Christians have gathered for centuries at Easter to recall the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, Below are a selection of bible verses which recall the events and celebrate His promise of a new life, passing from darkness into light. 

This year as Easter Sunday falls on 31 March, it also marks the beginning on British Summer Time, granting us an additional hour of daylight.

Easter Bible Verses

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5: 14-15 

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11: 25-26 

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 16: 6  

He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’
Luke 24: 6-7 

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
1 Thessalonians 4: 14  

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Matthew 28: 5-6 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1: 3

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5: 14-15

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 
Romans 6: 5-6

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13: 20-21 

But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
Acts 26: 22-23 

I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
John 16: 28 

With many blessings and good wishes for Easter from The Connexion Community.

There are times in life when we all have to face choices and make decisions about which path to take.

This verse from Jeremiah 6 (16) reminds us of what the Lord says: 'Ask where the good way is, and walk in it...'

Today is a day when people across the world celebrate their love for one another. I Corinthians 13 gives us a prayerful reminder of the importance of love in our lives.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

'Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.'

Isaiah 7:14 

Wishing you all a very happy and blessed Christmas from The Connexion!

The fourth candle of Advent reminds us of God's Love.

The virtues of love, hope, peace and joy are hugely important in the Christmas story as well as our Christian faith and journey with Jesus.

1Corinthians (13) tells us: 'And now these three remain: faith hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

The third candle of Advent celebrates the joy of Christ's coming to earth.

It is a reminder that no earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Pure joy comes from rejoicing in the good news of Jesus’ birth, and His power to bring hope, peace, love and salvation to all people.

The lighting of the candle on the second Sunday of Advent marks Jesus' forthcoming birth as the promise of peace on earth.

Jesus is the "Prince of Peace' and one of the hallmarks of the Christmas story is when the angels appear to the shepherds and proclaim:

'Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to all men
on whom his favour rests.' (Luke 2:14)

Christmas lights and candles offer a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world, and he came to bring light into the darkness. 

This theme of light is what originally gave birth to the Advent Wreath in Lutheran Germany. The Advent Wreath is typically evergreen and contains five candles, each lit on successive Sundays during the Advent readings. 

Advent readings can vary within churches and denominations. Our verse for the First Advent Sunday, which in 2023 falls on 3 December, relates to Hope and is taken from Isaiah 9:2.

God always listens to us and hears what we are asking of him.
He only wants the best for each of us, and will never give us second best.
He is our protector and our true source of hope and truth.
When we place our trust in him and delight in his kindness and generosity,
he will fulfil our heart's desires.

Amen

'If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.' (Romans 8:25)

As hope sustains those who are suffering, the Holy Spirit is able to help in prayer.

The relationship between the Holy Spirit and God is so close that the Holy Spirit's prayers do not need to be spoken in words, as God knows his every thought.

'He who searches our hears knows the mind of the spirit.' (Romans 8: 27)