Sunday 19th April 2026

EASTER 3A

19th April 2026

A short act of worship and daily devotions

Opening Prayers

In the midst of the business and busy-ness of this week,

Come holy Lord.

In the midst of the fear and conflict in our world,

Come prince of peace.

In the midst of the signs of spring around us,

Light up our life with your love, I pray.

[Pause]

Open my eyes and my heart to what a life with you truly is, a life full of hope, healing, gratitude, love, and above all, faith.

Awaken my body, mind and soul,

And fill me again with confidence to proclaim your glory,

Here in our midst.

As I live my life, I ask you to take me firmly and clearly by the hand,

Lead me, heavenly parent, lead me,

lead me from confusion to clarity, from fear to freedom,

from watching to doing, and from doing to truly living,

until I reach the end of this road that leads back to you.

O Lord, hear my prayer, I pray.

Amen.

You may now wish to say the Lord’s Prayer in a version or translation with which you are familiar.

Reading: Luke 24:13-35 – Click for the reading

Responding to the reading

Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem.

It is the day of the resurrection, but they do not know it yet. All they know is disappointment. The one they had hoped would redeem Israel has been crucified. Their expectations have collapsed, and now they are heading home, processing grief, confusion, and the sense that everything they believed might have been wrong.

As they walk, a stranger joins them on the road. It is Jesus, but they do not recognise him.

He asks what they are talking about, and they pour out their story. Their hopes. Their pain. Their confusion about the rumours of an empty tomb. And instead of correcting them immediately, Jesus walks with them. He listens. Then he begins to interpret the story of Scripture in a new way, showing how suffering and hope are woven together in God’s larger story.

Still, they do not recognise him.

It is only later, when they invite the stranger to stay for a meal, that something shifts. As Jesus breaks the bread and blesses it, suddenly their eyes are opened. And then he disappears.

Afterward they say to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?”

This story reminds us that resurrection often appears quietly. Not always in dramatic revelations, but in conversation, companionship, and shared meals. Christ is present in the journey, even when we fail to recognise him. For those of us walking a thoughtful, open hearted path of faith, this passage is deeply reassuring. It tells us that doubt and disappointment are not barriers to encountering God. In fact, the Emmaus road begins with honest questioning and unresolved grief.

Discipleship is not about always knowing where God is. Sometimes it is about simply keeping walking, staying open to the possibility that Christ might be beside us in unexpected ways.

It also reminds us of the importance of hospitality. It is when the disciples say, “Stay with us,” that the moment of recognition finally comes. When they open their table, their eyes are opened as well.

And once they see, they cannot keep the news to themselves. They turn around and go back to Jerusalem, carrying the story of hope to others.

So today, reflect on these questions:

• Where in your life might Christ already be walking beside you, unnoticed?

• When have you felt that quiet “burning in your heart,” a sense that something meaningful is unfolding?

• How might simple acts of welcome, conversation, and shared meals become places where resurrection life is revealed?

  
  

The Emmaus story reminds us that faith is often a journey of discovery. Christ meets us on the road: in our questions, our conversations, and the ordinary moments of life.

And sometimes, only when we look back do we realise he was with us the whole time.

Responding in music

As you reflect on the questions and thoughts in today’s readings, you might like to listen to or sing along to one or more of these hymns and use this as a space to think about how God is calling you to respond today.

548 STF – Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine - YouTube

367 STF – When I was lost, you came and rescued me – YouTube

545 STF – Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart – YouTube

Blessing

In this Easter season,

May you be a symbol of resurrection, of healing, of life and love,

In your home, your community and the world,

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. ____________________________________________________________________

Prayers and Prayer Pointers For This Week

Monday 20th April

• Praying while accessing the world through technology.

• When you are watching the television, listening to the radio, or using the internet take time to note down the things you have learnt about or had revealed to you. Give thanks to God for the precious gift of new ideas, great stories and the people who share them.

Tuesday 21st April

• Today is ‘National Tea Day’ in the UK. Whether you enjoy a cup of tea or not, perhaps today you can take a moment to pause with a hot drink, and give thanks for the blessings that it brings.

• You might like to use this poem by Thich Nhat Hanh as a prompt for prayer today - https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/573801-you-must-be-completely-awake-in-the present-to-enjoy

Wednesday 22nd April

• Today is marked by the UN as ‘Earth Day’, a day for supporting environmental protection.

• Today, you might like to pray for the planet and all those working to seek to preserve our environment from permanent damage.

• You might also like to take some acts that you know are good for the planet – recycling, litter-picking, walking or using the bus instead of driving, avoiding eating red meat – and as you do so, see these small acts as an act of prayer for our planet.

• This is the world that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thursday 23rd April

• Living, loving God, Thank you for the way you are at work in my life, even when I don’t notice or deliberately look the other way. Help me to notice your presence this day, I pray. Amen.

Friday 24th April

• Pay attention to your feet. Where have they taken you today? What ground have they stood on in times past? Remember the sensations you’ve experienced. The places and communities you have encountered. Try to retrace steps and place before God the situations and people you have met along life’s footpath.

Saturday 25th April

• Healing, comforting God, Today my prayers are for all involved in the work of healing – doctors, nurses, NHS employees of all kinds, but also therapists, psychologists and all involved in healing our minds.

• Give them the courage and strength they need to do the work they are doing, in Jesus’ name. Amen.