and he lived singing faith;
he died singing faith.
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers 

He came singing hope
and he lived singing hope;
he died singing hope.
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

He came singing peace
and he lived singing peace;
he died singing peace.
He arose in silence.
For the peace to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Rev. Kim Chiwona

THE PEACE

Deacon Nishan Basmajian

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said:
‘Peace be with you!’ The they were glad when they saw the Lord.

Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be always with you.

BLESSING AND BENEDICTION

Rev. Kim Chiwona

May we go out into the world rejoicing
and proclaiming our Risen Lord!

Inha Simkovska

May the wonder of Easter break forth anew in us,
and bring us peace and justice
for those we love and in all the earth,
on this day and in the days to come.

Rev. Prince Devanandan

In the name of the Great Creator, the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit of God.
Amen.

All speakers offer Easter wishes to the RNZ audience

Happy Easter!

HYMN
Thine be the glory

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where his body lay.

Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Refrain

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Refrain

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This service could not have been made without the support of Reverend Tony Franklin-Ross, the Acting Director – Mission and Ecumenical – for the Methodist Church of New Zealand. RNZ is extremely grateful for his contribution, and for Rev. Prince Devanandan of All Saints Anglican Church in Ponsonby, where the recording was made. The support of all those involved is acknowledged with thanks.

The recording for RNZ was engineered by Adrian Hollay. Robyn Jacquiery was the music producer, and Paul Bushnell the producer and editor.

 

MUSIC DETAILS

Artist: Auckland Youth Choir
Song: Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Composer: Anon. Tune: Easter Hymn
Album: Private recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: This Joyful Eastertide
Composer: Woodward
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: The Graduate Choir
Song: He is Risen
Composer: Madden
Album: Atoll

Artist: Titahi Bay Gospel Chapel
Song: Christ is Alive
Composer: Shirley Murray
Album: Private recording

Artist: City of Dunedin Choir
Song: He came Singing Love
Composer: Colin Gibson
Album: Private recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Thine be the Glory
Composer: Traditional
Album: RNZ recording