Second Sunday of Easter
Welcome to our written service for this Second Sunday of Easter. On this page you can find prayers, today’s readings and the music for today.
We start this written service by remembering those in Ukraine with this prayer:
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen
Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Opening Prayer
Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness
that we may always serve you
in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Opening Hymn
The Readings
Acts 5: 27-32
Romans 1: 4-8
John 20: 19-end
The anthem for today
Most glorious Lord of Lyfe – W.S. Webber
Intercessions
Gracious Heavenly Father, help us to rejoice in the resurrection message of the first Easter, as we respectfully bring our intercessions with renewed hope and joyful spirits! Grant us the inspiration to reflect this message of hope with personal conviction in our daily lives, providing a beacon of light to those around us in stressful and difficult times.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Faced with so many images of the suffering, hunger, and disease caused by wars in multiple places, we continue to pray to you for peace in our world; peace that is enduring; peace that excludes every reason and excuse for armed conflict, so that people everywhere can focus their energies on the critical issues and challenges confronting humankind and common to all people everywhere.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, once again we lift up before you the peoples of Ukraine in their struggle to retain their national identity in the current invasive war. We pray that destruction, killing, terror and hardship may cease, and that peace in their land may be re-established. We give thanks for the streams of aid and support that are flowing towards the Ukrainian people. Help us to find practical ways to contribute to this aid and to continue adding our voices to the demand for a cessation of hostilities.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
As we move towards the celebration of King Willem Alexander’s birthday this week and reflect with thanksgiving on the 96th birthday of Queen Elizabeth a few days ago, we give you thanks, Lord, for the freedoms and national stability we have experienced for many years. Help us not to take these precious gifts for granted, so that we and our political leaders may remain alert to threats that would move towards new forms of dictatorship with restrictions of liberty and personal choice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we thank you for the paths of recovery from the impacts of the Covid pandemic, particularly through the development of vaccines. We give thanks for the commitment and stamina of the medical and care professions. In addition, we pray especially for the growth in understanding of the physical and mental health consequences of Covid infections so that those with longer-term problems may be adequately treated and healed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
With our diocese today we seek your blessing on our episcopal leaders and your favour for the welfare and spiritual life of the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church, as well as for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. We ask for your guidance and support for our diocesan office in London, and especially for the work and activities of the Safeguarding Team in their concern for the young and the vulnerable in our midst.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Our human condition cannot be separated from physical and mental frailties. Lord Jesus, when we or any members of our families, friends, and communities are weak or ill, we pray earnestly for your comfort, support and healing. We ask for your blessing and care related to the individual needs of those on our chaplaincy prayer list (and especially for…………………………………………….).
We also commit to your eternal keeping the souls of those recently departed this life in your faith, (remembering ………………….. who died recently).
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Gracious Heavenly Father, as new ventures develop in our determination to expand our impact and service to the Haarlem community, we pray for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide our steps and empower our thoughts and actions. Under the pastoral guidance of our chaplain, help us to understand our potential roles, and grant us the courage to step out with the stamina to progress along the pathways we are committed to pursue.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
As we commit ourselves to your care for the coming week, if we are daunted by our personal situations and the challenges they entail, help us to reflect on that first Easter two millennia ago and the continuing impact today of each person who carried forth the Gospel message of peace and love at that time.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ
Closing Hymn
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
Closing Prayers
Lord God our Father,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ
you have assured your children of eternal life
and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin
and raise us to new life in your love,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the risen Christ give us his peace. Alleluia. Amen.