1. Bishop Justus Church of England School
Morning Worship
Information from ‘Exciting Holiness’:
All four gospels give Mary Magdalene a unique place among Jesus' followers. Probably from Magdala by the Sea of Galilee, she is described as having been healed by Jesus before accompanying him during his ministry. Along with other faithful women, she stayed beside the cross during the crucifixion and was the first disciple to discover the empty tomb on Easter morning. She was privileged with the first appearance of the risen Lord, who sent her to take the good news of the resurrection to the other disciples. This commission earned her the title 'Apostle to the Apostles' in the early Church.
Mary Magdalene
Festival—Liturgical colour—White
17th July 2014
Bishop Justus Church of England School

2. Gather
The Lord be with you
And also with you

3. Receive Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark,
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been taken away from the entrance.
She went running to Simon Peter
and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where
they have put him!"… Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there; but she did not know that it was Jesus.
"Woman, why are you crying?" Jesus asked her.
"Who is it that you are looking for?" She thought he was the gardener,
so she said to him, "If you took him away, sir,
tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned toward him and said in Hebrew,
"Rabboni!" (This means "Teacher.") "Do not hold on to me," Jesus told
her, "because I have not yet gone back up to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him
who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God."
So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples
that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had told her.
John 20: 1-2, 14-18

4. Engage
Mary Magdalene is traditionally seen as a fallen woman and yet is also the first person Jesus appears to after the resurrection…
Mary’s story reminds us how valuable we are to God
no matter what has happened to us or what we have done, God loves us.
What are you worth?
Are you just a load of bones, skin, chemicals and minerals?
If you were to be broken down into bits what would you be made of:
enough water to fill 6 buckets
enough sulphur to rid a dog of fleas
enough potash to explode a packet of party poppers
enough calcium for several sticks of chalk
enough phosphorous for 2200 match tips
enough lime to whitewash a hen house
enough sugar for 7 cups of tea
enough iron for a medium sized nail
enough fat to make 6 bars of soap
If you add all this stuff together it only comes to around £10.
You know you're much more than that.
You're not just chemicals and minerals,
So… who are you?
Other Ideas
Another brilliant illustration requires your generosity—iron a 5 pound note and give it away to someone—ask for students to bid with good deeds to win the money…
When you have a winner invite them forward but then screw up the fiver—and ask—do you still want the money?
Again stamp on the note—and ask do you still want the money?
Of course they will because the money has value whatever has happened to it—a perfect and memorable illustration for your students about value and self-worth
Music
Jesus Christ Superstar—I don’t know how to love him—what’s it all about?
Mary Magdalene and loyalty
Discuss Mary Magdalene’s loyalty
rate yourselves in terms of loyalty—how loyal are you?
How important is it for your friendships that others are loyal to you?

5. Respond Almighty God, whose Son restored Mary Magdalene
to health of mind and body
and called her to be a witness
to his resurrection:
forgive our sins and heal us by your grace,
that we may serve you in the power
of his risen life;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
Collect for Mary Magdalene

6. Go
Let us Bless the Lord
Thanks be to God