Aintree Baptist Church.
96 Longmoor Lane
Liverpool
Merseyside
L9 0EF

Pastor: 07771 696915
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`Easter: Let's celebrate together`

An Easter Experience from an upper room.

Like the majority of the world, I find myself isolated and confined to the house. But it’s Easter and I feel I should be with you all, celebrating this wonderful festival, but I can’t, so this is my way to bring us together. I hope and pray that the reflections will help you and bring you closer to our God and Saviour. May this Easter deepen our love for Him who gave everything. In the midst of turmoil and trouble and the fear of the unknown, we can stand with the disciples, maybe even fearing the worst, but in the climax of our Easter Sunday we remember that God won! He now holds the keys of death and hell and His victory is secure.

As we celebrate together, let us remember what He has done and be truly thankful.

So, we begin on a Thursday evening sitting inside a room, eating, there was nothing out of the ordinary, until…

The Last Supper

^{Matthew 26:20}When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹And while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’

²²They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?’

²³Jesus replied, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.’

²⁵Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, ‘Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?’

Jesus answered, ‘You have said so.’ (New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Here’s a man

Here’s a man, born to a mother who broke the rules and said ‘yes’,

Parented by a man who was not his father,

Knowing his ancient lineage

yet calling people to be born again into a new community.

Here’s a man, tramping the dusty road of his country,

Drawing inspiration from the land

Loving its fruitfulness, sailing its waters, stilling its storms.

Here’s a man, throwing up a steady job to follow his calling,

Keeping bad company, often sleeping rough,

Touching people who were considered untouchable,

Raising up those who were overlooked.

Here’s a man, refusing to be less than free,

Refusing to be less than utterly committed,

Refusing to bow down and serve the empires of the world;

In tenderness, justice and joy

In forgiving and healing,

He lived the promise of a new relationship with God.

He was called by many names.

He called himself ‘the Son of Man’.

(Kathy Galloway: Eggs and ashes. P163: Wild Goose Publications.2007)

We read together:

Gethsemane

^{Matthew 26:36}Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’

⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. ‘Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?’ he asked Peter. ⁴¹‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’

⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!’ (New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Let’s Pray: Love and Mercy

Lord, how can we ever thank You enough? You endured more pain, more shame, more sorrow, more grief than we can possibly fathom. Help us remember why You gave Your life. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because we desperately need them both. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs

The way of the cross

Jesus, as we start once again to follow you on the way of the cross, we feel apprehensive.

For we are not sure of ourselves.

On our journey we have often been afraid, often sought the safe options, often fudged the sharp solution.

On our journey we have often tried to hide our real selves, from others, from ourselves and from you.

We, who dare to say we are following you, know how faltering are our footsteps, how delicate our discipleship, how feeble our faith.

Yet still you call us by name and invite us into your company and unto your road.

So give us the courage and the commitment we need: help us to look out for one another on the road; show us how we may share the duty and the joy of discipleship.

Knowing that, in the end, it is you who have blazed the trail, you who accompany us all the way, you who will meet us on the road, and say our name.

Closing Prayer

Father God, as we prepare ourselves and our hearts to travel to the cross.

Help us to see beyond our pain and suffering in these difficult times;

to focus our attention on you and the purpose of Easter.

May the light of the gospel reach into our hearts and bring us peace.

Amen

Aintree Baptist Church

In Christ alone, my hope is found

Easter: Let's celebrate together

Gethsemane

Let’s Pray: Love and Mercy

`Easter: Let's celebrate together`