Fifth Sunday of Easter 2020

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.