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Collective Worship

Resurrection

[Set the scene by lighting a large candle, have some spring flowers as a celebration of new life and play some very soft music while pupils settle down. Then turn off the music and invite the pupils to imagine they are there with the Disciples]

Reader 1
Good Friday Night
We could not understand why Jesus, our Lord and Master should be crucified.
We did not know what to do.
We felt as if we were surrounded by darkness full of shadows.
Friends had gone
Sadness filled our hearts.

Reader 2
Early Sunday morning
We knew that Jesus died on the cross, but we could not believe that it was the end.
Suddenly we saw Mary of Magdala racing towards us,
‘Hurry, come quick, I’ve seen the Lord’, she shouted.
We looked at her in amazement and then ran back with her to see the empty tomb and the stone rolled back.
Our hearts were beating fast, what could it all mean?

Reader 3
Word spread quickly.
By evening we were all in the upper room where we used to meet. This time the doors were closed firmly in case the Jews came looking for us.

Suddenly, Jesus came and stood among us. He said to us, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed us his hands and his side. Like the disciples, we were filled with joy when we saw the Lord, and he said again, ‘Peace be with you.'

Reader 4
There was one person missing from our group and his name was Thomas. He missed all the action. And when he did come the other disciples told him everything that had happened: how the doors were locked and how Jesus appeared suddenly in the room with them and talked with them and stayed for a while. And Thomas replied:

‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe’.

Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Adapted from John 20:19-29

TEACHER
Let us spend a few moments thinking about the GOOD NEWS that these accounts have for us today:

1. Jesus was able to conquer all the evil forces that had gathered against him.

2. Because of the love and trust that Jesus had in God, his Father, God raised him from the dead.

3. By rising from the dead Jesus took away the power of death – this means that for all of us who believe and trust in him will rise from the dead.

4. If we following the teaching of Jesus and try to lead a good life we will have eternal life with him forever.

TEACHER

Who can explain what the Resurrection of Jesus means for us today?
Encourage pupils to explain to you what they have understood from the above.

Prayer
Jesus, you have the power to change sorrow into joy