The Third Sunday of Easter

Welcome to our written service to aid in your home worship. This service includes today’s readings, prayers and music. The sermon will be published later as an audio file. Recent sermons can be found here.

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,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son 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

NEH 345 – Christ is the King, O friends rejoice

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)

The Intercessions for today

God our Heavenly Father, Who alone can bring order out of chaos, we come before You in humility to pray for our deeply troubled world, torn by aggression and war, struggling with the effects of climate change and over-population, experiencing everywhere social and political instability, where the main aims of life seem to be automation and ease, and where Your laws have become unimportant or simply irrelevant.

We pray You for the countless homeless and starving, bereaved through war, terrorism and oppression;
we pray for the millions in China and other totalitarian lands suffering for their faith;
we pray for the peoples of India and Pakistan at this time suffering extreme hot weather;
give them all fortitude in their time of need.

We pray for all rulers and leaders, all in positions of power and influence, in whose hands are the very lives of their subjects; that they may be touched with compassion and love for their fellows;

We pray especially for the Church at this time, for its leaders in its various divisions, struggling to understand their beliefs and their role as spiritual leaders of the flocks under their care. Strengthen them in their struggle against the powers of evil and indifference in the world, and unite all the baptised as One Church, prepared and looking for Your Son’s return in power.
And at this time, as the Church prepares for the yearly celebration of Your Son’s Ascension into heaven, with the promise that He would in like manner so return, we pray that this may inspire and guide it to seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as at the first Pentecost.

Bless and inspire our chaplain Bruce and us in this Chaplaincy with Your Holy Spirit to know how we should witness to our faith, to serve You and those around us.

We pray for all in distress at this time, particularly for those of our own congregation, for those on our Chaplaincy Prayer List; and for those for whom we personally wish to pray …..
Comfort, O God, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in Your everlasting arms;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have promised to provide light in the darkness for those who trust in You:
Grant us grace to understand what You would have us do, and the courage and strength to carry out the same;
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer

Closing Hymn

NEH 486 – We have a gospel to proclaim

Closing Prayers

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to you,
and all ages;
to you be glory and power
through every age and for ever.
Amen.

May the risen Christ give us his peace.
Alleluia. Amen.