United Benefice of St.Mary, Higham Ferrers, and St. John, Chelveston
The United Benefice of St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers with St John the Baptist, Chelveston-cum-Caldecott
Second Sunday of Easter 12th April 2026
BELIEVING IS MORE THAN SEEING
The bells of St Mary’s Henley-on-Thames and Father Paul welcome us to the service
HYMN
Good Christians all, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring:
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
The Lord of life is ris'n for ay;
bring flowers of song to strew his way;
let all the earth rejoice and say:
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Praise we in songs of victory
that Love, that Life, which cannot die,
and sing with hearts uplifted high:
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Thy name we bless, O risen Lord
and sing today with one accord
the life laid down, the life restored:
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Cyril Argentine Alington (1874 – 1955) O.U.P.
GOSPEL READING John 20 : from verse 19
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
HYMN
Alleluia, alleluia,
give thanks to the risen Lord;
alleluia, alleluia,
give praise to His name.
Jesus is Lord of all the earth,
He is the King of creation:
Chorus
Spread the good news o'er all the earth,
Jesus has died and has risen:
Chorus
We have been crucified with Christ;
Now we shall live for ever:
Chorus
God has proclaimed the just reward:
Life for all men, alleluia!
Chorus
Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour:
Chorus
Donald Fishel (born 1950)
GOSPEL READING CONTINUED
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
MEDITATION – F.O.M.O. AND DOUBTING THOMAS
Final prayer and blessing
HYMN
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 thy body lay.
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 nought 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
Edmund L Budry (1854-1932), translated by Richard B Hoyle (1875-1939)
HYMN
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John -
they came with me and the Dance went on.
Chorus
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
and they left me there on a Cross to die.
Chorus
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black -
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the Dance, and I still go on.
Chorus
They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that'll never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me -
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
Chorus
Sydney Carter (1915-2004) © 1963 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Material used in this service is copyright of its respective rights owners. Music and hymn words are reproduced under ONE LICENSE number A-633137, Church Copyright License 2148907 and Music Reproduction License 2216255. Material in this order of service is taken from Common Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006 and is used here with permission. www.commonworship.com.
images by permission of www.christart.com