:00:16. > :00:28.Welcome to Hereford Cathedral on Easter Day - the day
:00:29. > :00:34.I'm standing by the shrine of Hereford's Saxon Saint,
:00:35. > :00:40.Perhaps not one of the more famous saints of England -
:00:41. > :00:42.but he's one whose life, nevertheless, speaks of courage
:00:43. > :00:51.Ethelbert's story reminds us that, since his life and death
:00:52. > :00:54.over 1,200 years ago, worship has been offered on this
:00:55. > :00:57.site, and pilgrims have come to this holy place to seek God,
:00:58. > :00:59.to seek encouragement for the journey and to
:01:00. > :01:01.find Jesus Christ - who lived among us, died
:01:02. > :01:13.We welcome you all this morning as fellow pilgrims,
:01:14. > :01:15.joining our congregation gathered here in Hereford
:01:16. > :01:17.and pray that you, too, will discover the Risen Christ -
:01:18. > :01:20.in Word and Sacrament and in hymns of praise.
:01:21. > :04:01.BISHOP: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
:04:02. > :04:06.BISHOP: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
:04:07. > :04:08.and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
:04:09. > :04:16.Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this most holy day,
:04:17. > :04:22.when our Lord Jesus was raised from death to life, we are gathered
:04:23. > :04:24.in this ancient and hallowed place to celebrate the sacred mystery
:04:25. > :04:26.of his resurrection and, through his Holy Word
:04:27. > :04:28.and Blessed Sacrament, to share in his victory
:04:29. > :04:40.So let us offer our praise and thanksgiving to God,
:04:41. > :04:44.as we proclaim the triumph of his Son, the light of the world,
:04:45. > :04:54.who is Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end,
:04:55. > :04:57.Alpha and Omega, for all time belongs to him and all the ages,
:04:58. > :05:09.to him be glory and power through every age and for ever.
:05:10. > :05:17.ALL: He is risen indeed, Alleluia.
:05:18. > :05:22.Christ, our passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
:05:23. > :05:25.Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil
:05:26. > :05:48.and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
:05:49. > :05:51.ALL: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned
:05:52. > :05:55.against you and against our neighbour, in thought and word
:05:56. > :05:57.and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our
:05:58. > :06:20.We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
:06:21. > :06:26.BISHOP: Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us
:06:27. > :06:31.a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive you your sins,
:06:32. > :06:35.open your eyes to God's truth, strengthen you to do God's
:06:36. > :06:37.will and give you the joy of his kingdom, through
:06:38. > :07:24.# Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
:07:25. > :07:32.# Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.
:07:33. > :07:34.# Domine Deus, rex coelestis, Deus pater omnipotens,
:07:35. > :07:37.# Domine fili unigenite Jesu Christe.
:07:38. > :07:42.# Domine Deus, agnus Dei, filius patris.
:07:43. > :07:51.# Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
:07:52. > :08:11.# Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
:08:12. > :08:24.# Qui sedes ad dexteram patris, miserere nobis.
:08:25. > :08:35.# Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus
:08:36. > :09:07.# Cum sancto spiritu, in gloria Dei patris.
:09:08. > :09:42.Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection
:09:43. > :09:45.of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things
:09:46. > :09:48.new in him, grant that we, being dead to sin and alive
:09:49. > :09:51.to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory -
:09:52. > :09:56.to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour,
:09:57. > :09:59.glory and might, now and in all eternity.
:10:00. > :10:14.A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
:10:15. > :10:18.Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius.
:10:19. > :10:23."I truly understand that God shows no partiality,
:10:24. > :10:26.but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right
:10:27. > :10:33.You know the message he sent to the people of Israel,
:10:34. > :10:37.preaching peace by Jesus Christ - he is Lord of all.
:10:38. > :10:42.That message spread throughout Judaea, beginning in Galilee
:10:43. > :10:46.after the baptism that John announced how God anointed Jesus
:10:47. > :10:50.of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power - how he went
:10:51. > :10:54.about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
:10:55. > :11:04.We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judaea and in Jerusalem.
:11:05. > :11:10.They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him
:11:11. > :11:13.on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people
:11:14. > :11:17.but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses,
:11:18. > :11:24.and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
:11:25. > :11:29.He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify
:11:30. > :11:33.that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.
:11:34. > :11:40.All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him
:11:41. > :11:46.receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
:11:47. > :12:08.# O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious
:12:09. > :12:10.# Because his mercy endureth for ever.
:12:11. > :12:17.# Let Israel now confess and that he is gracious
:12:18. > :12:24.# And that his mercy endureth for ever.
:12:25. > :12:36.# The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation.
:12:37. > :12:44.# The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous.
:12:45. > :12:52.# The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
:12:53. > :13:00.# The right hand of the Lord hath the pre-eminence.
:13:01. > :13:09.# The right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to pass.
:13:10. > :13:18.# I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord.
:13:19. > :13:25.# The Lord hath chastened and corrected me
:13:26. > :13:31.# But he hath not given me over unto death.
:13:32. > :13:47.# That I may go into them, and give thanks unto the Lord.
:13:48. > :14:05.# I will thank thee, for thou hast heard me
:14:06. > :14:21.# The same stone which the builders refused
:14:22. > :14:26.# Is become the headstone in the corner.
:14:27. > :14:37.# This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes.
:14:38. > :14:43.# This is the day which the Lord hath made.
:14:44. > :15:26.# I am the first and the last, says the Lord,
:15:27. > :15:37.# I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.
:15:38. > :16:00.Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
:16:01. > :16:25.After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,
:16:26. > :16:29.Mary Magdalen and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
:16:30. > :16:32.And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel
:16:33. > :16:38.of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back
:16:39. > :16:49.His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
:16:50. > :16:54.For fear of him, the guards shook and became like dead men.
:16:55. > :16:59.But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid - I know that
:17:00. > :17:05.you are looking for Jesus who was crucified."
:17:06. > :17:10.He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said.
:17:11. > :17:20.Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been
:17:21. > :17:24.raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead
:17:25. > :17:27.of you to Galilee - there you will see him.
:17:28. > :17:40.with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
:17:41. > :17:48.Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!"
:17:49. > :17:51.And they came to him, took hold of his feet,
:17:52. > :18:00.Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid.
:18:01. > :18:04.Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee -
:18:05. > :19:19.Maybe words of my mouth and the thoughts of our hearts be always
:19:20. > :19:25.acceptable in your site, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer, amen.
:19:26. > :19:27.Cathedrals have a love-hate relationship with notices
:19:28. > :19:31.On one hand, we want to be informative to
:19:32. > :19:35.On the other hand, we don't want to clutter up the place -
:19:36. > :19:38.we want the beauty of the building to speak for itself.
:19:39. > :19:43.So what to do about our Easter garden in the south transept,
:19:44. > :19:50.Surely an excellent opportunity for a well-crafted notice
:19:51. > :19:55.telling our visitors all about it - why the stone is rolled away,
:19:56. > :19:58.why there's a linen cloth rolled up there, why
:19:59. > :20:09.Without a notice, people may stand and look puzzled.
:20:10. > :20:15.The Resurrection is a mystery which we simply cannot explain.
:20:16. > :20:22.Whatever happened on that first Easter morning was a mystery and,
:20:23. > :20:25.One thing is also certain - the Resurrection is a multi-faceted
:20:26. > :20:27.jewel which can be seen from many different directions
:20:28. > :20:29.and about which there are many different interpretations.
:20:30. > :20:31.For some, the empty tomb is not helpful.
:20:32. > :20:34.In a letter to a friend during the 1950s, the writer
:20:35. > :20:38.Rose Macaulay wrote: "If my mind can't quite take certain things,
:20:39. > :20:43.such as the physical resurrection, does it matter, so long as it
:20:44. > :20:48.doesn't get in the way of belief in Christ as Master
:20:49. > :20:58.and Saviour and Helper, to be sought and served?"
:20:59. > :21:04.There is one reaction, we may not agree.
:21:05. > :21:07.What any visitor will surely notice, even if he or she knows
:21:08. > :21:09.nothing about the meaning, is that the whole thing -
:21:10. > :21:11.tomb and garden - is hugely important.
:21:12. > :21:14.It's a large feature, it's obviously been constructed with great care,
:21:15. > :21:19.It clearly means a lot to those who've had anything
:21:20. > :21:30.Whatever its meaning, it is hugely important to this place -
:21:31. > :21:36.to any church, to any Christian believer - however it's expressed.
:21:37. > :21:45.If we look around the cathedral - indeed, if we look at examples
:21:46. > :21:48.in the world of art - we'll see many images
:21:49. > :21:51.of Christ's Passion - the crowning with thorns,
:21:52. > :21:55.the nailing, the scene in the garden, the trial before
:21:56. > :22:07.Images of the Resurrection are different, for the gospel
:22:08. > :22:10.doesn't tell us how Jesus rose from the dead and so there's
:22:11. > :22:15.True, some artists have had a go - with a muscular Jesus holding
:22:16. > :22:23.a flag, breaking out of a stone grave, soldiers nearby in a faint.
:22:24. > :22:26.But most of the images of the Resurrection in art
:22:27. > :22:32.are about people's responses - the disciples in a fishing boat,
:22:33. > :22:40.The images of the Resurrection are, on the whole,
:22:41. > :22:44.what happened as a result - how lives were changed, how
:22:45. > :22:55.In the cathedral, we do have images of the Resurrection,
:22:56. > :23:00.but they're more abstract - the Traherne windows by Tom Denny,
:23:01. > :23:06.the phoenix of new life, rising out of the cross.
:23:07. > :23:09.Or our new Ascension window, completed only
:23:10. > :23:12.a couple of weeks ago - the darkness of the lower area
:23:13. > :23:20.splintering into shards of light, as despair gives way to hope.
:23:21. > :23:23.The window, with the blue stone memorial below,
:23:24. > :23:27.commemorates our local regiment, the Special Air Service,
:23:28. > :23:32.and we pray that this new addition will add to a sense of Resurrection
:23:33. > :23:36.in this building and give hope and encouragement to all who visit,
:23:37. > :23:42.especially those who come in sadness or bereavement.
:23:43. > :23:47.All these images are about experience, not description,
:23:48. > :23:50.and perhaps that's the best way we can interpret our Easter tomb
:23:51. > :23:54.here - not with a notice describing what happened
:23:55. > :24:01.The best scenario would be if you or I were standing
:24:02. > :24:06.by the garden one day and a visitor also stood there, looking, puzzling,
:24:07. > :24:17.How your life will have been changed by that event -
:24:18. > :24:21.how the Resurrection is about now, how it enables us to turn
:24:22. > :24:28.darkness into light, sadness into joy, loss into gain.
:24:29. > :24:33.Each one of us will have our own story of the Resurrection,
:24:34. > :24:44.which no notice can possibly do justice to - only personal encounter
:24:45. > :24:53.This is how the Resurrection dawned on those first disciples -
:24:54. > :24:56.they had those first 50 days to see Jesus in unexpected ways.
:24:57. > :25:01.They learned to see him on a beach, cooking breakfast,
:25:02. > :25:03.breaking bread with them - nothing startling,
:25:04. > :25:05.but it was in those ordinary, human encounters that they found
:25:06. > :25:18.That he was alive and infinitely stronger than darkness and death.
:25:19. > :25:22.Rose Macaulay, in that letter, for all her doubts about the empty
:25:23. > :25:29.tomb, had nevertheless got to the heart of the Resurrection
:25:30. > :25:38.all their difference, who can make sense of the resurrection today.
:25:39. > :25:44.Who can act on Jesus's risen life every day. Thanks to Tim seven --
:25:45. > :26:00.God for this wonderful Easter hope. Let us affirm our faith,
:26:01. > :26:03.as we say together the Nicene Creed. ALL: We believe in one God,
:26:04. > :26:06.the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
:26:07. > :26:14.of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord,
:26:15. > :26:19.Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
:26:20. > :26:24.God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
:26:25. > :26:26.begotten, not made, For us and for our salvation
:26:27. > :26:35.he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit
:26:36. > :26:40.and the Virgin Mary For our sake, he was crucified under
:26:41. > :26:46.Pontius Pilate In the power of the Spirit
:26:47. > :27:41.and in union with Christ, Father, we praise you
:27:42. > :27:53.for the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
:27:54. > :27:56.from the dead. Shed his glorious light
:27:57. > :28:00.on all Christian people that we may live as those who believe
:28:01. > :28:06.in the triumph of the cross. We pray for those who at this season
:28:07. > :28:18.are receiving in baptism your Son's Dying with Christ, may they know
:28:19. > :28:30.the power of his resurrection. We pray for all whom we know
:28:31. > :28:43.and love, both near and far. May their eyes be opened to see
:28:44. > :28:50.the glory of the risen Lord. We pray for those who
:28:51. > :29:01.suffer pain and anguish. Grant them the faith to reach out
:29:02. > :29:26.towards the healing wounds of Christ We commend to your tender mercy the
:29:27. > :29:28.people of Syria and all who been made refugees.
:29:29. > :29:34.We remember before you those who have died in the hope
:29:35. > :29:38.Unite us with them in your undying love.
:29:39. > :29:50.Join our voices, we pray, Lord our God, to the songs
:29:51. > :29:52.of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist,
:29:53. > :29:56.St Ethelbert the King, St Thomas of Hereford
:29:57. > :30:00.and all your saints in proclaiming that you give us the victory
:30:01. > :30:03.through Jesus Christ our Lord.
:30:04. > :30:17.The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, "Peace
:30:18. > :30:23.Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
:30:24. > :30:29.The peace of the Lord be always with you.
:30:30. > :30:47.Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
:30:48. > :34:10.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
:34:11. > :34:14.ALL: It is right to give thanks and praise.
:34:15. > :34:17.It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
:34:18. > :34:20.always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal
:34:21. > :34:26.Father, and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts
:34:27. > :34:35.For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son,
:34:36. > :34:40.has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men
:34:41. > :34:51.He has placed us once more in paradise and opened to us
:34:52. > :34:58.And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound
:34:59. > :35:03.with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers
:35:04. > :35:21.of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory.
:35:22. > :36:01.# Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
:36:02. > :36:29.# Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
:36:30. > :38:20.# Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
:38:21. > :39:12.Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our
:39:13. > :39:15.Saviour Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example
:39:16. > :39:18.and obey his command, grant that by the power
:39:19. > :39:22.of your Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be
:39:23. > :39:29.to us his body and blood; who, in the same night that he was
:39:30. > :39:39.betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks he broke it and gave it
:39:40. > :39:47."Take, eat; this is my body
:39:48. > :39:57.which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
:39:58. > :40:09.In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks;
:40:10. > :40:15."Drink this, all of you; this is my blood
:40:16. > :40:18.of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many
:40:19. > :40:35.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
:40:36. > :40:39.Therefore, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself
:40:40. > :40:46.made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection
:40:47. > :40:50.and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom,
:40:51. > :40:54.and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial
:40:55. > :41:06.ALL: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.
:41:07. > :41:18.BISHOP: Accept through him, our great high priest,
:41:19. > :41:23.and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence
:41:24. > :41:25.of your divine majesty, renew us by your Spirit,
:41:26. > :41:28.inspire us with your love and unite us in the body of your Son,
:41:29. > :41:39.Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity
:41:40. > :41:42.of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before
:41:43. > :41:45.you in earth and heaven we worship you, Father almighty in songs
:41:46. > :41:53.ALL: Blessing and honour and glory and power be
:41:54. > :42:15.Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.
:42:16. > :42:48.ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom
:42:49. > :42:54.We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
:42:55. > :43:07.Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
:43:08. > :43:13.Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
:43:14. > :43:16.ALL: Therefore let us keep the feast.
:43:17. > :44:11.# Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata
:44:12. > :44:47.# Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata
:44:48. > :52:33.God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
:52:34. > :52:38.to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection
:52:39. > :52:44.have delivered us from the power of our enemy, grant us so to die
:52:45. > :52:48.daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him
:52:49. > :53:04.Father of all, we give you thanks and praise,
:53:05. > :53:07.that when we were still far off you met us in your Son
:53:08. > :54:05.The God of peace, who brought again from
:54:06. > :54:09.the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep,
:54:10. > :54:15.through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in
:54:16. > :54:20.every good work to do his will, in you that which is
:54:21. > :54:28.and the blessing of God almighty,
:54:29. > :54:30.the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
:54:31. > :54:32.be among you and remain with you always.
:54:33. > :57:29.# Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love
:57:30. > :57:37.# Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
:57:38. > :57:46.# Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son
:57:47. > :57:57.# Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.