Sunday
10 May: Fifth Sunday of Easter
Today,
we meet from our own homes, at 10.30 a.m. via Zoom meeting ID: 664-485-330.
You’ll also need a password code, which you can get from Revd Andrew Dowsett in
advance by calling or texting him on 07783-760-012.
The
Greeting
In
the name of the Father,
and
of the Son,
and
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The
Lord be with you
and
also with you.
Alleluia.
Christ is risen.
He
is risen indeed. Alleluia.
We
join in singing a hymn.
We
join in the Prayer of Preparation, acknowledging that God knows the desires of
our hearts, including those that are temporarily on hold, and those that through
the circumstances of our lives may never be fulfilled.
Almighty
God,
to
whom all hearts are open,
all
desires known,
and
from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse
the thoughts of our hearts
by
the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that
we may perfectly love you,
and
worthily magnify your holy name;
through
Christ our Lord.
Amen.
We
confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness.
In
baptism we died with Christ,
so
that as Christ was raised from the dead,
we
might walk in newness of life.
Let
us receive new life in him
as
we confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Jesus
Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord,
we
come to you in sorrow for our sins,
and
confess to you our weakness and unbelief.
We
have lived by our own strength,
and
not by the power of your resurrection.
In
your mercy, forgive us.
Lord,
hear us and help us.
We
have lived by the light of our own eyes,
as
faithless and not believing.
In
your mercy, forgive us.
Lord,
hear us and help us.
We
have lived for this world alone,
and
doubted our home in heaven.
In
your mercy, forgive us.
Lord,
hear us and help us.
Almighty
God,
who
forgives all who truly repent,
have
mercy upon you,
pardon
and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm
and strengthen you in all goodness,
and
keep you in life eternal;
through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The
Collect prayer for today, the Fifth Sunday of Easter:
Risen
Christ,
your
wounds declare your love for the world
and
the wonder of your risen life:
give
us compassion and courage
to
risk ourselves for those we serve,
to
the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
We
listen to God’s word to us.
Reading Acts 7:55-60
But
filled with the Holy Spirit, he [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory
of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the
heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they
covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then
they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid
their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning
Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and
cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he
had said this, he died.
This
is the word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Alleluia,
alleluia.
Jesus
said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
Those
who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and
everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’
Alleluia.
Hear
the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory
to you, O Lord.
Gospel
reading John
14:1-14
[Jesus
said] ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In
my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I
have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I
am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know
the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father
also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip
said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said
to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know
me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the
Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells
in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very
truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do
and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the
Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.’
This
is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise
to you, O Christ.
We
reflect together on what we have heard, in the context of our own shared lives.
We
respond to God’s word, joining in this Affirmation of Faith.
Let
us declare our faith
in
the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ
died for our sins
in
accordance with the Scriptures;
he
was buried;
he
was raised to life on the third day
in
accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards
he appeared to his followers,
and
to all the apostles:
this
we have received,
and
this we believe.
Amen.
At
the beginning of Christian Aid Week 2020, we join in ‘Prayers in a time of
Coronavirus’
For
the health workers tending the seriously ill
for
the scientists working on a vaccination
for
the researchers analysing data and identifying trends
for
the media outlets working to communicate reality
for
the supermarket workers, hygiene and sanitation providers
for
the good news stories of recoveries and effective planning
for
the singing from balconies by locked-down communities
for
the recognition that isolation doesn’t need to mean loneliness
for
the notes through letterboxes offering help and support
for
the internet and telephones and technology that connects
for
the awakened appreciation of what is truly important
Thanks
be to God.
For
those who are unwell and concerned for loved ones
for
those who were already very anxious
for
those immune suppressed or compromised
for
those vulnerable because of underlying conditions
for
those in the ‘most at risk to coronavirus’ categories
for
those watching their entire income stream dry up
for
those who have no choice but to go out to work
for
those who are afraid to be at home
for
those who are more lonely than they’ve ever been
for
those who are bereaved and grieving.
God
be their healer, comfort and protection,
be
their strength, shield and provision
be
their security, safety and close companion
And
raise up your Church
to
be your well-washed hands and faithful feet
to
be present to the pain
to
respond with love in action
if
even from a safe distance.
God,
in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
God
of heaven and earth,
in
these times of isolation,
apart
from loved ones
distant
from friends
away
from neighbours
thank
you that there is nothing
in
all of creation,
not
even coronavirus,
that
is able to separate us from your love.
And
may your love that never fails
continue
to be shared
through
the kindness of strangers
looking
out for each other,
for
neighbours near and far
all
recognising our shared vulnerability,
each
of us grateful for every breath,
and
willing everyone to know the gift
of
a full and healthy life.
Keep
us all in your care.
Amen.
Restoring
and healing God,
thank
you for medical workers everywhere,
embodying
sacrificial love in these challenging times
putting
the welfare of others before their own
staying
away from their family and loved ones
comforting
the concerned and bereaved
reassuring
the anxious and vulnerable
working
to heal and restore people who are ill.
Be
their guide, strength, wisdom and hope.
We
pray for those in authority to do right by them
for
proper protective equipment to be provided
and
for their dedication to be met with much gratitude
and
appreciation when they return home, exhausted.
And
we pray for medical workers around the world,
where
resources and protective equipment
are
always in short supply, not only now but always.
May
these extraordinary times
lead
to deep and necessary changes in how our world works,
resulting
in a genuine effort to address the profound injustice
of
life expectancy being determined by geography,
to
awaken us all to the reality of how connected we all are
and
to work together to create the community and world
we
all want to be part of.
So
help us, God,
Amen.
Our
service concludes with the Blessing and Dismissal, as the Church is sent out
into the world, to be met by the risen Jesus and share his love with others.
Common
Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England,
material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The
Archbishops’ Council 2000.
Common
Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included
in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006.
