Readings for Easter Day – 5th April 2026

Collect for Easter Day

Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection

of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant

that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to

whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all

eternity.

Amen

A reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, verses 34 to 43

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 the letter of Paul to the Colossians, chapter 3, verses 1 to 4

So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things

that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When

Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

A reading from the gospel according to John, chapter 20, verses 1 to 18

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 towards 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 round and saw Jesus standing

there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you

weeping? For whom are you looking?’ 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.

Second Collect

God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the

death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of

our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of

his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew, chapter 28, verses 1 to 10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the

other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an

angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the

guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be

afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has

been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his

disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to

Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb

quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and

said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then

Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they

will see me.’