Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Sunday after Ascension

You are invited to use this written service to enhance your home worship. Here you can read the prayers, readings and music for today, the Seventh Sunday after Easter.

Recent sermons can be found here.

We start by remembering 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

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Opening Hymn

NEH 332: All hail the power of Jesu’s Name

The Readings

Acts 16: 16-34
Revelation 22: 12-21hn 17john
John 17: 20-end

The Anthem

Coelos ascendit hodie – Cahrles V. Stanford

 

The Intercessions

God, our Heavenly Father, grant that, as we believe that Your Son Jesus Christ ascended into the heavens to sit at Your right hand, so may we also in heart and mind there ascend, and with Him continually dwell, waiting for the time when He shall in like manner so return.

We wonder at Your amazing love that You sent Your Son to take our humanity, to dwell with us and share our frailties, to show us how we should be, and to show us what love really means.

You long that we should so love You in return, selfless, willing to give up all for Your sake;;
Be with us and lift up our human vision to perceive the glories that await us if we live up to our calling as part of the Body of Christ;
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We continue to pray for our deeply troubled world, torn ever deeper by internal power struggles, aggression, and war, experiencing everywhere social and political instability;

and all countries struggling with the effects of climate change and over-population;

We pray for all rulers, all in positions of power and authority, and particularly for those who are abusing that privilege and trust; turn their hearts to justice and compassion.

Guard and strengthen your servants Queen Elizabeth, King Willem Alexander and their families, that they may live their lives as examples of righteous and Christian living, to your honour and glory. Endue their Parliaments and Ministers with wisdom and understanding.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all in distress at this time; we pray for the millions of refugees and homeless, for all victims of war, revolution and aggression;
We pray particularly for 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;

We pray for those too frail or handicapped to be able to attend services in Church;
And let us bring before God any others for whom we personally wish to pray …
Comfort, O God, all in distress, heal them if it be Your will and lift them up in your everlasting arms;
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died in the faith of Christ; may they rest in your peace and rise to a joyful resurrection.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen
 

The Closing Hymn

NEH 235: Forth in thy Name, O Lord, I go

Closing Prayers

Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.