The Fifth Week of the Easter Season. Our mid week reflection…
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Continued joy and blessings to you this Eastertide.
Jesus is! Yes, He is! John records Jesus as saying ‘I am the true vine’, this is the last of Jesus’ seven ‘I AM’ sayings. Jesus said earlier that he was the ’bread of life’, the ‘light of the world’, ‘the gate that everyone enters through’, ‘the good shepherd’, ‘the resurrection and life’ and the ‘Way, Truth and Life.’
John writes these phrases of Jesus’ to describe who Jesus is, why he came. It is as if Jesus is saying ‘it is I’ come follow me, there is so much there for you.
Ponder these words each day, look up the other I AM sayings, these can be found in the following chapters from John:
Bread John 6:35
Light John 8:12
Gate John 10:7
Good Shepherd John 10:11
Resurrection John 11:25
The Way John 14:6
The Vine John 15:1
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I also suggest that you read through the Acts of the Apostle during the 50 days of Easter. Read at your pace, re-read verses if you wish, just slowly engage with the story of the early Church and how the Good News, the Easter story was shared.
At the end of the daily prayers there are suggested readings from Acts for the week. I have used the Revised Common Lectionary as a source.
Moments of stillness, reflection and prayers
Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. (Psalm 139:7)
Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with him.
Yesterday I was dead with Christ; today I am sharing in his resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with him; today I am waking with him from the sleep of death. (Gregory of Nazianzus (389)
Words from Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be forever. Amen
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Alleluia, alleluia, read and hear words from our sacred texts:
Slowly read these words, let them become special words for today.
Wednesday
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
(John 15:7)
Thursday
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(1 John 3.11-12)
Friday
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
(1 John 3.13-16)
Saturday
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
(1 John 3.23-end)
Sunday
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
(1 John 5.1-2)
Monday
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.
(1 John 5.3-4a)
Tuesday
And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
(1 John 5.4b-5)
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Lord, you have promised to hear those who pray to you in faith:
Lord, hear now the prayers we offer…
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.
Eternal God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen life; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Canticle
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right. (Northumberland Community)
Intercessions may be offered for friends and family, our church and for the leaders of Church and nation.
God of love and light,
in this time of fear, give us your peace.
In this time of isolation, give us your presence.
In this time of sickness, give us your healing.
In this time of uncertainty, give us your wisdom.
In this time of darkness, shine your light upon us all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, …
May God fill us all with hope, joy, patience and enthusiasm this Easter season so we can continue to be a follower of Jesus who has suffered, died and has risen.
Every blessing to you and your families!
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us,
wherever He may send us.
May He guide us through the wilderness,
protect us through the storm.
May He bring us home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown us.
May He bring us home rejoicing
once again into our doors. (Northumberland Community)
May the souls of departed through the mercy of God rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen. Alleluia. Christ is risen He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
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Easter Readings from Acts – The 50 days of Easter – (Day’s 32 – 38)
Wednesday (32) Acts 15.1-6
Thursday (33) Acts 15.7-21
Friday (34) Acts 15.22-31
Saturday (35) Acts 16.1-10
Easter 6 (36) Acts 10.44-end
Monday (37) Acts 16.11-15
Tuesday (38) Acts 16.22-34
